Trader Joe’s PANEER Indian Style Cheese

11 Aug 2026 Leave a comment

by promacnyc in All Natural, Asian, baked, cheese, dairy, fresh, General, Trader Joes Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,


Paneer is a fresh, non-melting Indian cheese that you can cube, slice, or crumble. It absorbs flavors and holds its shape when heated. Use it in curries, stir-fries, salads, or as a substitute for tofu or halloumi

Apparently twice before, Trader Joe’s used to sell a paneer cheese, first way back in the 90’s and again around 2000. But they say it just didn’t catch on back then so they dropped it.

Now with a few very popular items like PALAAK PANEER and PANEER TIKKA MASALA – which they sell a lot of – people are more familiar with paneer. So once again, TJ’s just came out with this, Indian Style Paneer Cheese. This is made for Trader Joe’s by a cheese producer in Wisconsin.

What makes paneer cheese useful to cook with is that it doesn’t melt. Paneer stays pretty solid when cooked. So good for adding to dishes as well as for grilling. Trader Joe’s says marinate it in your favorite spices before grilling. Or simply add it for extra cheese into one of entrées like PALAAK PANEER. I love Palaak Paneer but I think theyve gotten chincier with how much paneer is in it (Which I think it used to have more, and maybe they cut back for cost reasons?)

“Made for us in Wisconsin, this pasteurized cow’s milk cheese is produced by curdling the milk with acetic and lactic acids, resulting in a firm and crumbly fresh cheese with a subtle tang.”

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/paneer-indian-style-cheese-083749

This cheese is just milk and acid to coagulate it. It has zero salt and no flavor really. Think of it as a blank canvas like tofu.

Here’s my honest review of this new PANEER cheese. I was expecting this to be like the paneer in their entrees (made in India) like Palaak Paneer or Tikka Masala Paneer. This seemed firmer (before I learned the hot water soaking trick) and needing to let it cook at least 10 minutes or more.

(hot water trick!) *What I have learned since I started is that some people recommend putting paneer in very hot water for about 5 minutes before using it.

I tried to “crumble” it as they describe it as being “firm and crumbly”. I couldn’t really crumble the cheese with my fingers (tip: this worked better after the hot water trick*).

I cut the paneer into cubes and sauteed/grilled it in butter, sprinkling on some Indian masala spices and curry powder. Not bad that way grilled up. Grill it low and slow.

I tried the hot water soak, the second time I cooked with it and it did seem to help with the texture being too firm. Worth trying this hot bath trick before you use it. Also I learned to cook it for longer periods. If putting in a stew or curry let it cook at least 10 minutes to soften and absorb flavors. If grilling this, try low and slow till nice and golden brown. Flavoring: you need to add a ton of things to give it flavor. Garlic is wonderful and lemon juice at the end will perk it up nicely. Don’t forget a pinch of salt! It has zero.

RECIPE: PAN FRIED SPICED PANEER

https://healthynibblesandbits.com/spiced-pan-fried-paneer

Trader Joe’s “PANEER, Indian Style Cheese”

PRO: Good for grilling; will stay firm. People say Trader Joe’s price is far better than Whole Foods’ paneer.

CON: A bit too firm? But the trick with hot water seems to fix that.

$4.99 (10 oz)

Preparation Basics

  • Soften: Soak paneer in very hot water for 5-10 minutes to make softer and more pliable.
  • Cut it: Slice into slabs or into bite-sized cubes.
  • Season: Toss with oil, salt, and spices like turmeric, chili powder, or garam masala or curry powder before cooking. Fresh garlic works great

Popular Cooking Methods

  • Pan-fry: Heat a little oil or ghee in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the cubes for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown.
  • Simmer in Sauce: Add raw or fried paneer cubes into hot curry sauces (like palak paneer or tikka masala) and let simmer for 10-15 minutes.
  • Grill or Skewer: Marinate chunks in yogurt and spices, then grill or pan-sear for a smoky flavor.

Ingredients: Milk, Acetic Acid, Lactic Acid.

