We Reviewed The Tomato & Basil Pasta Kit by Bun Maska. Our Verdict Is…

Every ingredient, every spice you need is delivered in a carton. Heating and mixing, that’s all you’re meant to do. Convenience or a lazy way out, what do you think of it?

Bun Maska is a brand that offers variants of pasta kits that includes a pre-portioned pasta, the sauce, seasonings and even cutlery. We ordered the Tomato and Basil for our Bun Maska Ready to Cook Pasta Kit review.

Does it work, do we recommend it to our readers? Let’s find out.

All you need to know about this kit is explained here. 

Our parameters for the Bun Maska Ready to Cook Pasta Kit were the taste, value for money, and the overall experience. We highlighted how convenient this product is for use. 

1. Taste

Does this have homestyle flavors or restaurant-like? How did the sauce taste, did it have a desirable balance between tangy, savory, and spice? Do the toppings and seasonings have authentic flavors? 

2. Texture

Does the texture of the sauce change once cooked? Was the sauce too watery? Pureed tomatoes or with bits, peels, and chunks? How well or evenly does it coat the pasta? How was our experience with cooking the pasta? We were looking for a pasta with a soft yet firm bite without it becoming too soft and squishy or bursting open.

3. Overall Experience

How well is the pasta kit curated? Does it have everything needed to make a tasty bowl of pasta? Is this pasta kit truly time and effort-efficient? What do you need from your pantry? How many servings does one kit offer? Is this a budget-friendly option? How well its packed, value for money and more are covered under this parameter.

We also considered quality of ingredients.

Price + Packaging

All components of this kit are neatly placed in a carton. It holds 200 grams of the sauce, 100 grams of pasta, 1 gram of salt, 1 gram of black pepper, 0.75 grams of oregano and chilli flakes, each. The entire kit is priced at Rs 350/- with a 12-month shelf life. Once opened, it must be used within 30 days. 

Main Ingredients

The penne pasta is made of durum wheat. The ingredients of the sauce are Fresh tomato (85%), Basil leaves, Garlic powder, Vinegar, Olive oil, Tomato paste, Iodised salt, Mixed herbs and spices. Thumbs up for the clean ingredient list. 

The sauce offers 90 Kcal which is divided as 1.2 grams of protein, 12.6 grams of carbohydrates (8.6 grams of sugar), 3.2 grams of fat. 

How did we make this?

The instructions given on the pack are:

• Boil 100 gms of raw pasta.
• Drain and keep aside.
• Add bun maska tomato and basil sauce to hot pan.
• Add drained pasta and toss it well.
• Grate cheese on top and serve hot.

Considering that the quantity of sauce was not mentioned, we added more than half a bottle of the sauce owing to the quantity of pasta given.

Aroma + Appearance

The sauce, in both, pre and post-cooking stages, had a refreshing, homestyle aroma. We could feel the presence of the tomato tangines and the herby aroma of greens like oregano and basil. This also had the chunkiness which added to the homestyle touch. In the sense, the sauce was not like a smooth, thick paste. It had an uneven consistency which chunks at certain places, with a thinner, smoother texture otherwise. Not complaining!

Taste + Texture

The overall dish was neither exceptional nor inedible. It was somewhere in the middle.

As for the taste of the sauce, it would do better with some more salt and chilli. The tanginess of tomatoes felt fresh, as indicated by the ingredient list too. We could taste the refreshing yet peppery sweetness of basil in the sauce as well. The seasoning mixes that were packed separately retained their authentic flavors. 

As a whole, the pasta had a nice bite and flavor, but we would not really recommend this kit.

The prepared dish is mediocre, it isn’t anything that would sweep you off your feet or have you going back for more servings. Plus, one kit would barely suffice for an individual with a medium appetite. You would need some sides like garlic bread or soup. 

Who are DIY kits made for? For those who enjoy cooking. These are meant for novices who enjoy cooking but do not know their way with flavors and ingredients. As these kits provide everything you need in specified quantities in a box – these help people cook meals much better and in a hassle free way than they usually do.

Unfortunately this kit doesn’t work because the cost does not match the effort put and outcome. This style of pasta/quality of pasta can be easily replicated at home without spending 350 bucks. Or if pasta cravings are that high – ordering in is so easy that you don’t mind spending those 350 bucks on a large plate of pasta made to your liking without the extra effort.

Here are some interesting FAQs on Bun Maska Ready to Cook Pasta Kit.

There you go! That was Mishry’s experience with Bun Maska Ready to Cook Tomato & Basil Pasta Kit. The packaging and quality were impressive. We really liked the texture of the sauce too. However, what did not work was the seasoning of the sauce, how the kit is priced, and the quantity offered. Goes without saying, but there is some room for improvement. 

Instant pasta or making the meal from scratch, what do you prefer?

Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.