dressings | Trader Joe’s Rants & Raves (mostly raves, a few rants)

Trader Joe’s versatile THAI STYLE PEANUT DRESSING

Trader Joe’s Thai Style Peanut Dressing

I really like this very versatile dressing. Sold in the refrigerated section near salad stuff. Sure this a “salad dressing” but it is also more than that.

Trader Joe’s has this to say about it: “When is a salad dressing more than a salad dressing? How about when it’s also a great dip, condiment, marinade, sauce…”

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/thai-style-peanut-dressing-080035

Salad dressing, a marinade, a glaze, a condiment, even a dipping sauce for your dumplings!

It can be used for all those and maybe more. This is really versatile and useful to have in your fridge. It is of course peanut-y and a typical Asian style mix of sweet and savory. We tried it as a salad dressing. Very yummy. After we poured some over mixed lettuce and arugula my wife said “I think this would also be great on noodles“… Yes! Toss some into your noodles. Or grilled chicken (use for a marinade and a glaze). Or Salmon. Or Shrimp. Or Baked Tofu. Or an omelet. A dipping sauce for dumplings. Cole slaw. Grilled vegetables…. you name it.

It is a bit sweet (from agave syrup) and of course very peanut-y. Has the tiniest amount of spice listed as the last ingredient but I can’t really detect any level of “spicy” here. If you want that, just add your favorite spicy stuff. You can even top with some crushed peanuts (this is smooth) for added texture. I really like this!

You will find it good on or with so many things. The cousin of this, also very good is TJ’s TOASTED SESAME DRESSING.

It lists 120 Cal per 2 tbls

$3.99 bottle (12 oz)

Great with chicken. Marinate some boneless breast or thighs in a bit of this sauce for 1/2 hour. Grill or broil them. Brush on some sauce in the last minute cooking to get a wonderful glaze. Serve with more sauce.

Trader Joe’s ROMANO CAESAR Salad Dressing

Trader Joe’s Romano Caesar Dressing is a vegetarian take on the classic Caeser. This does not contain anchovies but has got a lot of other other ingredients like Romano cheese, olive oil, garlic and spices plus mustard, Worcestershire, lemon and capers, to compensate and provide Umani.

You can use it as well as a marinade for chicken, fish or most anything. About $3 for a 12 oz bottle.

My very picky wife liked this dressing and she doesn’t like a lot of TJ’s dressings.

Want to use this to make a Caesar Salad? Get some Romaine, tear or cut up in to pieces. Add some CROUTONS. Pour on some dressing. Toss. Done! Unless you want options of adding perhaps some lightly cooked eggs or maybe some chicken to make it into a full meal.

I would buy this again.

PS – there’s nothing preventing one to add a few smashed anchovies to this to make it into a classic Caesar dressing.