Trader Joe’s ORGANIC UNCURED BLACK FOREST HAM

22 Jun 2026 Leave a comment

by promacnyc in All Natural, baked, bread, cheese, DIY, fresh, General, Holiday, organic, Prices, Products, Rave, recipe, Recipes, review, snacks, spices, Staple, Trader Joes, Uncategorized, update, WhatsGoodAtTJ? Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,



“Smoky, savory and lightly sweet with hints of maple”

I’ve already reviewed a very good sliced ham Trader Joe’s sells, which is their ROSEMARY HAM

This one is also quite good. It’s their uncured organic Black Forest ham, which has a lovely smokey flavor.

Uncured means it uses no added nitrates/nitrites. It’s cured with natural seasonings such as organic celery seed, organic vinegar and organic honey. “All vegetarian feed, no added hormones, antibiotics”

Low in fat, 2 slices have 60 calories with 11 gr of Protein.

Wood smoked with hickory, which gives this a wonderful flavor, it’s great for sandwiches and may other things. It made a great omelet, where the smokey flavor came through beautifully.

It would work great on a #cheeseboard. I would love it with some smoked Gouda on a cracker for double smokiness.

I would buy this again.

$5.49 (6 oz)

“TJ’s Uncured Black Forest Ham is deliciously lean, packed with protein, and notably free of added nitrates and nitrites—in other words, the ideal choice for creating simple, delicious school lunches, work lunches, or even just an anytime snack. It has an artful smokiness and tender texture, adds a remarkable depth of flavor, especially when stacked up with slices of Pepper Jack cheese or add-ons like sweet & spicy pickle chips.”

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/uncured-black-forest-ham-086863

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/recipes/everything-ham-cheese-roll-ups (here’s a TJ recipe using this)

Trader Joe’s Buffalo Style CHICKEN MEATBALLS with Monterey Jack Cheese

21 Dec 2025 Leave a comment

by promacnyc in All Natural, baked, cheese, DIY, fresh, General, New, News, Prices, Products, Rave, recipe, Recipes, review, snacks, spices, Trader Joes, Uncategorized, update, WhatsGoodAtTJ? Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,


NEW ITEM

RAVE

(fully cooked, seasoned, just heat and serve)

NEW !

Trader Joe’s regular chicken meatballs are a very popular and for good reason. I frequently notice people buying packages of all the chicken meatballs they carry. On a recent Trader Joe’s trip I went to pick up a package of meatballs only to notice a new version – A Buffalo Style chicken meatball with cheese. Yes!

That makes 3 kinds now, the original plain meatballs, a Teriyaki Pineapple version, and this new one: Buffalo Style Chicken Meatballs with Monterey Jack cheese. All are good but this new one may be my favorite so far.

Here’s what Trader Joe’s has to say – “…All natural ground chicken is mixed with mild Monterey Jack Cheese and classic Buffalo Style seasonings (They are fully cooked). To enjoy, just heat them in an air fryer for four minutes, or conventional oven or use microwave (I suggest not microwave) . Each bite of these tender Meatballs satisfies with mild, tangy heat and notes of savory peppers and garlic. Enjoy them on our Sandwich Rolls. Use them as a flavorful protein-boost for your Avocado Ranch Salad Kit.”

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/buffalo-style-chicken-meatballs-083229

So how are they actually ?

TASTE: I think these are the best tasting of the 3 kind of chicken meatballs Trader Joe’s has.

In this new version they’ve added some tasty Buffalo style seasonings (peppers, vinegar, garlic, celery seed) plus a bit of Monterey Jack cheese. These give these meatballs a savory, lip smacking mildly spicy flavor in the style of buffalo chicken, with just a little heat. These are Not blow your mouth off Buffalo wings spicy. They have just enough spiciness to make it interesting. Of course spice level is personal but I would call these “mildly spicy”. Unless you are super sensitive to spicy these should be fine especially as you will be eating them with other things (bread, tortillas, rice, salad, etc)

CONVENIENCE: Generally I think Trader Joe’s chicken meatballs are just SO HANDY to have in the fridge, as they can help put together a meal easily and quickly. As they are vacuum sealed, these keep fresh unopened easily for a few weeks or more in your fridge – or freeze them.

VERSATILE: You can do lots of things with these little meatballs. I like them best a bit browned up. I sauté or grill them. I slice them in half or in thirds, and get them GBD. I like to cook them in butter or butter/ oil mix, or just olive oil. Cook them gently until they have some color on them in a non stick or cast iron pan. They can be made in an air fryer.

