Meal #3: Miso Mushroom & Caramelised Onion Bucatini – The Umami Winner!

The Verdict: 8/10 – Finally, a Showstopper!

After a shaky start to the week with Gousto, they finally delivered. I’ve realized something about my palate through this process: I much prefer simple, savoury, umami tastes over the sticky-sweet sauces we’ve had so far. This pasta dish was absolutely delicious and exactly what my stomach was asking for.

The "Mum-provisation" (Soy Sauce vs. Nooch)

One thing I’ve noticed with Gousto’s plant-based range is that they rely heavily on soy sauce and miso for flavour. While it’s delicious for adults, it can be a bit salt-heavy for young children.

To make it kid-friendly, I went off-script again. I created a creamy, cheesy mushroom sauce using my trusty nutritional yeast.

• The Result: One child absolutely loved it! The other... well, the other sobbed that they "didn't want milky mushrooms." 😭 I’m choosing to believe it was a brewing cold and not my cooking!

  
  

The Portion Perk

One thing I will give Gousto: the portions for this one were massive. Even for a "Meal for 3," there was enough for our young family of four, plus two full lunch portions for the next day. At just £1.46 per serving, that is incredible value.

The Scorecard

• Look: 8/10

• Taste: 8.5/10 (Savoury, rich, and comforting).

• Kid-Friendly: 5/10 (One clean plate, one meltdown—par for the course!).

• Ease: 8/10 (Straightforward, though I skipped the microwave shortcuts this time).

• Plastic: 4/10 (Still a lot of little sachets to bin).

Would you like to try it? Here's my referral code!