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What is this Halal About?

By Allison Burch, July 31, 2011  |  Meet the Blogger  |  More Posts by Allison Burch
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS KERI FROM AUSTIN, TX, SUDHA FROM MINNEAPOLIS, MN, MICHELE FROM LOUISVILLE, KY, CHARLOTTE FROM EUCLID, OH AND JESSICA FROM HALETHROPE, MD.  THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS! Have you heard of halal? If so, you can skip ahead to the end and enter to win coupons for some tasty, convenient halal-certified prepared foods from Saffron Road. But if you’re scratching your head and asking, “What is this halal about?” Read on! Halal is Islamic dietary law that applies, among other things, to meat and poultry, specifically prescribing certain slaughtering and processing practices. Like some other religious dietary practice, halal prohibits pork and alcohol consumption. In order to provide more options to people following a halal diet, Saffron Road has created the first line of certified halal frozen entrees and they’re currently only available here at Whole Foods Market. Saffron Road features ethnic foods with Indian, Asian and Middle Eastern flavors, as well as chicken nuggets and tenders. All of their products are made with lamb and chicken raised on vegetarian diets, with no added hormones or antibiotics. Plus, all of their products are certified halal by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA). Whether you eat halal because of your religious dietary guidelines or you simply prefer to choose food that’s made with high-quality, responsibly farmed ingredients, then Saffron Road has some tasty offerings for you. Take a look:

Lemongrass Basil Chicken

Roasted white-meat chicken simmered in a lemongrass and basil green curry with green peppers and onions.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Prepared with tender, boneless, chicken, and baked according to authentic traditions with freshly-ground tandoori spices simmered in a savory yogurt and tomato sauce.

Chicken Biryani

Traditionally prepared by cooking Basmati rice with succulent chunks of chicken, cashews and raisins infused with an unmistakable blend of enticing spices, aromas and flavors, including a pinch of saffron salt.

Moroccan Stew

Tender cubes of lamb slowly simmered with sweet potatoes, coriander, cumin, cinnamon and ginger until every drop is perfection. Since it tops delicious couscous, no drop is wasted.

Lamb Saag

Australian lamb slow-simmered with a blend of Indian spices, ginger and yogurt and served on a thick bed of savory Saag, a traditional spinach dish.

Lamb Vindaloo

A spicy Portuguese-Indian curry dish dating back to the 16th century. Australian lamb marinated in an exotic tamarind-infused curry sauce, cumin, hot Indian spices and yogurt, then slow simmered for hours until tender and tangy and served with Basmati rice.

Chicken Pad Thai

A delightful version of the Thai favorite featuring wide flat rice noodles topped with roasted white-meat chicken and simmered with carrots and scallions in an exotic peanut sauce.

Lamb Koftis

Lamb marinated in a secret recipe of the most classic spices, and then formed into traditional koftis, or meatballs. The finishing touch? It's served on a bed of aromatic long grain white rice.

Chicken Nuggets, Chicken Tenders, Chicken Bites and Tandoori Seasoned Chicken Nuggets

Made from the meat of chickens raised on a vegetarian diet and never given antibiotics, ever!

What a line up! Are you ready to try some Saffron Road? Good, because we're ready to give some away. We’ll pick five winners at random to receive five coupons for free Saffron Road entrees. To enter, leave a comment below by August 11 and tell us which of the entrees you’d try first and why.

 

