“Combining the bracingly bright and tart tones of Calamansi (a lime-like citrus fruit native to the Philippines) with the lush, tropical flavors of Mango (the national fruit of the Philippines, no less!), each spoonful of this seasonal Sorbet is beautifully balanced between its sweet and sour elements.” – Trader Joe’s
Calamansi is a citrus that looks like a cross between a lime, lemon and orange. It’s a “national fruit” of the Phillipines, and commonly used in Filipino dishes… Its taste is very distinctive, I’ve read.
While I’ve heard of calamansi before, mostly related to Filipino recipes where it is sometimes called for, I am pretty sure I ever tasted it.
Now I happen to love lemon sorbet and lemon ices so I was looking forward to trying this new Calamansi sorbet I read about, thinking it might be a little similar. My honest review of the new Calamansi sorbet; I think this one is going to be something you either like or don’t like with not too much in the middle. “Bracingly bright and tart”. That it is. Personally I didn’t go for the taste of this. I found the calamansi flavor way too bracinly bright and tart for my taste buds. And the Mango? It lists, “calamansi puree” followed by “mango puree” but the calamansi seems to overpower any mango taste in this. I could not really taste the “mango” in this and l love mango. I think they could have balanced the flavors a bit more, using a bit less calamansi.
Just to get a second opinion on this sorbet I had my wife taste it, and her reaction was the same as mine, she didn’t care for the taste of calamansi and also said she couldn’t taste the mango.
I am guessing is people who are unfamiliar with calamansi (like the two of us) may not be crazy about this, however if they do know and like calamansi they might? Or maybe you will find it very refreshing in the summertime as one reader who does like this sorbet suggested!
If you are game to try this, please report back what you think.
TJ’s says: “One of our perennial favorite (cheeses) is Trader Joe’s Toscano Cheese with Black Pepper, an exceptional cheese that you don’t have to save for a special occasion. As it ages, each wheel of cheese is hand-rubbed with cracked black pepper, so every wedge features a burst of mildly spicy pepper flavor—the closer you get to the outside of the wheel, the more pronounced the flavor becomes, yet it’s never overpowering. Serve it on crackers, grated over pasta or shaved onto a freshly prepared steak.”
This TOSCANO cheese is one of my favorite cheeses that Trader Joe’s carries. I find this to be quite special. The Toscano cheeses kind of tastes like Asiago. There are a few varieties of them. Here the black pepper, on the rind and in the cheese, adds quite a bit to the overall flavor profile. However the black pepper doesn’t overpower the wonderful cheese, it just adds a little something extra. They also have other versions of Toscano. Another good one being the one with a “Syrah” wine coating.
I like it on its own, sliced very thinly with Wheat Crisp crackers. It’s great with fruit, like sliced apples or grapes. With pasta? Excellent. I like to grate this over pasta. Superb with any pasta sauce or just butter and cheese using this.
This is a really nice cheese, but all the “Toscano” ones at Trader Joe’s are. A hunk now usually runs about 5-6 bucks ($10.99 lb)
“Traditional all butter Belgian biscuits”MADE IN BELGIUM
Fresh tasting. No preservatives. Super simple ingredients, the important one being butter of course. These are so buttery tasting as well as having a nice crunchy texture from the ridged waffle design.
They’re terrific, either on their own or paired with all kinds of things, sweet or savory.
I could easily see making an ice cream sandwich with them, just putting some ice cream (french vanilla?) between two cookies. Or just putting one on the side of your favorite ice cream. Or just eating with a cup of tea or coffee. So yummy. You can not go wrong with these cookies, and they’re three bucks no less.
I loved these.I would buy them again
Belgian Butter Waffle Cookies$2.99 (8.8 oz.)