Mix them with whatever you like. You can add them to some sauce (Italian, Mexican, Thai or pretty much anything). Match with a veggie and rice and you can come up with a meal in no time. Pasta works great. I like them inside tortillas or some wrap or pita. Or just top a big salad with them, or use them for a protein bowl with some grains and veggies, or just put them in a hero roll maybe with some ranch dressing and greens. More cheese melted with/on these is a great addition.

(above pic) I thought I would use the meatballs to make some quesadillas. I sliced them into thirds. Browned them in 1 tsp olive oil. Added frozen corn and a little cilantro. I used that plus Pepper Jack cheese in corn tortillas for my quesadilla’s, and cooked them until melted and golden brown. With a little salsa on top, this was a very tasty combo.

COOKING: I would go sauté, oven bake, broil or air fry. I usually cook them in a pan as that’s most practical for me. Cook until they get a little color.

TIP: I WOULD NOT MICROWAVE these, though the package says you can. They will NOT turn out very good just nuked as they won’t get browned. These taste best a little bit GBD, golden brown and delicious.

If you never tried any of TJ’s chicken meatballs, I would start with this new version which I think is the best one so far.

I would buy these again.

$4.29 (12 oz) package

6 meatballs: 170 calories, 14 g protein

UPDATE: THESE SEEM TO BE GOING VIRAL?

NEW @ Trader Joe’s, ORGANIC SILKEN TOFU

28 Jun 2025 1 Comment

by promacnyc in All Natural, Asian, DIY, fresh, General, New, News, organic, Pantry, Prices, Products, Rave, review, Staple, Trader Joes, Uncategorized, update, vegetarian, WhatsGoodAtTJ? Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


The softest variety of tofu is not “soft tofu”. Actually that would be the tofu called “silken”, whose texture is even softer. The texture of Silken is almost like a firm pudding, extra silky and velvety texture, with a very delicate and pure soy flavor. Tofu lovers prize it.

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/organic-silken-tofu-080590

TJ’s says: “…(Silken Tofu) can be enjoyed hot or cold, mixed into sauces, and even blended into smoothies. From the simple (lightly boiled, topped with Crunchy Chili Onion, and enjoyed by the spoonful) to the slightly more involved (mixed with Turmeric and Nutritional Yeast and fried like scrambled eggs), Trader Joe’s Organic Silken Tofu is a versatile, velvety-textured addition to your culinary toolbox.”

Here’s my honest review.

Trader Joe’s new SILKEN TOFU is an excellent addition to all the varieties of tofu they sell. Surprisingly Trader Joe’s Organic Silken Tofu even got approval from our resident tofu expert, my (Japanese/Korean) wife who I asked to taste it. She kind of surprised me giving Trader Joe’s silken tofu a big thumbs up. She told me it was very goof tofu, and trust me she is as tough as it gets when it comes to tofu, or frankly anything else from Trader Joe’s. She even assumed it was “made in Japan” and told me to check the package carefully to see if it said that. It doesn’, so it must be made here in the U.S. by some very good tofu manufacturer for Trader Joe’s.

Tofu texture is really based on how much water is squeezed out while making it. Silken tofu is the absolutely softest variety of tofu, It is pudding-like, very soft and delicate tasting, tasting of the soy beans used. It’s terrific for using in soups and stews or enjoyed just as is. If you ever had Korean “Soon Dubu” that’s the kind of tofu used in many Korean tofu stews (jigae).

We found this delicious eaten simply. You can just take a piece and put it on a plate and drizzle it with a little soy sauce, Ponzu sauce, and/or a drizzle of chili crisp. Great like this to eat chilled especially on a hot summer day.

The silken tofu can be used in some recipes that call for the soft tofu, for example Korean Soondubu Jigae. You can mix it into scrambled eggs for adding even more protein.

The tofu (16 oz net) comes in two pieces in the box. It’s a little hard to get out without breaking it, so do that carefully. I cut the plastic wrapper and tipped it onto a plate, shaking the box a bit to get it out.

I think one of the halves makes a nice portion for one, so think two nice servings per box unless you are using it as an ingredient. Though TJ’s mentions boiling it, you don’t have to. Tofu is already cooked in the manufacturing process. You can just put this silken tofu on a plate and pour some sauce over it and maybe add some chopped scallions and enjoy it. We love it cold for a summer dish.

