Monthly reviews of HelloFresh food selections for Club Members.
Each month, in-house tester Cesilee Castillo opens a HelloFresh delivery box, fires up her stove, and reports what tasted incredible, what took longer than promised, and what she’d do differently. No filters. No fluff. Just honesty.
This restaurant-quality dish earns its perfect 10 on taste. HelloFresh pairs pan-seared salmon fillets with Israeli couscous toasted in butter and a zucchini ribbon salad dressed with Italian herbs and lemon. The dish is fresh, bright and lighter than you’d expect from something this indulgent.
The key is crema, which ties the plate together. Cesilee’s insight: Use less and let the lemon do more of the work. She also swapped the cooked tomatoes for fresh grape tomatoes at the end. The freshness was immediately noticeable.
This one asks for more multitasking than the first food kits she reviewed — timing multiple components, temperature control, and more dishes to wash.
If you want to impress, the effort is worth it.
Cesilee’s Ratings
Taste: 10/10
LOOKS: 9/10
TIME: 20 Minutes (Note: Five mins. over estimate)
DIFFICULTY: EASY
Verdict: A great option for date night or anytime you want a meal that feels like a restaurant without leaving the house. The taste is outstanding.
Cesilee’s Tip: Add chicken breast and garlic salt. Add a splash of extra pasta water to the pan near the end for a saucier finish. It makes a difference.
This is the one. Sweet chili and soy glaze coat ground turkey and bell pepper in a bold, slightly tangy and addictive sauce. Candied peanuts add crunch. Everything holds together in lettuce leaves through every bite.
This recipe requires little: One pan. Easy cleanup. Thirty-five minutes from fridge to table. And it eats light without leaving you hungry.
Cesilee’s Ratings
Taste: 10/10
LOOKS: 10/10
TIME: 35 Minutes (Note: right on estimate)
DIFFICULTY: EASY
Verdict: Featured pick of the month! If you order one food box from this issue, make it this one.
Cesilee’s Tip: Skip cooking the cabbage. Leave it raw for crunch. And if you’re meal prepping, keep the slaw and the chicken separate until you’re ready to eat.
About Cesilee
Cesilee Castillo has served Club Members as a Member Service Representative for more than eight years. She prepares both scratch-made meals and meal-kit deliveries in her kitchen regularly. She loves serving Club Members and is delighted to help Members serve their loved ones through thoughtful meal preparation.
Cook It. Snap It. Share It.
Cesilee is putting HelloFresh meals to the test each month in the Alive! Test Kitchen. Now we want to see what you’re cooking!
Cook it: Prepare this month’s featured food kit, put your own spin on it, or try something similar.
Snap it: Snap a photo of yourself cooking or with your finished dish.
Share it: Share your cooking picture with us using the online form (scan the QR code)!
You could win a $100 HelloFresh gift card and be featured alongside Cesilee in an upcoming issue of Alive!
– No HelloFresh membership required (unless you want to prepare the same kit as Cesilee).
– Contest is open to active Employees Club Members in good standing.
Submit your photo between the 1st and 15th of each month at: alive.employeesclub.com/testkitchen
Win a $100 HelloFresh gift certificate!
About HelloFresh
HelloFresh is the world’s largest meal kit delivery service, providing pre-portioned fresh ingredients and step-by-step recipes directly to consumers. Its deliveries save time on meal planning and grocery shopping. Club Members can choose from more than 100 weekly chef-curated selections.