“Each all-butter wafer is baked to a crispy golden brown that creates a straightforward, delicious waffle cookie ready to enjoy at any time. The flavor is somewhere between a freshly baked waffle cone and shortbread cookie and is as simple as cookies come, but oh, so delicious. Super buttery, with the ideal amount of sweetness, these Belgian Butter Waffle Cookies are more versatile than you may expect. Whether you are looking for an authentic European snack to accompany a cup of tea or a mug of coffee, a companion for ice cream, or a counterpart to cheese, cured meats, and peppers, Trader Joe’s Belgian Butter Waffle Cookies have a place in your shopping cart, your pantry, and your tummy.”
Trader Joe’s came out with this new version of their popular “SQUIGGLY RUFFLED NOODLES”. The newer version has a black package and a different sauce from the original. I finally got around to trying the new flavor. I have to say I was pretty surprised.
The newer version comes with a way better sauce. So much better. I mean I had suggested one throw out the sauce package in the other (soy and sesame) red package version and make your own! Now you don’t have to.
The newer flavor with the “spicy garlic sesame sauce” sauce packet is so much better than the original flavor.
So my advice about the two kinds they have is, I would buy this version (black package) over the original version (Soy/Sesame, red package).
Not only did they fix the newer version up with a better sauce, they even somehow managed to reduce the Sodium content at the same time. So color me impressed.
Each noodle pack here comes with two little sauce packets. One is labeled “Sesame Seed Paste“. The other, “Creamy Spicy Garlic Sauce“. You mix them together. The combined flavors make a decent sauce. Why are they separate? Because the sesame paste clumps up. So much so that it’s hard to squeeze out as so thick and clumpy. TIP: Some people recommend squishing it up to mix. I now put it in very hot water for a few minutes then do that. I even cut the packet open with a pair of scissors, and use a small spoon to scrape out all the dark sesame paste. A bit messy but worth the trouble as this dark (probably roasted?) Asian sesame paste has a ton of flavor.
How spicy is it? To me, I didn’t find it very spicy. Mildly spicy? But of course your mileage may vary, as spice tolerance is so personal. I would say unless you are super sensitive to spiciness, this is at most “mildly spicy”. Certainly not “Hot Ones” level spicy. In fact I wanted it a bit spicier so I even added a little Lao Gan Ma (chili crisp)
my stir fried noodles (with eggs and scallions)
Other than that sauce fix, the noodles themselves seem the same as the original (red) package. Personally I see no point in buying the red package anymore; this (black) one is better, sauce wise. Same noodles and same amount. So that’s the one I now get.
Compared to the original Soy/Sesame version, this Spicy version has a bit less sodium listed, now 700mg sodium here (vs. 920 mg in the original soy and sesame version). That’s good. Especially as the sauce here even tastes better.
If you want to just boil them and mix the sauce in, that’s OK now, which wasn’t the case before with the not great sauce in the red package IMO
Of course, a few other ingredients could improve your dish starting with adding some of your own chopped scallions. I do like the stir fry way though of making these noodles too.
These noodles are not only savory and satisfying but also versatile, making them an ideal addition to various dishes. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a more elaborate meal, they pair beautifully with vegetables, proteins. In a pinch even just on their own.
At $1.25 per noodle pack, these are an excellent choice for anyone looking to elevate their home cooking without breaking the bank. TIP: Spend another $1.29 on a package of scallions (cilantro too perhaps? a package is $2) and you will have those for other dishes…
Trader Joe’s Squiggly Noodles SPICY GARLIC SESAME SAUCE version are $4.99
How to Cook: If you are just boiling and serving, first prepare your sauce by opening the packet(s) and putting the sauces together into a bowl and mixing them. A teaspoon of water if needed to thin things out. If you have any “topping extras” such as scallions, baked tofu, hard boiled eggs, or cooked veggies you will use on top, prep them up, cut into bite size or noodle like pieces. You will top the noodles with them later.
Boil a pot of water. Add the dried noodles. Cook about 4 minutes; drain yes but leave a little water left on them and put the noodles into your bowl with the sauce. Toss gently to combine the sauce and noodles. Add on your scallions or other ingredients on top. You can mix those in as you eat (or mix now)
Enjoy noodles while they are still hot.
