


Here’s a NEW Trader Joe’s item: “Squiggly Knife Cut Style Noodles with Soy and Sesame Sauce”. This package of dried wheat noodles plus a sauce had a promising look. It does say its a “Product of Taiwan” for one thing so made in Asia.
How are they though? First, I made them the way it says on the package: “Bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add noodles. Cook 4 minutes. Drain and add sauce packet”. Just FYI serving just these noodles & sauce will not make a very tasty dish. To be tasty, you do need to add a few things (protein. veg) to make these into something tasty and filling. So when I made them as directed we were disappointed in the noodles. My wife’s comment was the noodles themselves just weren’t great quality noodles and tasted kind of cheap. Strike one. But I did give them a second chance with a different take. The second time I decided to stir fry these, I boiled them – for a bit less (2-3 minutes) – drained them and put into a bowl with a teaspoon of oil mixed in so they wouldn’t stick together. In a wok I sautéed ginger, garlic, sliced veggies and egg. I tossed in the noodle and stir fried it all for a minute or two before adding my own sauce mixture to coat them. We both thought they came out way better this way as a stir fried noodle dish. Now about that that Sauce Packet: Ugh! The sauce packet isn’t very good. Rather than using their (fake tasting) “Soy and Sesame” sauce I would suggest using your own; Soy sauce, a spill of toasted sesame oil, chopped garlic of course – maybe ginger, and if you have some, a little oyster sauce. Too much work? OK, you can add TJ’s SOYAKI and Chili Onion Crunch. If you insist on using the included fakey sauce packet I’d say use only say half and taste as you go (even if only to reduce sodium). FYI the Sodium listed is 40% which is of course almost half of your daily recommended amount right there (from the sauce obviously not the noodles). Many packaged Asian foods have a fair amount of sodium, so you should read the labels. TJ’s “SQUIGGLY NOODLES” are $4.99 for 4 noodle packs.
Basically I will give this a MEH. They’re OK, not great. If you eat it as-is with the sauce packet you will probably be disappointed. However spend a little effort and fix it up, you will improve it, it has some potential to be way tastier, especially I think stir fried as mentioned. Even just adding a runny egg on top will improve it 100%. Chopped scallions, a must and cilantro if you like it too.
If you really want to make this into something you might try doing Aaron of Aaron and Claires’s Garlic Chili Noodles (see video) or at least get some tips making noodles like this
Here’s what Trader Joe’s themselves have to say: https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/squiggly-knife-cut-style-noodles-074472

INGREDIENTS: NOODLES (WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, SALT), SAUCE PACKET (SOY SAUCE [WATER, GLUCOSE, DEFATTED SOY FLOUR, INVERT SUGAR SYRUP, WHEAT,SALT, CARAMEL COLOR, YEAST EXTRACT POWDER, MALIC ACID], SHALLOT SEASONING SAUCE(CANOLA OIL, SOY SAUCE (WATER, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, SALT), WATER, SHALLOT POWDER, SUGAR, SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SALT, CHILI SAUCE (CHILI PEPPER, SALT), GARLIC POWDER, YEAST EXTRACT POWDER, NATURAL FLAVOR, GLUCONO-DELTA-LAC-TONE, BLACK PEPPER, PAPRIKA EXTRACT, ALPHA TOCOPHEROL ACETATE (TO PRESERVE), SESAME OIL).CONTAINS SOY, SESAME, WHEAT.
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