Royal Basmati Lemon Garlic Rice and Chickpeas - (6 Pack) 8.5 oz Pouch | Microwaveable Rice - Ready to Heat Pouch - Great with Meats, Seafood & Vegetables

Good flavor, moist and no hard grains

Royal Lemon, Garlic, and Herb Basmati White Rice and Chickpeas by Royal I purchased these Royal Lemon, Garlic, and Herb Basmati Rice pouches as a quick side dish option for busy nights, and I ended up being pleasantly surprised by how flavorful and satisfying they were. The lemon and herb seasoning comes through clearly without tasting artificial or overpowering, and the garlic adds a savory balance that works well with the basmati rice. I also liked the addition of chickpeas because they made the dish feel a little more substantial than plain microwave rice. The texture was better than I expected from a ready-to-heat rice product. The rice stayed fluffy, fresh, and separate instead of turning mushy or sticky after heating. I followed the microwave instructions exactly, and the pouch heated evenly in about a minute and a half. I appreciated that I could quickly pair it with grilled chicken, salmon, or roasted vegetables without needing to prepare a separate starch from scratch. One thing I noticed is that the lemon flavor is fairly bright, so this may not be the best choice for someone looking for a more neutral rice side dish. For me, though, it worked very well alongside Mediterranean-style meals. The chickpeas were tender without being soft, and the seasoning blend gave the rice enough flavor that I could even eat it by itself for a quick lunch. The pouches were also convenient to store in my pantry, and the portion size worked well for one larger serving or two smaller side servings. Great versatility I liked having these available for nights when I wanted something fast that still tasted like a thoughtfully seasoned side dish instead of plain instant rice. The sodium content is high and it tastes quite salty to me -- I'd much prefer a low-sodium option. I would not miss the sodium especially with the lemon and herb flavors. Pros: ✅ Bright lemon and garlic flavor without tasting artificial ✅ Fluffy basmati rice texture after heating ✅ Chickpeas make the dish more filling ✅ Ready in about 90 seconds ✅ Convenient pantry-friendly pouches make for a versatile starch option ✅ Pairs well with chicken, seafood, and vegetables Cons: ❌ Lemon flavor may be too strong for some people ❌ Slightly more expensive than basic instant rice options ❌ Sodium content is a bit high for a single pouch ❌ Product packaging is not recyclable

I've been trying to eat cleaner, which has proven to be very challenging, particularly with prepared/packaged foods. When I discovered that the Royal Lemon, Garlic and Herb rice got a Green (good) 72/100 rating in the app I use, I couldn't get it into my shopping cart fast enough. I had a pouch for lunch today, and I was absolutely thrilled with it! I microwaved it in the pouch (super easy to prepare). It broke apart easily (typically an indication of freshness) and both the rice and the chick peas were perfectly cooked. Not over or under done. The flavor is rich and very satisfying; lemon and garlic are staples in my kitchen, so this super convenient side dish will will be on my table often. I can't wait to try the other flavors!

Rice tastes good. Garbanzo beans in it are ok, but not my favorite.

Convenient and excellent tasting.

This is absolutely heavenly !!! The first time I made it, I ate that bag. Then because it was sooo tasty I made more !!! It is so good with the lemon especially !!! Thank you for producing such a dreamy recipe that I will be buying again and again !!! 😉🤤😋😉😎🥰

This Rice has chinks of some kind of nuts in it and doesn't taste good.

Taste great. Not too salty. Goes well with the Bombay potatoes. Satisfied with this purchase.