The Cumin Club

What's in the box: A box holds single-serving pouches of freeze-dried Indian dishes that you choose yourself from curries, lentils, grain bowls, simmer sauces and desserts.

The Cumin Club sells freeze-dried Indian meals for people who want home-style food without the cooking. You build your own box from a menu of more than 30 dishes. The menu covers curries, lentils, grain bowls, desserts and a newer line of simmer sauces that you finish with your own protein. Preparing a meal is simple: boil water, stir in the pack, simmer for a few minutes and serve. The company says the food is cooked at its own facility in India and then freeze-dried. It also says the meals contain no preservatives or seed oils, though those are the company's own claims. Because the meals are freeze-dried rather than frozen, they keep in the pantry, and the site says that lasts up to a year. That is handy if your freezer is small or you like to keep backup dinners around. The menu focuses on regional recipes instead of generic takeout dishes, which should appeal to anyone who grew up eating Indian food. The portions seem sized for one person, so couples or big eaters may need two packs. Freeze-drying works better for some dishes than others, so it helps to try a few before committing. The site does not clearly explain how subscription frequency or skipping works, so read the terms before ordering.