If you are stir frying them, reduce the time boiling them to about a 2-2 1/2 mins. Drain and put in bowl with about a teaspoon of oil. Toss to coat. This prevents them sticking together. Cook your other ingredients, and when ready add the noodles and your sauce (these two packets, or your own plus 1/4 water or stock) and cook about one to two minutes tossing to coat well. Serve.
Can you add anything to the sauce that comes with this? Sure, if you like, you can still add a bit of other things. Like a drizzle of Trader Joe’s Toasted Sesame oil which will add great flavor, or Korean Gochujang sauce, or Lao Gan Ma or CHILI ONION CRUNCH.…. whatever you like.
Like almost any Asian noodle, something as simple as throwing on chopped scallions, or cilantro will add a good deal of Asian flavors. Here I have added the TERIYAKI CHICKEN MEATBALLS plus yellow bell peppers in a stir fry with the noodles.
YOU should also check out my original post on the Soy and Sesame version of the SQUIGGLY NOODLES which has a lot of ideas about how to upgrade and cook them HERE
Suggestions: Slice up some of your favorite TJ’s chicken meatballs, saute till brown, throw in some veggies and cook and mix those with these noodles and sauce; voila, a real dish…
I gathered that people seemed to love the fact that Trader Joe’s added lentils to their line of canned beans. Some people saying this 99 cents can of lentils is a game changer.
As a big fan of lentils, I got a can to try out and review. Yes. These canned lentils are good and certainly couldn’t be easier as all you have to do is open a can and only cost 99 cents!
(French lentil stew with sausages)
Still, just to compare I made my own lentils to compare these canned lentils to lentils I cooked myself using TJ’s dried green lentils ($1.99/lb).
The ones I cooked myself using dried lentils were a tad better than these canned ones, especially in texture, as the ones I cooked were a little less mushy then the canned ones. I’m sure you know that lentils cook fast, unlike most dried beans. Lentils can be ready in only about 18 minutes. Compared to say dried beans which could take easily 2 hours (after soaking overnight).
Not to mention “Bean Economics” of using dried beans or lentils. Dried lentils and beans cost way cheaper than canned. For example a one pound bag of dried green lentils sold at Trader Joe’s are $1.99. That one pound of dried lentils will probably end up making the equivalent amount of perhaps 6 (15 oz) cans worth once they are cooked (they expand cooked).
Still, if you don’t want to make your own lentils than these canned lentils are the next best thing.
Trader Joe’s lentils cost 99 cents for a 15 oz can. The can says “Product of Australia, packed in Egypt”
The ingredients are nice and short: Lentils, water, salt.
How to use these? As they say on the can, you can use cooked lentils in soups, stews, or salads, or combine them with other grains. These will go well for example mixed with the HARVEST BLEND of grains and legumes for a very healthy dish of grains and legumes.
Now right out of the can lentils can taste a little boring. But they are easily jazzed up with some seasonings. Lentils love garlic, olive oil, lemon, cumin and other spices.
EASY LENTIL SALAD – You could just open the can, drain off most of the liquid and dump these lentils in a bowl. Mash up a fat clove of garlic or two. Add that plus a nice pour of good olive oil, EVOO. Add the juice of a lemon, or some good Balsamic vinegar. Grind on some black pepper Toss gently together and you have a nice and quick and easy lentil salad. The lentils could be eaten as is or could go on top of some greens. Maybe add a fried egg on top? Or sliced chicken. Or just fine as is.
Here’s an idea for a quick and easy recipe with a French flavor lentil stew using these lentils plus sausages (omit if you are vegetarian, subbing a bit of Soy Chorizo perhaps)
When the sausages are golden brown, remove them from the pan and set them aside. (Tip: i like to score my sausages with 3-4 shallow slashes on both sides before cooking. They open up when cooked)
In the same pot, add another tablespoon of olive oil and toss in a medium onion (sliced) and 4-6 cloves of garlic (sliced). Cook the garlic and onions until the onions are translucent or golden which will take maybe 5-8 minutes. (optional) Adding a tablespoon or two of tomato paste now will add lots of flavor. Cook the tomato paste stirring constantly for 1 minute or so.