I’ve never made a smoothie with it but as Trader Joe’s suggests, that is not a bad idea at all. Good way to get a lot of protein. Based on the Nutrition info one 3 oz serving has 4g Protein, with five servings in the package according to the label. Therefore 15 g protein in total.

TJ’s website lists the price as $2.49/16 Oz. Before I knew that I bought it at one TJ’s I go to where they had the prices as $3.49 (wrong). When I saw the website price I asked the Captain at that store to double check the price and they admitted they wrote it up wrong. They corrected the incorrect price, finally. It’s $2.49

TIP: it’s a bit hard to get out of the plastic package so if you want it in a big piece, do it carefully and gently. I run a knife around the edge to try to loosen it and put it upside down on a plate.

https://www.bonappetit.com/story/silken-tofu

Trader Joe’s ORGANIC SILKEN TOFU $2.49 (16 oz, net wt)

Trader Joe’s PINEAPPLE TERIYAKI CHICKEN MEATBALLS, review

04 May 2025 3 Comments

by promacnyc in All Natural, Asian, Blog, Changed, DIY, fresh, New, News, Prices, Products, Rave, recipe, Recipes, review, Staple, Trader Joes, Uncategorized, WhatsGoodAtTJ? Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


“Seasoned, fully cooked, gluten free. “

Trader Joe’s “Pineapple and Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs”

I previously tried, and gave a good review, to the regular Trader Joe’s “Chicken Meatballs”. Those original chicken meatballs seem to me to be quite a popular Trader Joe’s item. So popular that often I even find these were sold out.

Both the original version and this new Pineapple Teriyaki version of the meatballs, come already cooked and are sold in the refrigerated case. I have bought the regular chicken meatballs pretty often as I find they are a really handy item to have in the fridge. You can use these meatballs to come up with a meal, fast and easy, so are very handy. Plus as they are vacuum sealed, these can last quite some time in the fridge unopened, easily a week or more.

I am guessing the original flavor meatballs were so popular item that Trader Joe’s decided to come out with another flavor. Which are these new ones, the Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs.

If you are a fan of the original ones, you will probably like this new version as much as those. Maybe even more. Both are made from “all natural, minimally processed chicken with no artificial ingredients“. The Ingredients include: chicken, dried pineapple, tamari, mirin, sea salt, sugar, vinegar, pineapple juice, pepper, ginger, garlic, rosemary….

Here’s what Trader Joe’s says about the new Pineapple Teriyaki version (link)

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/pineapple-teriyaki-chicken-meatballs-081225

“… Now available in our refrigerated cases on an everyday basis, Trader Joe’s Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs are made with all-natural ground chicken, are certified gluten free, and arrive fully cooked, so that all you have to do is heat them up in the oven, microwave, or air fryer, then serve. On their own, they make a great savory snack or appetizer (especially when paired with something tangy to dip them in). They’re also awesome when tossed with your favorite noodles (we’re particularly partial to our Squiggly Noodles), and make a mean meatball sub with our Sandwich Rolls, too.”

So how do the new meatballs compare to the original version? Well, here’s my honest review.

I liked the original ones and I like these too. I find the new Teriyaki version quite good. Possibly even a little better than the original meatballs? These have little more flavor, just a touch (not much) of sweetness and are softer. I did not find the added flavors too strong, these are the subtle side. The pineapple and teriyaki flavors don’t overpower things. They taste just slightly sweet. Texture wise I think these are a bit softer than the original meatballs, due to the added ingredients, dried pineapple and pineapple juice. I found the original meatballs could get a little rubbery as they have just meat with nothing else. Also there seems to be a few grill marks on these as if they were perhaps grilled?

Meatballs in an Asian Stir Fry with Broccoli and Peppers

Like the original meatballs, I think the best methods to cook these would be either stove top, baked in the oven, or in an air fryer. All which will give them a little browning which helps these. I don’t think these meatballs will be as good simply heated in the microwave as they won’t get browned.

In my original review, I mentioned these meatballs benefit in flavor with a bit of browning (aka the Maillard reaction)

To try these new meatballs, I thought I would use them first in an Asian style STIR FRY with vegetables (see above).

