Bertolli Complete Pasta & Sauce - Orecchiette with Broccoli in a Garlic & Olive Oil Sauce

Ah, Bertolli. Since Bertolli started offering frozen pasta dishes several years ago, I have been an avid consumer of Bertolli frozen entrees including Penne and Shrimp w/ Asparagus among others. When Bertolli recently began offering frozen pasta and sauces, I wanted to see if they are as good as the previous frozen delights I have eaten. The orecchiette which I had today, simply stated, provided me with both a positive and a negative experience.

The bag proclaims that the pasta will be cooked in ten minutes. My pasta was cooked in about five on high heat... Preparation, though, is extremely easy. I just placed the contents of the bag into the skillet and let it cook. I stirred the pasta and frozen sauce cubes a few times, and that was it. This is a dish that anyone who is able to turn on the stove will be able to prepare. The instructions suggest adding 2 tablespoons of Bertolli olive oil to the skillet, but I don't even think this is necessary. Once the pasta was ready to eat, I sampled it. The sauce was quite garlicky and a bit too salty, but it was palatable. The pasta was al dente. My one major gripe is that the photo of the cooked pasta dish on the bag shows fresh looking broccoli florets interspersed with the orecchiette, but my actual dish contained mostly meager pieces of broccoli stem, and only a few tiny florets.

The instructions suggest that the bag is enough for two servings, each one cup, and packing 390 calories. If you are serving this along with a protein such as fish or chicken and another vegetable or bread, it will be a substantial meal. On its own though, one bag is not nearly enough food for two healthy adults. Another down side is that each serving contains 930 mg of sodium and 61 grams of carbohydrates. These dishes are not for those with high blood pressure, or weight watchers.

Overall though, if you are looking for a convenient and easy meal or side dish, this Bertolli selection is well worth the price of $5.49. You will behold a steaming dish of fresh tasting pasta in less time than it takes to boil a pot of hot water. Bertolli's genius chefs have made reasonably priced Italian fare available to all to enjoy. However, just don't believe that it will come out looking the way it does in the picture.