Next pour in two cans of Trader Joe’s CANNED LENTILS. If you want it a very soupy stew add all the liquid of both cans. If not drain the lentils first (reserving the juice). Add about 1/4-1/2 cup liquid to the pot. You can add more later, as you see fit to get the right amount of liquid you want for your lentil stew.
Add your seasonings (ground black pepper, dried rosemary, oregano, basil, a pinch of cumin, a pinch of red pepper, if desired)
Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for about 10 minutes. Add in your browned sausages. Simmer on low for about 5 minutes more.
Serve drizzled with more olive oil and some a squeeze of lemon. Combine with some Jasmine rice on the side or just eat with some crusty bread and French Butter!
Want to make French lentil soup instead? Just add all the liquid from the can plus another can of water or stock. Add more chopped garlic. Simmer about a 1/2 hr. You can slice up the sausages, or eat them on the side.
1 slice = 120 Calories, 4 gr Protein, and 10 gr of whole grains
Trader Joe’s EUROPEAN GRAINS & SEEDS BREAD is a European / Scandinavian style bread that Trader Joe’s introduced not too long ago. Here’s what they have to say about it :
“Our Danish bakery partner starts with a hearty sourdough rye Bread base, bolstering it with flax seed, sunflower seeds, rye flakes, and wheat bran before baking it to a deep brown hue. The resulting loaves are classically European—moist, toothsome, and somewhat dense, with a slightly sweet, delightfully nutty quality in each thin slice.”
I’m a big fan of these types of dense, hearty loaves of bread, seen all over Europe plus every Scandinavian country. I love these kinds of breads that have lots of whole grains. These type of breads are usually square loaves, sliced on the thin side as they are dense. Hearty, and delicious.
Wonder Bread this ain’t!
Here in the U.S., we don’t see these kinds of breads often enough, so over the years whenever I’ve seen this type of bread somewhere I will generally buy it. Especially pumpernickel breads which I really like.
I was so happy to find Trader Joe’s came out with this style of European bread, which are of course super healthy, compared to most any other breads. Is it any good?
Yes, this bread is good. Trader Joe’s new “European Grains And Seeds Bread” is deliciously nutty, tasty and full of seeds. It is baked for for them in Denmark by a Danish bakery, with the thin slices have a nice, nutty taste from sourdoughwholegrain rye and whole wheat floursplus a lot of seeds.
So healthy. I am going to guess this is probably the healthiest bread you can buy at Trader Joe’s.
How to enjoy European Grains and Seeds Bread: What this kind of bread is great for, is making things like open face sandwiches. Probably not so great for your average (thick) sandwich. It may not hold up. You could try thin sandwiches with two slices but really, think I would think about doing Scandinavian style open face sandwiches.
Of course you can just simply spread a slice with (softened) butter, cream cheese, cottage cheese, any cheese you love, jam, ham, or whatever you like. One way I love to enjoy this bread is to spread a slice with butter and top it with thin slices of cucumber or radish and a few grains of sea salt.
You can eat as is, or warm or toast it a bit. As usual with breads, warming it up even a little bit always improves the flavor. But you don’t have to, its fine at room temp.
While I love how this bread tastes there is one area I think they could improve it. The slices tend to break apart if you are not careful with it, as there are so many seeds in it which make it less solid. Which just means you have to be a little gentle with it. So if using butter for example, I let the butter get a bit softened enough to spread easily, least you rip your slice. Sometimes I cut the slices into half or quarters as its easier to handle. Toasting it makes it a bit more firm so try toasting this too. I do really like it just a little toasted.
I made an simple open faced sardine sandwich on this bread and enjoyed it a lot ; it matched great with the fish. SO GOOD!. Try it with your favorite cheese too.