For my stir fry, I sliced the meatballs into about thirds. I got them browned up by stir frying them in a wok with a tablespoon of oil. After about two minutes like that, I tossed in my cut up veggies, red peppers and broccoli then continued to stir fry everything. When it all looked just done in maybe 4 minutes, I added in a basic Asian sauce*.

The dish turned out quite good. We served it with rice.

Another time, I grilled these sliced in half, up in a pan in olive oil along with yellow peppers and a lot of fresh garlic. Very yummy.

You can try pairing the grilled meatballs with a variety of sauces. For example Trader Joe’s new Korean Yangnyeom sauce would match well as its savory, a little sweet and slightly spicy. So many other choices to consider for sauces. SWEET CHILI sauce for one?

If you want to go “full Hawaiian” I could see using these to come up with some kind of dish in that vein, grilling these with some pineapple cubes (fresh or frozen) and for a sauce additional Teriyaki (soy sauce, sugar and a pinch of vinegar.) Add a little cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce.

Too complicated? OK, a even easier, simple Terikayi sauce recipe: soy sauce, brown/dark sugar, a splash of lemon (or vinegar) for tartness, a pinch of cornstarch (or even flour if you stir it in smoothly) Simmer for 3-4 minutes.

If that’s still too complicated, use TJ’s SOYAKI! I saw someone on TikTok just dump a package of the meatballs plus a jar of that in a pot. Not what I would do but they said, “good”

I think these meatballs would be a great addition as TJ’s suggest for a dish made with their SQUIGGLY NOODLES.

I didnt try the combo yet but think these might match well with Trader Joe’s new Japanese item, OKONOMIYAKI. Slice them and get them nice and grilled to serve with them.

A package of Pineapple Teriyaki chicken meatballs is $4.29 (12 oz). That’s 30 cents more than the regular chicken meatballs which are $3.99.

Six meatballs are stated to have 160 calories, and 13g of protein

Sauce recipes for ideas below…

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/259887/simple-teriyaki-sauce/

Homemade Asian Stir Fry Sauce
@soochefco

Day 59 is for this EASY 3 ingredient teriyaki pineapple chicken meatball skewer dinner! Ingredients: ✨Costco teriyaki pineapple chicken meatballs ✨Costco Mini bell peppers ✨Trader Joe’s frozen fried rice Directions: ✨Heat your skillet to medium heat. ✨Add in peppers – cook a few minutes. ✨Add in meat balls – cook for 6 minutes or until til brown. ✨Microwave one cup of rice for 2 minutes. That’s it! Serve and enjoy! #foodtiktok #3ingredientsrecipes #easyrecipe

♬ Calm background music with acoustic guitar and saxophone(1288148) – ame
@sarahaldridgeinthehouse

10 minute Trader Joe’s meal: • TJ’s Pineapple Teriyaki Meatballs seared • 1 can pineapple chunks drained and seared (save the juice) •1 green pepper diced •1 handful TJ’s sweet jalapeño’s diced • 1 Tsp minced garlic • 1/3 cup pineapple juice • 1/3 cup soy sauce • 1 Tsp corn starch • 1 cup cooked Jasmine Rice Combine and top with sesame seeds #weeknightdinner #mealprep #traderjoeshaul #dinnerideas #cookwithme

♬ Luxury and fun big band jazz(1324443) – Ponetto

Trader Joe’s ATLANTIC SALMON WITH LEMON HERB BUTTER

14 Oct 2024 1 Comment

by promacnyc in All Natural, dairy, fish, frozen, General, pescatarian, Prices, Products, Rave, recipe, Recipes, spices, Trader Joes, WhatsGoodAtTJ? Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Trader Joe’s ATLANTIC SALMON WITH LEMON HERB BUTTER (FROZEN)

This is one of those thing almost everybody loves. You can probably tell just from the picture this is a nice hunk of salmon. Center cut boneless skin on Norwegian Farm Raised Atlantic Salmon fillet, with three round pats of tasty lemon herb butter. The package is seven ounces, so what I would consider a generous portion for one person. One piece could possibly make two smaller portions, as these days a portion of protein is now generally said to be about 4 ounces. But I could easily eat the whole thing myself!

