'I tried curry ready meals from Tesco, Aldi and more - one was better than my favourite takeaway'

Chicken tikka masala is one of the most popular curry dishes in the UK, with most supermarkets offering up their own versions. Mirror writer Niamh Kirk put Tesco, Waitrose, Aldi, M&S and Sainsbury's curries to the test

The nation's favourite takeaway is now available in pretty much every supermarket as a ready meal - but the competition for the best one is rife.

Where truly offers up the best curry? I took it upon myself to find out which supermarket takes the crown for the best chicken tikka masala, and trust me, it wasn't an easy task with so much competition. A chicken tikka is arguably Britain's favourite curry, adapted for British tastebuds, and I have to agree. It's tasty, not too spicy - and is served pretty much everywhere.

It's always my go-to whenever I order a curry, so I decided to put some big-name supermarkets to the test. I put the offerings from Sainsbury's, Aldi, Tesco, Waitrose and M&S head to head - and one of them seriously impressed me. So much so that I think I may prefer it to my local takeaway.

Alongside my five supermarket-ready meals with rice, I opted for two naans to mop up the sauces—and give myself the true Indian cuisine experience—with the help of some family members, too.

Tesco - £3.50

First up was Tesco, and from first glance, it looked just like a pretty average curry. The classic orangey sauce, chunks of chicken and yellow pilau rice looked like your standard chicken curry. For £3.30, it was priced as a pretty average ready meal, so I can't say I had majorly high hopes. However, from the first taste, it was delightful. The strong hints of spices instantly hit me, and it was very herby yet still had the classic creamy taste. The pieces of chicken were generous and I was seriously impressed.

4/5

Waitrose - £3.95

After a strong start, I was excited to try the Waitrose chicken tikka masala next. I never really shop in Waitrose, so this was a real treat for me to try something new. As the second most expensive, I was expecting a little more premium ready meal from the rest. It looked the part, with the rich sauce and big chunks of chicken. However, the high expectations quickly diminished.

Although it had a mild resemblance to a chicken tikka, I felt this one was quite bland and more of a creamy tomato sauce rather than a curry. There was no spice, or herb taste like the Tesco one and the chicken was also quite dry.

2/5

Aldi

Aldi has just launched their new 'Bilash' curry range, including their own take on the classic chicken tikka masala. For £2.49, I wasn't expecting much, being the cheapest out of the five, but I was shocked. This was by far the best out of them all. The sauce was thick and creamy, but it had the perfect amount of spice to give it a real authentic taste. There were ample amounts of chicken, which had a chargrilled aftertaste, which I wasn't expecting and it had a strong aroma of spices.

5/5

M&S

This M&S chicken tikka was the most expensive item, priced at £5.50, so I was expecting good things. From the first look, certainly looked the most premium, the sauce looked and smelt rich, it was oily and the chicken was cut into large chunks, clearly also chargrilled. But sadly it didn't taste anywhere near as good as the Aldi or Tesco one. It tasted more like a tomato sauce than a curry. I wasn't impressed at all, and for the price, it isn't matching up.

1/5

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's ready meals are always a solid choice, and you know you're usually going to get a tasty meal. The chicken tikka masala priced at £3.30 was reasonable for what you'd expect. The sauce was creamy, yet still had a strong hint of herbs and spices. There was also a good amount of chicken included too. I can't say it 'wowed' me, but I was happy with the dish.

3/5

Conclusion

While most of these supermarket offerings are similar, I was blown away with Aldi's version from the Bilash range, and for the price, you certainly can't go wrong. Despite them all having different ratings, it's fair to say every supermarket is extremely generous with the amount of chicken and sauce provided. They were all big, hearty dishes and while I think some can't rival authentic takeaways, they're definitely an easy option to have as a treat in just a matter of minutes.

Do you have a story to share? Email niamh.kirk@reachplc.com