TJ’s says: “When it comes to toppings and fillings, the thin-yet-sturdy slices of European Grains & Seeds Bread are ready for near-infinite riffing: try topping a slice with a pat of Cultured Salted Butter and a swoosh of berry preserves; sliced Cave Aged Le Gruyère and Rosemary Ham, or ripe avocado and a spoonful of Crunchy Chili Onion. Enjoy a slice as the base of an open-faced sandwich topped with Whipped Cream Cheese, Smoked Salmon Pieces, and plenty of fresh dill. If it’s soft & chewy you’re seeking, use un-toasted slices of European Grains & Seeds Bread to scaffold scoops of tuna salad—and don’t forget the pickle on the side!”
Will this last as a TJ’s product? I hope so. Like all new products, if they see it is selling well they will keep it. However if not enough people buy this, then it may go bye-bye unfortunately. So if you try and like this, keep buying it. I sure will.
I think it’s even gotten a little popular. A few times I have found this sold out, but it seemed to get restocked after a few days.
“How do you know it’s fall? When Trader Joe’s Spiced Cider arrives on our shelves! Our Spiced Cider has been a reliable autumnal indicator for more than 20 years. The 64 fluid-ounce bottle holds the juice of U.S.A.-grown, bursting-with-flavor apples that have been brewed with just the right amount of cinnamon, allspice, and cloves to give each sip that soothing seasonal warmth.”
I think this spiced cider is very tasty (if a just a little bit on the sweet side for my tastes, so sometimes I add a splash of water). The wonderful smelling spice blend they have added includes cinnamon, clove, allspice, orange peel, orange oil and lemon peel. I find the balance of the spice blend is just right, not too much to overpower the taste of the apples. You can of course drink this cold but you can really also enjoy it warmed up on cold winter nights!
SPICED CIDER is a seasonal (Fall/Winter) product. So get it while you can.
70% cacao. Ingredients: Unsweetened chocolate and sugar.
I got some when this was a new item. Here’s my review.
When I tried it, to be honest I found it on the side of just being a wee bit too bitter for my palate. This is for “serious” chocolate people. It’s not chocolate any kid would like, but tastes to me like a really SERIOUS gourmet chocolate bar with a high percentage of excellent cacao, but minimal sugar. Think “bitter” for most people, including myself in that category.
The bar involves two countries. The cacao was sourced from Peru. The chocolate bar itself is crafted in Italy.
“Each Bar is made with just two simple ingredients—unsweetened chocolate and sugar—so you get a chocolate-eating experience that’s pure, unadulterated, and deeply satisfying. The 70% Cacao content delivers a flavor that’s bold and intense, yet still delightfully smooth, with complex floral notes that reveal themselves as the Chocolate melts on your tongue.”
I took a few more bites, and little by little I got more used to it. The taste of this chocolate started to grow on me as my taste buds adapted to it and this chocolate melted all over my tongue. Yes I get it, that this is amazing quality cacao/chocolate. As this chocolate bar is barely sweet at all, this may not be quite for everyone but if you really are into chocolate (raises his hand) I think is worth tasting at least once to see what excellent high percentage cacao chocolate tastes like and especially Peruvian cacao which I know know is amazing.
I later ate some of the chocolate along with my coffee , which had milk and sugar. When I alternated bites of this chocolate with sips of my coffee, the added sweetness balanced the bitter chocolate and gave my taste buds intense, delicious chocolate flavor. If you find this too dark and bitter on its own, try eating it with something on the sweet side. I am thinking of matching this chocolate along with a bite of Dried Mango or dried cranberries, or maybe a bite of vanilla ice cream…. Get the picture?
$2.49 (100g) note: the price likely when up since this was published…
Trader Joe’s says this about their new fully cooked frozen dish CHICKEN MOLE:
“Inspired by recipes from Central Mexico, we simmer boneless, skinless chicken leg meat in a Mole rojo (“red”) sauce. This tomato-based iteration is made with dried guajillo and pasilla peppers, which serve to darken the color of the sauce, while also adding some spicy heat. The flavor is further deepened with spices that include garlic, onion, coriander, and cinnamon.”
