Bonnie: I found this week’s FeaturedBite in my freezer, as it was sent to me for my weekly syndicated column, Supermarket Sampler, the one that reviews what’s new on the grocer’s shelves. Problem was, Amy’s Samosa Wrap wasn’t really new. I learned it was first introduced as part of one of Amy’s frozen Indian Meals. Now it’s sold separately.

I was hungry, just looking for a nibble in the freezer, and the wraps were there. So I microwaved the samosa, expecting to toss it out after a bite or two as I do with most products I need to taste test for the column. But I was pleasantly surprised at the subtle flavorful Indian spices in the creamy filling of potatoes, veggies and tofu. Yes, tofu. Odd, I know, but it works and works well. Each one has a bit too much of the whole wheat tortilla, but that’s true of all wraps.

This was one testing item that I finished. It wasn’t just that I was hungry, Amy’s Samosa Wrap are tasty. It turned into just the perfect nutritious nosh. One that I dipped into various Indian sauces I had in the cupboard for testing, including a couple flavors of mango chutney and a tikka masala curry paste blended with yogurt. I liked the spicy chutney best with the mild-flavored samosa. (More on them, perhaps, once I finish sampling the Indian sauce line.)

For those who aren’t sure what a samosa is – just think of it as a burrito or spring roll. But think Indian not Mexican or Thai. Each of those wraps contains some sort of filling enclosed in a wrapper and is either fried or baked. Some are triangular shaped; others, like these wraps, are rolled. Most all cuisines have something similar.

Bryan: Amy’s has really been making a name for themselves as one of the ‘go to’ brands for prepared organic food products. You can find their line (consisting of a wide array of flavors and ethnic cuisine varieties) at Whole Foods and other high-end markets. What is more astounding about Amy’s is that you can find their line in your normal grocer’s freezer as well! I am excited at the implication of this food trend; it’s great to see such a wholesome product achieve significant market penetration.

The Amy’s line is popular for good cause. Quite simply, they make great food. As Bonnie pointed out, the Samosa Wrap is not really new… it used to be combined with rice and sides in an organic frozen Indian dinner. Amy’s was smart to separate the product and sell it on its own though. The wrap stands up as a meal without accompaniments and compares very favorably to other American favorites of a similar size and make-up. The samosa, made with potatoes, peas and tofu, is a substantial snack (or small meal) at 142 grams. The organic veggies and soy wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla only have 250 calories while providing 16% of your daily fiber, 20% of your daily vitamin C and 8 grams of protein. Amazingly, all this is accomplished with only 9 grams of total fat. When compared to your average ‘hot pocket’ (with 300-600 calories and 13-22 grams of fat), Amy’s Samosa Wrap becomes an even more desirable eating option.

Nutritional information aside, how does it taste you must be asking? It is actually very good. I would tend to agree with Bonnie that the actual wrapping can be a bit too much at times. This problem can be easily solved by opting for the toaster (or oven) preparation, as the wrap then takes on a crispy crust rather than a chewy microwaved texture. Despite this advantageous prep, I generally still end up opting for the microwave, as I rarely want to cook a frozen snack for such a long time (1-2 minutes versus 25-45 for toaster). Though there is much to say about samosas in general, I’ll give you my microwave (not oven) version. These are Indian burritos (at least Amy’s version is), and they’re a nice, healthy break from whatever you’ve normally been eating.

Eric: In a world gone mad (with food “crazes”) this product shimmers as a beacon of hope that nutrition doesn’t have to be so bland. I was first introduced to this traditional Indian food while I was working in Zanzibar, and although the chef at the resort had strayed away from traditional samosas, incorporating a variety of different meats into the filling, they were still an amazing taste. The samosas ranged from small appetizers (chicken and beef fillings) to a dessert (fresh fruit filling and passion fruit sauce), and they were always the first item to disappear on the buffet line.

Most cultures have food similar to a samosa: the Chinese eggroll, the Indonesian loempia (or lumpia) and the Mexican chimichanga; all are wraps stuffed with filling and pan-fried. What Amy’s has done is create an organic, low-fat snack that not only tastes good, but fulfills the nutritional requirements that are commonly overlooked in most snack foods.

I am not the traditional “frozen food” person, but this is one item that I will not overlook when walking through the supermarket aisle,