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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

AA says ...
I'm really grateful to WholeFoods for bringing Halal products for its consumers. I'd like to add to the above article by saying that the Islamic way of slaughtering animals for food consumption is more 'respectful' to the animals in the sense that it doesnt reduce it to the 'mechanical' decapitation of animals, but requires God's name to be recited ("In the name of God, God is Great") over each slaughter, only for the specific reason for consumption as food. Animals that were subjected to cruelty (strangled, beaten, gorged, electrocuted) are prohibited, to ensure that even in ending an animal's life (for the purpose of food), it maintains its dignity. Saffron has the added advantage of being 'tayyab' as the animals are raised properly, allowed to graze freely, and permitted to act in the most natural way-- as intended by God. Those who are interested, can read Ibrahim Abdul-Matin's "Green Deen", which has made me realize the significance of the islamic slaughter.
08/03/2011 12:21:14 PM CDT
A says ...
I would love to try the Lemongrass Basil Chicken because it sounds very delicious, and something I can't get at home :0
08/03/2011 12:51:15 PM CDT
Shahid says ...
I want to try the Morroccan Lamb Stew since I'm a fan of lamb and I've never had Morroccan food before!
08/03/2011 1:25:15 PM CDT
Essa says ...
I would try the chicken nuggets as my children do not eat the other brands...i make it from scratch at home so it would be very pleasing to know that they might like the Saffron brand. I would also try the chicken pad thai as i think it would be cool to try new things especially as it is available and it's HALAL. Thank you i can't wait for my family to try then all.
08/03/2011 1:25:26 PM CDT
Shanza says ...
I would like to try the Chicken Pad Thai first because I always order Shrimp Pad Thai at (non-halal) Thai restaurants and it would be great to finally be able to eat the chicken version - thanks to Saffron Road!
08/03/2011 1:38:26 PM CDT
Christopher Kelley says ...
I make a mean Moroccan stew so I would like to try this one the most. I also am very interested in Middle Eastern culture so its great to get a taste for these foods and then try and make them from scratch!
08/03/2011 2:11:01 PM CDT
amiena murad says ...
Yummy! Must try!
08/03/2011 3:30:04 PM CDT
Akeel says ...
I would try which ever one is in stock first because they all sound great!!! Also I would do it that way because my wife is 9+ months pregnant and hasn't step foot into the kitchen in going on 3 weeks. She is a stay at home mom and great house manager, but without her delicious meals, Saffron Road will make a most excellent replacement. Also during Ramadan everything at iftar is scrum-diliuptious!!!
08/03/2011 5:36:38 PM CDT
aamna says ...
I'd love to try the Chicken Pad Thai because I'm a huge fan of Thai food and finding a halal option is certainly an opportunity to take full advantage of! Thank you for providing so many halal choices.
08/03/2011 5:37:33 PM CDT
Kitty says ...
I'd try the Lamb Stew.
08/03/2011 6:09:11 PM CDT
Rukhpar Mor says ...
Chicken Nuggets all the way! As a Muslim, I barely get to eat chicken nuggets, which is sad because it is such a typical American side dish. I know of only one other company that has halal chicken nuggets so this is definitely something I would buy from Saffron Road. I also have a blog dedicated to Orange County and geared towards Muslims and this would be such a hit with my readers-Whole Foods Offers Halal Products! =)
08/03/2011 6:33:54 PM CDT
Hina Khokhar says ...
I would try the Moroccan Lamb because I aboslutely love lamb!!!
08/03/2011 6:46:04 PM CDT
Omar says ...
Chicken PAD THAI!!!! OMG!! This sounds amazingggg! I love pad thai and now we can have it with chicken!
08/03/2011 8:00:49 PM CDT
Teri says ...
We have really enjoyed the Lamb Saag and the Chicken Bryiani already but would be very interested to try the Chicken Pad Thai and Lemongrass Basil Chicken. Everyone in our family of five loves thai food and to find halal ready to eat is really exciting.
08/03/2011 8:34:02 PM CDT
Kristin O' says ...
Lamb stew hear I come!
08/03/2011 8:54:30 PM CDT
Noreen McMullin says ...
I would try the lemongrass basil chicken because it looks so tasty and I love lemongrass.
08/03/2011 11:13:01 PM CDT
Nusrat ahmed says ...
Congratulations,i.am so happy that halal food is included,I love eastern and western dishes as long as those are halal. Thank you so much.
08/04/2011 1:17:07 AM CDT
Nusrat ahmed says ...
Congratulations........Muslim americans were restricted in choice of food,I am all for it.you have made my day. Thank you so...........muchb
08/04/2011 1:21:12 AM CDT
Dina G says ...
I would love to try the Chicken Pad Thai! I love chicken and the Thai flavor and preparation, all together in a halal meal?? What more could you ask for?? :) I've NEVER been to a Whole Foods store, but now tha I know they sell halal meals, I'm there!
08/04/2011 4:05:35 AM CDT
Fahad Khan says ...
I love the Saffron Road products! Chicken pad thai is my favorite!
08/04/2011 5:27:51 AM CDT
Dianne Brown says ...
I will buy the Lemongrass Basil Chicken next shopping trip. I love Middle Eastern cuisine and this one looks delicious!
08/04/2011 9:58:53 AM CDT
Aqeela says ...
Chicken tikka Massal would be a perfect appetizer to break your fast with! Thank you Whole Foods!
08/04/2011 9:59:29 AM CDT
shahina says ...
Assalam Allaykum,(hello), i think it is very wonderful of whole foods and saffron road to hook like this and create something,while keeping muslims and halal in mind. i think it's going out of their way for a good customer service, especially during the Blessed month of Ramadam. so once again thank you to you all from all the muslim brothers and sisters in San Francisco.
08/04/2011 11:22:29 AM CDT
Maha says ...
I am a long-time Muslim-American Whole Foods customer. I visit at least 2-3 times a week. Thank you for reaching out to our under-served community. I intend to continue to shop at Whole Foods for my family's grocery needs!
08/04/2011 11:26:59 AM CDT
Sean says ...
That Moroccan Lamb stew looks and sounds amazing. If it tastes half as good as the marketing has made it appear, I should be in for a real treat.
08/04/2011 1:56:42 PM CDT

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