“Mole meaning, sauce or mixture, is a traditional sauce found in Mexican cuisine. most moles do not contain chocolate. Our version is a Mole Rojo, made with Guajillo and Pasilla chile peppers along with other spices, in a tomato based sauce. It was inspired by recipes found in Central Mexico. Serve this chicken mole as a tasty taco or enchilada filling, over a bed of rice, or just on its own with a few slices of avocado“
Their descriptions sound pretty good, right? Does it live up to it? I’ve found at least one very bad miss with Trader Joe’s Mexican inspired foods. For example, some time ago I tried tamales that had the nerve to say “Authentic Mexican” on the package. Ha! More like “Not At All Authentic Mexican”. Tasteless. I thought those tamales were an insult to Mexican cuisine: (old review) of Cedar Lane “Authentic” Tamales
So what about the new “CHICKEN MOLE? I read some decent reviews of this dish, so had to try it and see if TJ’s got it right this time. And guess what? Basically I think they did get it right. This does taste pretty authentic. So I was a bit pleasantly surprised to find their Chicken Mole dish to be pretty tasty, and I think I would probably buy it again. Savory and spicy with a nice use of a few Mexican chiles.
Trader Joe’s Chicken Mole ($6.99) as they say is a mole rojo (red mole) meaning a tomato based mole, made with tomatoes, onions, garlic and most importantly two kinds of chiles, Pasilla and Guajillo which really give it it’s depth of flavor. Its origins are in Central Mexico. The Chicken Mole tasted very savory, with lots of flavor from the slightly smokey chiles (some chiles like the Guajillo chile used in this are smoked). Overall I found the seasonings quite decent and nicely spiced with a depth of flavor from the tomatoes, chiles and other spices, including coriander and cinnamon. Heat wise I would say this is not a super hot but it does have some spicy heat. Its not immediate but sneaks up on you 30 seconds later. I would call this dish a bit spicy, but NOT crazy spicy. For me, I found the heat level just right. Plus you are eating this with other things (maybe avocado, tortillas, rice….) which balances things out.
I liked the fact reading the ingredients that the list is fairly short and overall seems pretty natural with actual ingredients not long chemical names.
Mole Rojo originates from Central Mexico or Oaxaca, the land of 7 moles” a place I’ve been to twice and where I made it my business to taste as many moles as I could. I tasted about 5 of the 7. The place is a culinary wonderland. Every mole I tasted in Oaxaca was fantastic, one of the best being a mole negro sold outside a church by some nice church ladies.
I read someone’s review of this somewhere and they said there was very little chicken in this. Which is also a complaint about TJ’s BIRRIA, which I do agree, there is not a ton of beef in the Birria.
However I thought this Chicken Mole, while I would not say has an enormous amount of chicken, did have a fair amount. Its a bit deceptive as the chicken has fallen apart during cooking so its mostly now shredded plus a few chunks in a good amount of sauce. Now I read someone saying this “has too much sauce”. I don’t really agree with that, as you want a good amount. In a mole the sauce is the whole point, its the star of the whole dish, and the protein is kind of secondary. Does it look like the picture on the package with a ton of chicken? No, lets face it almost nothing looks like the picture on the package.
COOKING: Microwave or Stovetop. I did the Stovetop.
We ate the dish as tacos, spooned into warm Corn Tortillas (TJ’s) with avocado and sliced radishes. Kind of like the picture. Also some rice on the side. It matches great with rice. You could do a rice bowl type thing. You could also make Quesadillas with the mole and cheese, getting it nice and browned up, kind of QuesoBirria style., either in a corn or a flour tortilla. Or a hard corn taco shell. Or you could spoon the mole over rice. It matches very well with avocado. It can easily serve two, maybe three people with other things.
“Trader Joe’s ORGANIC CAESAR SALAD KIT with croutons, shredded Parmesan and a creamy Caesar dressing.”
I have read that this salad kit is pretty popular among the fans of Trader Joe’s. So I had to finally check it out. Before we begin with my review I should state a few times over the years I’ve made Caesar Salad myself. I mean the real deal. From scratch. Even making croutons (homemade ones are fantastic). Plus making the dressing (Ummm, with ANCHOVIES!)
