For an Italian evening where you want to choose your own sauce, plain dried noodles are a better fit than the two frozen dishes reviewed here. Both are already seasoned with soy sauce and other ingredients that take the recipe in a different direction. Frozen dishes need less preparation, but their flavours and accompaniments leave less room for an Italian-style recipe.
You want to choose your own sauce and toppings. The Carrefour Sensation and Tables du Monde frozen dishes described by the retailers are already seasoned, including with soy sauce and sesame. Serving them means being happy with a menu that draws on different influences.
You’d rather have noodles, vegetables and meat together in one frozen dish, even if it’s a departure from a classic Italian recipe. The Carrefour Sensation and Tables du Monde products suit this kind of meal.
You check the pack size and what other ingredients you’ll need. The 1 kg pack of Turini dried noodles gives you a base to build on, while the 300 g Carrefour Sensation and 900 g Tables du Monde frozen dishes already include other ingredients.
To put together an Italian menu, first decide whether you want to choose the sauce or serve a dish that’s already seasoned. Then consider the pack size and how much preparation your meal will need.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| How well they suit an Italian menu | Check whether the noodles are plain or already seasoned, particularly with soy sauce, sesame or lemongrass. | If I’m making a tomato sauce or Italian-style vegetables, I want a base I can season myself; around 42% of consumers may put this at the top of their list. |
| Portions for your group | Check the net weight, the number of portions you’re planning and what sauce or toppings you’ll need for a dried noodle base. | When I’m hosting several people, I want to make sure there’s enough to go round without having to add lots of extra ingredients; this could be a priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Preparation before serving | Read the pack instructions and distinguish between a ready-made frozen dish and dried noodles that need cooking and seasoning. | If I’m already preparing the rest of the meal, I’d rather keep the cooking steps to a minimum, even if that means sticking to a set recipe; around 25% of consumers may prioritise this convenience. |
The Tables du Monde frozen product contains linguine-style pasta, but E.Leclerc also lists soy sauce, sake and lemongrass in the recipe. The shape of the pasta doesn’t determine how the dish is seasoned.
For a sauce of your choice with an Italian flavour, choose plain noodles. Save an already-seasoned dish for a menu where its flavours will fit.
Carrefour Sensation frozen beef noodles contain wheat, soya and sesame, among other ingredients. Auchan says the ingredients in its noodles may vary depending on the collection point and purchase date.
Check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the product you’re buying, rather than relying only on a product page you looked at earlier.
E.Leclerc says its Tables du Monde frozen noodles aren’t sold on its website and advises customers to check with the relevant store or collection point.
Check availability with your chosen store before settling on the menu. Plain dried noodles give you an alternative way to make the dish if needed.
Carrefour lists 300 g packs of frozen beef and onion stir-fried noodles in its ‘World Cuisine’ range.
E.Leclerc lists a 900 g pack of frozen chicken noodles combining pasta, vegetables, chicken and soy sauce.
E.Leclerc lists 1 kg packs of Turini dried noodles made from durum wheat semolina.
Auchan lists 1 kg packs of dried noodles, with an indicated cooking time of 8 minutes for an ‘al dente’ finish.
The Carrefour Sensation frozen beef dish and Tables du Monde frozen chicken dish are suitable if you’re happy with a menu that draws on different influences, but they aren’t neutral bases for an Italian sauce. Carrefour lists soy sauce, sesame and ginger, among other ingredients; E.Leclerc lists soy sauce, sake and lemongrass in the second recipe.
Always check the label on the exact product. Carrefour Sensation frozen beef noodles contain wheat, soya and sesame, and other allergens may be listed as traces. The DGCCRF reminds consumers that allergens must be highlighted in the ingredients list on pre-packed foods.
Check the ingredients and allergens for the version on offer before adding it to your menu. Auchan says the ingredients in its noodles may vary depending on the selected collection point and purchase date.
No. Carrefour advises against refreezing its frozen stir-fried noodles once they have thawed. Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the product you buy.