How Indian Cuisine Mainstay Tasty Bite Makes Organic Farming a Priority

When you think of Indian food, you likely think of hitting your favorite restaurant for a heaping plate of fragrant basmati rice, deeply flavored curry, and warm, garlic-coated naan bread to scoop it all up. Indian food is known for being layered and time-consuming to prepare, but Tasty Bite was one of the first brands to bring these complex Indian flavors home in a way that’s both quick and convenient—a welcome fix for fans of the cuisine who may not have the time to master it at home.

Now, more than 25 years after the brand’s inception, Tasty Bite remains focused on creating authentic Indian dishes using fresh, sustainably sourced ingredients and supply chains that prioritize the wellbeing of farming communities in India. 

Authentic Indian Food at Home

“We’re one of the original companies to bring Indian food to retailer shelves in the United States,” says Tasty Bite’s General Manager Dan Jackson. “We want to democratize Indian food so everyone in the U.S. can eat it at home.” 

When the brand began in the mid-90s, the Tasty Bite selection included five all-natural, ready-to-eat Indian entree products. Fast forward more than 20 years and the brand now offers more than 30 ready-to-eat products, a sign of the health food market’s growing appetite for Indian cuisine. “Over the years, Tasty Bite has served tens of millions of consumers all around the world,” Jackson says. He remarks that the interest in Indian and other Asian cuisines is only growing in American grocery markets, and with that growing interest, the brand has been able to create new, exciting products to serve even more people. 

“From the beginning, we were all about offering real Indian food with bold flavors, without the hassle of cooking or purchasing 50 ingredients to make a true curry from scratch.” Since Indian food is known for its depth of flavor—which requires a lengthy cooking process to achieve—Tasty Bite is unique in that the brand encapsulates the full range of Indian flavors while offering the convenience demanded by many modern home kitchens. And since many home cooks also care deeply about ingredient quality, Tasty Bite ensures that its products have an 18-month shelf life without ingredients like preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, or additives.

Convenience with Conscience 

While convenience is Tasty Bite’s focus, the brand is just as focused on sustainability. The brand ensures that its ingredients are sourced from ethical supply chains using thoughtful, environmentally conscious practices, which isn’t always the case with ready-to-eat foods. 

“Throughout our range of products, we use over 75 spices, over 75 vegetables, 42 different types of grains, 10 different types of fruits, so we’re procuring lots of different ingredients,” Jackson explains. This presents an issue when you’re concerned with the quality of ingredients and understanding where they all come from. Fortunately, Tasty Bite came up with a solution: creating their own 23-acre farm next to their manufacturing facility. 

“We’re able to grow our own ingredients, but even more importantly, we use [the farm] as a demonstration to bring in our local farmers and teach them how to grow food organically,” Jackson says. “[Education is] something we’ve been passionate about for decades now, and we’re committed to that.”

In India, Tasty Bite also donates 2% of its profits to the Tasty Bite Foundation, which helps teach farmers farming techniques, as well as supporting the local farming community, providing scholarships for farmers’ children, and offering disaster relief. “We believe that food shouldn’t come at the expense of people or the planet, so we also give back to the community that we operate in.” Jackson says. “It’s neat to see the impact we can have on the community at large in addition to what we do right there at the site.” 

Tasty Bite has become one of the leaders in bringing sustainable and organic farming practices to India, proving that the brand’s longevity isn’t just thanks to their delicious products, but their commitment to community as well. 

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Build an Indian Feast With Tasty Bite 

Wondering where to begin with Tasty Bite’s wide assortment of Indian dishes? True to Indian tradition, you can’t go wrong by pairing a curry with a side of rice—and luckily, Tasty Bite offers a variety of each. Kick things off by mix-and-matching any of these entrees and sides for tonight’s easy, flavorful dinner. 

First… start with an entree: 

Tasty Bite Organic Channa Masala 
This chickpea-based curry is slightly sweet, spicy, and so simple to prepare. 

Tasty Bite Madras Lentils 
Lentils and red beans are simmered in fresh tomato sauce to create a modern take on a traditional Indian dish. 

Vegetable Tikka Masala 
This entree offers a vegan take on tikka masala, one of the most widely known dishes in Indian cuisine.  

Next… choose the perfect side of rice:

Tasty Bite Organic Basmati Rice 
This classic, naturally fragrant rice is a staple in Indian cuisine, and this microwavable pouch takes just 90 seconds to make.

Tasty Bite Organic Turmeric Rice 
Seasoned with rich ghee and colorful turmeric, this rice adds extra flavor to other dishes. 

Tasty Bite Organic Coconut Rice 
The taste of coconut is prominent in many Indian dishes, so if you want a bit more, serve your dinner with this coconut milk-infused rice. 

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Tasty Bite Madras Lentils Nacho Cups Recipe

While Tasty Bite’s entrees are perfect when paired with their rice, there are endless creative ways to turn Tasty Bite’s entrees into unique dishes. One of Jackson’s favorites is this recipe for Madras Lentils Nacho Cups, which gives a kick of curry flavor (and a meat-free twist) to classic nachos.

Ingredients

1/2 cup tomato, diced
1/3 cup onion, diced
1/3 cup jalapeno, diced
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon lime juice
2 pouches of Tasty Bite Organic Madras Lentils
Salt and pepper to taste
Scoop or cup-style tortilla chips
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions

In a medium-sized bowl, mix the tomato, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, sugar, and lime. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Heat Tasty Bite Organic Madras Lentils according to package instructions.

Fill nacho chip cups halfway with Tasty Bite Organic Madras Lentils.

Top with tomato mixture and cheddar cheese. Enjoy!