Nutritionist Review: Soulara Earthen Seer Curry

Soulara is an online subscription service that offers “plant-power, delivered”. All their meals and snacks are made of 100% plant foods making them suitable for vegan, vegetarians and those who simply want to increase their vegetable consumption.

Here, I review Soulara’s Earthen Seer Curry which simply translates to a Thai inspired coconut and tofu curry with rice.

Was the Earthen Seer Curry nutritious?

There are several things I like about Soulara’s Earthen Seer Curry. Firstly, their use of wholefood ingredients. You won’t find any of the preservatives, additives and flavours often found in commercially made Thai Currys.

There is also a limited amount of ingredients which is a big tick and no added sugar such as palm sugar to make it sweeter. However, one thing I didn’t mention in my video review is that it’s a mystery as to why the curry is such a vibrant orange. Have they juiced the carrots to achieve this or is there something else in the meal that has been used to boost the colour? Considering I have had question marks around the labelling I think it’s a valid thing to point out.

The serving size of 400g is generous and it’s just 534 calories, which is good considering it does contain coconut cream. The macronutrients are 53g carbohydrates, 23g protein and 24g fat. So, this is a carbohydrate-rich meal with rice being the main ingredient.

The other element I love about the Earthen Seer Curry is the use of tofu. Tofu is a great plant source of protein as it contains all nine essential amino acids and it’s also low in calories for those watching their waistlines. Tofu is a good source of minerals such as manganese, calcium and selenium – which collectively are going to be beneficial for bone health.

Tofu contains polyphenols which are important for reducing inflammation and as such, the ingredient is associated with heart health and reduced risk of cancer.

Now onto the things I didn’t love about the Soulara Earthen Seer Curry.

Firstly, their packaging is misleading. On the front, the label states the “velvety vegetable” curry is served with “fluffy basmati rice”, however, when looking at the ingredients list, the first ingredient is Jasmine rice.

Sure, this may be a design error but the reason this is significant is that Soulara state their meals are “Rich in satiating fibre, plant protein, healthy fats and low GI carbohydrates”. Actually, Jasmine rice has an incredibly high glycemic index of approximately 96-116. Basmati rice, on the other hand, has a GI of 55-65.

As mentioned in the video, my tip is to remove the rice from the tray before heating as cooked and cool rice is considered a resistant starch. This not only means it becomes a prebiotic food for your gut microbiome, but it can also often be digested easily and help improve glycemic control.

Another negative of this meal is that Soulara hasn’t disclosed whether they use organic or non-GMO tofu. Most soy products, particularly those from the USA, are genetically modified. There is evidence to suggest GMO tofu can actually drive inflammation, disrupt hormone balance and maybe more allergenic. GMO tofu also contains antinutrients known as phytates which inhibit the absorption of all those good nutrients such as phosphorus and calcium.

The amount of vegetables appears to be lacking in this dish so the meal could benefit from the addition of leafy greens. There’s also no fragrant spices, chilli and herbs we’d often associate with Thai curry, so it will be interesting to see if that impacts the taste.

How convenient is the Soulara range?

Most online meal providers are convenient and Soulara is no different. In fact, their decision to adopt a subscription model makes the provider even more convenient as you simply need to select how many and the type of meals you would like delivered.

All the meals are delivered fresh and only require a couple of minutes in the microwave, so ideal for those who are time-poor.

Soulara message you before the order is due to arrive and the third-party courier service emails you confirmation of the delivery with a photo of the box on your doorstep. What’s not to like?

How was the taste of the Soulara Earthen Seer Curry?

Without the spices and herbs expected in a curry, the actual “curry” flavour was missing. This is even with the addition of ginger and lemongrass. I guess this is the pay off of using minimal ingredients.

It was a good serving size with a decent amount of tofu and while the rice is the main ingredient, it is in good balance with the rest of the dish. There is also a lot of sauce which helps make it more palatable.

There is also a lack of vegetables, so I would suggest adding leafy greens to increase the nutrient profile and also make the dish more enjoyable to eat.

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All of our reviews are independent based on our own experiences. If you have a product you want to see reviewed, let me know in the comments below!