I love to cook—I even graduated from culinary school. But that doesn’t mean I always want to cook, especially weekday lunches. Too-healthy salads feel uninspired, but heavier dishes send me into an afternoon slump. A conundrum. So when I heard that Sakara, the plant-based meal delivery brand targeted to wellness enthusiasts (we’re talking the “hot girl walk” crowd) was partnering with Factor, another healthy prepared meal service beloved by macros counters and self-professed gym rats, with a line of salads, I was enthusiastic. Maybe these veggie-packed, nutrient-dense bowls would have enough protein and flavor pizzazz to satisfy both my energy needs and my palate.
I tried the new salads to see if the collaboration lived up to its promise. Here’s what you need to know.
What is the Sakara x Factor collab all about?
Sakara takes a “food as medicine” approach to its meal kit offerings. All its meals are fully vegan, and in addition to ready-to-eat dishes like Microbiome Mojo Salads and Serotonin Glow Parfaits, Sakara also sells supplements aimed at supporting your sleep, stress, and metabolism.
Factor, which is owned by HelloFresh, makes heat-and-eat meals that emphasize protein. They typically feature a starch, vegetable, and a center-of-the-plate meat, poultry, or fish—think, Tuscan Pesto Baked Salmon and Truffle Butter Filet Mignon.
The new collaboration includes nine salads that differ from both brands’ regular offerings. For the first time, you can get animal protein in a Sakara meal, and the bowls feature more leafy greens and fresh veggies than the typical Factor menu item.
The salads range from 350 to 620 calories per serving, and most contain well over 30 grams of protein and up to 12 grams of fiber.
What’s on the menu?
The Sakara x Factor lineup rotates weekly and includes the following bowls:
- Five-Spice Tofu Noodle Salad
- Spiced Chickpea Chaat Salad
- Miso Edamame Tofu Salad
- Asian Crunch Chicken Salad
- Chipotle Chicken Pasta Salad
- Chicken Taco Bowl Salad
- Chicken Shawarma Salad
- Buffalo Chicken Salad
- Tahini Lentil Chicken Salad
As with most meal deliveries, the salads are sent in a cardboard box kept cold with cool packs. Each salad is packaged in a thoughtfully designed plastic container. To keep the ingredients crisp, the greens are separated from the cooked and moist toppings that could cause them to get soggy.
When I opened my first meal, the Chicken Shawarma, I was confused about where the chicken was hiding. Turns out, the meat is stored under the greens, presumably to prevent crushing (it worked!). You do have to do a little digging to extract the chicken, which can send your greens flying.
The crunchy toppings, as well as sauces and dressings, came in individual containers to avoid spillage and maintain crispness (I’m happy to report that every rice puff and tortilla strip was still wonderfully crunchy).
When I brought a salad to work with me, it traveled neatly and arrived at my office still nicely separated. I tossed everything in the clamshell and gave it a good shake at the office, but at home, I transferred the salad components to a big bowl for mixing—I recommend the bowl method if you have one handy. Note that the chicken packaging is almost impossible to open without scissors; avoid frustration on an empty stomach and find a tool.
How do they taste?
Both Factor and Sakara make lofty claims about the freshness and quality of their ingredients. Sakara’s “Nutrition Philosophy” states: “We’re committed to providing our clients with the high-quality, functional ingredients that allow for total mind and body transformation.”
Factor’s website claims: “Each ingredient brought to Factor follows an extensive process for approval that includes examining human health impacts, safety, efficacy, consumer expectations, and more…we are committed to our ingredient standards and evolving with the ever-changing dietary landscape.”
I’d say the salads largely lived up to expectations of freshness and quality. The lettuce, which can often become sad and limp in prepared salads, was crisp and green. I was especially impressed with the tender and flavorful chicken breast, which came well seasoned (though without any distinct spices or herbs) and cut into satisfying, bite-sized pieces.
The dressings and sauces were tasty and brought every bowl up a level. I especially loved the fresh carrot-miso dressing on the Asian Crunch Chicken Salad. The forbidden rice added a nice nuttiness and some extra heft, and juicy mandarin sections provided lovely pops of fruity sweetness.
The Chicken Shawarma Salad was another favorite. Though the roasted cauliflower was on the soft side, its slightly sweet cumin-spiced sauce made up for it. I also loved the richness of the white sauce combined with the sweet, crunchy Savoy cabbage.
Several meals included little crispy tidbits, like fried tortilla strips in the Chicken Taco Bowl and puffed quinoa in the Spiced Chickpea Chaat Salad. These were a nice touch to add a new texture and break up all the veggies. I would have loved more of the salty, crispy bits to give some of the bowls (particularly the Chickpea Chaat, which had a soggier texture because of an overly-soft roasted sweet potato) more of a “hook” to keep me excited about each bite.
In general, the bowls were substantial enough for lunch, though the dishes topped with tofu were a little less filling than the ones with chicken. While they weren’t exactly overflowing with mix-ins, each salad had a nice variety of toppings, from saucy roasted veggies to hearty grains to sweet citrus segments.
Mixed together, the dishes felt elevated and better than the salad I’d typically throw together at home, but not quite as overflowing as a hearty salad from a fast-casual spot like Sweetgreen (and of course, less customizable). But at $13 a pop, these are also less expensive.
How can I order the salads?
The salads are only available to Factor subscribers, so you’ll need to sign up if you want to try them. Subscriptions range from 6 to 36 meals per week and cost $12.50 to $14.99 per meal, plus optional add-ons like juices, shakes, and breakfasts. The Sakara salads can be included as a meal in your weekly box (at no additional cost) or added for $12.99 each.
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