Frozen Friday: Lean Cuisine - Ranchero Braised Beef

Lean Cuisine's Ranchero Braised Beef frozen entree comes in spicy red chili sauce and is accompanied by a side of chipotle mashed sweet potatoes. It's part of their "Chef's Pick" line where they collaborate with chefs to create the entrees.

I bought this 8.25-ounce box on sale for $2 (normally $3.69)

Lean Cuisine's Ranchero Braised Beef is something that intrigued me at the supermarket. I was curious as to how the braised beef would turn out; just okay it turns out, not quite tender like a braised should be. It was a bit chewy but edible; a bit like canned soup beef. It's a shame because the ingredients say they use "seasoned cooked prime rib beef steak."

I thought the sauce would be more like an enchilada sauce but it was more like a light, slightly spicy, barbecue sauce. Not exactly what I think of when I think "red chile sauce."

The star of the show for me was actually the side of chipotle mashed sweet potatoes. It was actually more spicy than the beef with just enough heat to add a little zing to the slightly sweetened sweet potatoes. The consistency was almost like whipped potatoes and gets rid of the more fibrous consistency of sweet potatoes. It was really good. Like, "I'd-buy-this-again-even-though-the-beef-was-just-okay" good.

So yeah, I'd buy this again just for the mashed sweet potatoes; the sweet potatoes flavor plus just the right touch of spiciness hits just the right note.

Nutritional Info - Lean Cuisine Ranchero Braised Beef (233g)
Calories - 240 (from Fat - 40g)
Fat - 4.5g (Saturated Fat - 1.5g)
Sodium - 540mg
Carbs - 34g (Sugar - 23g)
Protein - 17g