If you’ve ever done that, or had a Caesar Salad in a decent restaurant then you know how good a real Caesar Salad can be. I mean the Real McCoy is fantastic. So good. You should try making one yourself at least once. Outside of the dressing its really basically three ingredients : lettuce, croutons, cheese…
Here are a few links to give you ideas (Natasha’s recipe looks good. But leaves out the anchovies. So another link with a dressing that has them…. )
Naturally you can make this salad into something substantial by adding a protein on top of your salad. I could easily see one putting slices of cooked chicken or a piece of cooked salmon on top. Do that and you have a complete dinner, especially with a bit of good bread.
So having said that, let me review Trader Joe’s ORGANIC CAESAR SALAD KIT.
A bag can serve 2 with other food or maybe one very hungry salad lover.
For a packaged kit, it’s pretty good. Does it compare to my homemade one, or one from a good restaurant? Of course not but for just something Grab and Go, again pretty decent. For convenience, I can easily understand why people go for it. Just toss this in a bowl and voila a passable Caesar at a fair price ($4) and all in all fairly tasty and satisfying.
The Romaine was nice and crisp, the crouton very crunchy and are bite size rather than too big for your mouth or fork. So pretty good. But I have a few qualms.
Romaine lettuce – Nice and crunchy! However I did find a few bad pieces which I threw out but only about 6-10. Anyway as with all packages of salad, be sure when you buy it to examine it carefully for quality. Check dates on the packages. Get the best date you can find. If possible, try to use it the day you buy it, or the next one.
Dressing – Again, pretty decent, creamy and tasty (however no anchovies!) Of course its not going to match up against a “real” fresh made Caesar dressing. I did think it tasted decent for a commercial dressing. Looking at the ingredients though no “anchovies” listed and the main flavors of a classic Caesar Salad are Anchovies and Parmesan. In most recipes. Anchovies can be controversial.
They give you plenty of dressing. I would suggest add it stages. Don’t put the entire bag of dressing at once. Add about half or 3/4 of the bag of dressing, toss the salad, see what it looks like and if you think you need more then add the rest. You want salads well dressed but not drowning.
(TIP — Fresh LEMON really help this salad so if you have a lemon handy, squeeze on about 1/4 to 1/2 a lemon. Fresh lemon juice will definitely improve the overall taste of this salad quite a bit.)
Cheese – I thought this was one place they do the typical Trader Joe’s skimping. They don’t give you very much grated cheese and its just OK. Not actual Parmigiano I am pretty sure. So I added some of my own cheese, I shaved on Grana Padano with a vegetable peeler. Add cheese if you have some. It will help improve it.
Croutons – The croutons are OK but nothing special. They are well baked (dark) and fortunately bite sized. VERY crunchy. However these seem to be just baked bread. Actual croutons are seasoned. These croutons are nice and crunchy bordering on too hard however they will soften a bit of course when you add dressing.
The quality of these croutons here are not as good as Trader Joe’s packaged croutons – which are very good. Which makes me think. Couldn’t one come up with a pretty easy Caesar Salad yourself just by buying a few ingredients from Trader Joe’s?
I certainly think so. Get a package of Romaine lettuce hearts. A package of TJ’s good croutons. A bottle of Romano Caesar dressing. Some cheese (Parmesan, Grana Padano or Pecorino) With those ingredients you could could make your own Caesar salad which will be better than this one in about five minutes. You could have enough for a few days too and I am guessing it will work out to $2-3 a portion?
So this gets a thumbs up mainly for the convenience, as TJ’s Caesar Salad Kit is Grab and Go and if not great, its pretty decent and OK.
Would I buy it again? Well honestly I am not sure about that. Maybe only if I had to come up with something fast? Frankly I would probably DIY it and buy some Romaine lettuce, croutons, and a bottle of dressing at Trader Joe’s and make it myself with only a little more time and effort.
Now could you open up a can of anchovies and add some (mashed up with lemon juice) to this Kit? Why not!? You would have a way more authentic salad.
Trader Joe’s Rants & Raves (mostly raves, a few rants) 
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