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Blue Apron Dinner

It’s a busy time of year for all of us. So when a friend gifted us recently with Blue Apron meal delivery service dinner, we were immensely grateful for the opportunity. It was just there waiting for us…or almost there, with a certain amount of prep work (like getting deliveroo rider insurance and stuff). We had never tried Blue Apron before, so we went in with an open mind and a hungry stomach. (Note: We have no affiliation with Blue Apron. We simply received a box as a gift from a friend.)

Seared Salmon dinner photo via Blue Apron

Seared Salmon dinner photo via Blue Apron

The Dinner Package

Our dinner package was for Seared Salmon and Salsa Verde with a summer quinoa salad. We opened the box to see that the ingredients were very fresh, had survived the shipping well, and seemed to cover all the bases. (That includes a teeny-tiny bottle containing one tablespoon of red wine vinegar).

Dinner prep instructions

Dinner prep instructions

The recipe gives step-by-step instructions that are very easy to follow. Probably even the most cooking-challenged person could handle this recipe. The recipe required quite a bit of prep work, though. Good thing we had kids on hand to help peel and mince the garlic, shuck the corn, mince the shallots, chop the tomatoes, etc. All in all, dinner was done in about 40 minutes (give or take a few minutes) and it was certainly a very attractive meal.

Blue Apron Seared Salmon and Salsa Verde

Passing the Taste Test

And for the taste test? Two big thumbs up from the adults. (The salsa verde was amazing.) The kids enjoyed the salmon and were so-so on the quinoa. They supplemented their meal by sharing a small plate of leftover pasta – and in doing so, one of the kids discovered that the salsa verde was delicious on pasta. Who knew?

Overall, it was a very tasty meal, easy to make, and generous on portions. (We had at least a meal’s worth left over for the next day). What we also liked was that it brought us out of our usual cooking routine and got us working together to try something new. I’m sure I never would have come up with that particular salsa verde on my own, and it was a great touch.

Also, according to Blue Apron, each serving would clock in at about 500 (high-quality) calories. That’s just about perfect for dinner, especially for those of us who are watching our weight and don’t want to overload in the evening with a lot of empty calories.

Blue Apron meals cost about $10 per person per meal (slightly less if you are ordering for a four-person family). Delivery is free, and you can customize your meals to your dietary preferences. Plus, you can skip your delivery at any time if you’re on vacation or have other plans that week. The kits come with enormous ice packs, so if you’re not home when the delivery comes by, it can chill there until you get home.

Blue Apron Recap

So, to recap:

Pros: Convenient, very fresh, easy to cook, delicious, something new, generous portion sizes, diet-friendly, flexible.

Cons: Expensive for most families, lots of packaging, only partial appeal to kids.

Do you have any experience with Blue Apron? Let us know what you think!

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6 Responses to Blue Apron Dinner

  1. Sara September 3, 2015 at 9:53 pm #

    Hi Jeanne, Sara here from the old days at the CSUCO! Some friends were just telling me about Blue Apron the other day and they love it; they cook 3 meals a week. They also spoke about the unusual ingredients (they live in a small town in Mississippi and you can’t find some the more exotic ingredients there) and interesting packing, etc. It sounds pretty amazing, and your salmon certainly looks delicious.

    • Jeanne September 4, 2015 at 8:04 am #

      Hi Sara: So great to hear from you! I’m so glad it worked out well for your friends in Mississippi – that’s good to know! And it certainly was delicious!

  2. Liz Schmitt September 4, 2015 at 8:12 am #

    I’m tempted to try, just to get some new menu ideas for our family. I wonder if they do low sodium?

    • Jeanne September 4, 2015 at 10:12 am #

      Hi Liz! I am not sure – you could check with Blue Apron – but I imagine you could customize your dinners as you make them. They just send you the raw ingredients and you add your own salt (or not) as needed). Thanks for stopping by!

  3. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious September 5, 2015 at 6:47 am #

    You made me laugh OUT LOUD with the “whole bon bon-eating experience” line. Ain’t that the truth! I am intrigued with Blue Apron. I would like that dinner, I can tell!

    • Jeanne September 5, 2015 at 8:32 am #

      Ain’t it the truth! Thanks, Dorothy!

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