291 Comments

Comments

Richard says ...
Yes, this is great. I am learning more and more by reading this blog and doing my research. I see that the chicken products are Certified Humane. I always by eggs with that certification on them. Thanks again Whole Foods!
08/01/2011 11:17:53 AM CDT
Robert Melczarek says ...
Lamb Saag, because I'm an Australian who misses Australian lamb.
08/01/2011 11:22:37 AM CDT
Zarya says ...
Thank you Whole Foods. I just heard you guys started selling some halal foods. I haven't shopped there before, but I will now. You got yourself a new customer.
08/01/2011 11:27:25 AM CDT
Talal says ...
Excellent idea, I would love to try all Saffron products starting with the Chicken Pad Thai. I heard about them before but never had the pleasure to taste it.
08/01/2011 11:55:56 AM CDT
Sharfaa Junaid says ...
Thank you for your kind consideration of Muslims during Ramadan. We really appreciate it! I would try the Lemon Basil Chicken or the Chicken Pad Thai first. As a Muslim of South Asian descent I usually get the all the Indian and Pakastani food I want. Its the other types of food that your miss out on when you only eat halal. I'm excited to think about walking down the frozen section and actually getting a meat item for once!
08/01/2011 12:03:52 PM CDT
Nikki Dority says ...
I would try the Lemongrass Basil Chicken. It sounds so good. And the chicken used its antibiotic free!
08/01/2011 12:29:54 PM CDT
Mariam says ...
Kudos to Whole Foods team for their halal food Ramadan campaign! I'd try the Chicken Pad Thai first :)
08/01/2011 12:30:59 PM CDT
Katherine says ...
Love the curry option!
08/01/2011 12:49:40 PM CDT
Sylvia says ...
These all sound fantastic! I would try the Lemongrass Basil Chicken first because I adore lemongrass. I'm also interested in trying this high-quality chicken.
08/01/2011 12:51:48 PM CDT
Heather D. says ...
I would love to try the Moroccan Stew (though all of the flavours love tasty) as I am trying to add lamb to my diet. I also want to be able to give my Mom a review on the dish ;) I don't eat either halal or kosher because of religious beliefs but I do like the requirement that they subscribe to.
08/01/2011 12:52:25 PM CDT
Joanna says ...
Had the chicken biriyani for suhoor (pre-fasting, early am meal). very easy to prepare and so tasty. I will be making these daily. tomorrow: chicken tikka masala
08/01/2011 12:53:41 PM CDT
bogganlass says ...
I had been eyeing the Lamb Vindaloo in the freezer case, just to say I tried vindaloo, but that Lamb Koftis looks interesting too.
08/01/2011 12:53:44 PM CDT
Jonathan Freed says ...
I applaud the addition of Halal products to your inventory. Question: Can a product be both Halal & Kashrut (Kosher)? That would be a socially blessed event. I plan to have the Moroccan Lamb Stew served over פתיתים, Israeli couscous.
08/01/2011 12:56:01 PM CDT
Rida says ...
I've always wanted to try chicken pad thai, but i always had to get it with tofu, so i'll be trying that first!!! excited! :)
08/01/2011 1:09:33 PM CDT
WFrocks says ...
Lamb saag or Chicken Briyani would be my choice because we make them at home and found them delicious.
08/01/2011 1:09:37 PM CDT
Jade Burnham says ...
Really curious to see if you have vegetarian or even vegan meals available. Keep up the good work ! - Jennifer
08/01/2011 1:14:01 PM CDT
Mona says ...
All of the entrees look very appealing but the Moroccan Stew would be the one I would want to try first!
08/01/2011 2:00:06 PM CDT
luis says ...
Chicken pad Thai sounds Amazing!!
08/01/2011 2:21:09 PM CDT
Abby says ...
I would try the nuggets first. God knows its been years since I've had chicken nuggets in the states.
08/01/2011 2:37:50 PM CDT
Mariam says ...
Wow these sound delicious!! I would totally love to try the Lamb Vindaloo. It sounds so delicious, and it's wonderful to see that halal food is more accessible then before!
08/01/2011 3:00:12 PM CDT
Allie says ...
Yum! Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Pad Thai would be my first choices.
08/01/2011 3:08:12 PM CDT
Monika says ...
Would definitely try the chicken pad thai first since I'm a big fan of Thai food and it's always a challenge to find halal meat in restaurants that aren't Pakistani or Indian. It's very exciting to know that I wouldn't have to be a vegetarian for the majority of the time once these items are widely available =)
08/01/2011 3:13:53 PM CDT
Youssef says ...
Are these available at all Whole Foods locations or only in select markets?
08/01/2011 3:16:38 PM CDT
Johanna says ...
I would try all they are perfect for quick meals, and meals the kids can prepare easily too. Knowing they are Halal and from Whole Foods I feel good giving it to my children as I am A Muslim and eat Halal only! I currently already buy Saffron Foods Chicken Biriyani and Lamb SOOO YUMM!
08/01/2011 3:19:42 PM CDT
TB says ...
Cannot wait to try the Halal line up from the best supermarket around!
08/01/2011 3:28:17 PM CDT

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