Whole Story

The Official Whole Foods Market® Blog

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

Sara Soltan says ...
I'm so glad you guys are running a Ramadan promo on Saffron Road foods. They are a great go-to option for me when I don't have the time to prepare halal meals at home. I can still eat good halal without going out to a restaurant. They are hardly ever on sale, so I'm glad for this! Thanks!
07/31/2011 8:23:20 PM CDT
Teresa Prichard says ...
It would be lemongrass basil chicken because I love chicken and basil, but wonder what it would taste like with lemongrass.
07/31/2011 8:26:36 PM CDT
Sediqa says ...
I would try the lemongrass basil chicken because its a traditional meal, however it has a kick to it by using lemongrass. Lemongrass is used but its not an essential spice in traditional cookings so I would love to try it!
07/31/2011 8:26:39 PM CDT
L M says ...
Moroccan Lamb :) Lamb stew is delicious and couscous is very healthy!
07/31/2011 9:07:54 PM CDT
bene says ...
I would go for the lemongrass basil chicken right now ! Yum!.. Saffron Road makes a chicken tikka masala too.. That would be next on my list :)
07/31/2011 9:14:21 PM CDT
Jamal Obeid says ...
The pad Thai looks amazing. Thank You saffron road for being brave and doing this.
07/31/2011 9:53:08 PM CDT
Nadine says ...
The chicken tikka masala and the lemongrass basil chicken sound wonderful. I would definitely try those. I support any company that practices responsible farming. Can't wait to try your meals.
07/31/2011 10:13:57 PM CDT
Reesham says ...
I'm very eager to try the lemongrass basil chicken. It's very difficult to find Halal prepared mals that are not your typical Indo-Pak cuisine. I'm so impressed with the Saffron Road Line up of Frozen meals. I can' t wait to try them all.
07/31/2011 10:17:56 PM CDT
sonya says ...
i would try chicken pad thai because i love thai food but always have to end up getting the vegetarian option. so excited i can finally have chicken pad thai!
07/31/2011 10:35:35 PM CDT
Sudha says ...
I am a pretty darn good cook. I make very good chicken tikka and lamb koftis. I have yet to find a readymade version that tastes like my home made. I would like to find one as it would make my life a bit simpler as I work full time and volunteer full time too. I have tried pretty much everything that is available in the market and have been disappointed, I am skeptical that saffron brand is as good as the one I make at home but happy to give it a shot.........after all what is life without hope?
07/31/2011 10:59:00 PM CDT
Atm1 says ...
Will look for saffron road next time I'm in the store. Wanna try the chicken biryani for sure and off course the rest of the line as it is hallal.
07/31/2011 11:00:29 PM CDT
Alison says ...
I'd first try the Moroccan Lamb Stew.
07/31/2011 11:35:28 PM CDT
N.H. Senzai says ...
Humanely treated meat in wonderful flavors!
07/31/2011 11:36:59 PM CDT
Omar says ...
I was so happy when I saw these Halal products at whole foods. I would definitely love to try some of these out iA :)
08/01/2011 12:13:22 AM CDT
Stefan says ...
These products are so good! I haven't tried the Lemongrass Basil Chicken yet and it looks great!
08/01/2011 1:18:41 AM CDT
Diane Kelley says ...
I am a patriotic, vegan American and I am shocked by this unwise business decision. Halal is disgusting, unsanitary and incredibly cruel to animals. Unfortunately, I will no longer be able to be a Whole foods customer.
08/01/2011 3:43:33 AM CDT
Ozair Abbasi says ...
I have never tried Saffron Road products but the Tandoori chicken nuggets sounds and looks amazing.
08/01/2011 3:56:52 AM CDT
Umrayhanah says ...
Thanks so much for contributing to our blessed month! I love the ease of frozen meals and these look delicious! I would try the lamb with cous cous, because that is a difficult dish to make homemade. My family and I plan on visiting a local store next week to stock up! Peace! :)
08/01/2011 5:00:16 AM CDT
JB says ...
“Halal food preparation is unsanitary and cruel to animals. I regret that I will no longer be a customer in your store. The corporate decision was unwise; halal food is “blessed” by an imam who includes in the prayer a curse for all non-muslims who consume it. I would feel very uncomfortable having to check each purchase there, and offering this alternative was a poor business choice”
08/01/2011 5:40:53 AM CDT
Allison B says ...
@JB and @Diane Kelley All of the products in our stores must meet our strict Quality Standards and Saffron Road is no exception. You can access our Quality Standards on our website at: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/quality-standards.php You can find out more about Saffron Road and their products on their website at: http://www.saffronroadfood.com/faq/
08/01/2011 5:45:27 AM CDT
zainab says ...
thank you Whole Foods for offering this option! will need to check it out before deciding which to try first :)
08/01/2011 6:05:07 AM CDT
Marianna says ...
Would love to try the chicken pad tai.
08/01/2011 8:47:01 AM CDT
David says ...
Chicken Pad Thai
08/01/2011 9:14:48 AM CDT
Jessica Meade says ...
Oh, wow! They all sound delicious, but I'm most excited to try the Lamb Vindaloo!
08/01/2011 9:29:38 AM CDT
Heather says ...
I've tried a few of the Saffron Road meal already, chicken biryani and chicken tikka masala. I am amazed that any frozen food product could taste this good! I've already been back to Whole Foods to buy the meals again. I would love to try the Moroccan lamb stew!
08/01/2011 10:28:15 AM CDT

Pages