The Lemon Herb butter consists of butter, lemon zest, parsley, chives, sea salt and pepper. It’s make a very tasty sauce. The herb butter really adds something, elevating this to “gourmet” level. Its quite tasty.

To defrost: ideally I leave the fish in the fridge for a slow defrost (the overnight thaw method) as this is the best method to defrost fish. In a pinch you could leave it out on the counter for a few hours, or submerge the package under cold water (quick thaw method).

Cooking: broiled or pan fried would be my Go To methods to cook the salmon but baking works too. (AirFryer? I don’t have one but people on the Net report its a good method)

What to do with the butter… One can either take the pats of butter off, then add them during the last two minutes of cooking. Or just leave the butter on the fish and cook it like that, for example under the broiler. This will give you more of a cooked “brown butter” sauce. You can baste with it during cooking as well.

Serving with a bit of fresh lemon juice too will elevate the fish even more. This will go well of course with maybe some rice or boiled potatoes and a veg and/or a salad.

TJ’s SALMON WITH HERB BUTTER makes a yummy dinner and is well worth your trying. Googling it I found a ton of web stuff and TikTok’s with people making this salmon. Its popular.

I would buy this again.

$6.99 (7 oz, 198 gr)

35 gr protein per fillet! 510 cals (all that butter) You could remove one or two pats if you want less calories.

Trader Joe’s GRILLED CHICKEN STRIPS

20 Oct 2023 1 Comment

by promacnyc in frozen, General, Pantry, Prices, Products, recipe, Recipes, Staple, Trader Joes, Uncategorized, update, WhatsGoodAtTJ? Tags: , , , , , ,


Trader Joe’s GRILLED CHICKEN STRIPS Seasoned White Chicken Meat.

Simply grilled white chicken meat. Simple and straightforward, just strips of (cooked) chicken breast and I’ve found they can be handy to have on hand in my freezer. Say I wish I had a few strips of of leftover chicken to put on something like a salad. Or perhaps I need a little chicken as an ingredient, say for a fast chicken/cheese quesadillas.

Except I don’t have any leftover chicken. No wait, I have this in the freezer. I take out a few strips, put them in a pan with a pinch of water, cover and voila. In just 6 minutes I’ve got some strips of chicken I can use however I want.

I find this has been at times quite useful to come up with a fast protein. To top a salad or greens, a bowl of rice or other grains, or for a protein bowl. To match with vegetables or a taco, or what have you. High protein, low calorie.

This seems pretty natural ingredients-wise, just chicken and a few seasonings, no chemical names. The chicken has a slightly smokey, grilled taste. It has grill marks which I guessing means they got a little time on a grill or open flame.

Gluten free. Minimal ingredients. Chicken, salt, pepper, onion, garlic… Sodium level is not bad at all. No added fats. The Nutrition Label says 100 Calories per 3 oz serving which has a whopping 20 grams of Protein!

(frozen)
(cooked)

Cooking Directions: (Stovetop) Place chicken in a nonstick or cast iron pan. Add 2 tbls of water. Cover the pan and cook on low-medium for about 6 to 8 minutes, until done. TIP: Personally I add a little olive oil or butter to the pan, as I find a bit improves the flavor.) I always do the “stovetop” method but there are directions as well for microwaving them too. Just be careful and don’t overcook them lest you end up with over cooked tough white meat.

My take is cook just until the point of done-ness, or “à point” – as they say in French. Basically we’re letting it go from frozen to defrosted and then cooking just a little bit. The moist environment helps, which is the point of adding a little water, and remember to open the cover and let the steam out when its done.

Many of the strips are perfect however you will find some broken or small pieces, probably happening during shipping and stocking. C’est la vie. TJ’s Grilled Chicken Strips are $8.99 (1 lb). You’ll find them in Frozen near chicken products

TJ’s says:

https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/grilled-chicken-strips-075767

“They pair well with all kinds of veggies and starches, and take particularly well to customizing with your favorite sauces and seasonings—we’re partial to tossing them with a bit of Korean Gochujang Sauce, ourselves. They’re a great topper for salads, pastas, and pizzas, phenomenal as a filling for tacos and quesadillas, lovely when layered into sandwiches and wraps, and an easy addition to casseroles and baked enchiladas.”

Trader Joe’s Harissa Chicken Thighs

31 Jan 2021 1 Comment

by promacnyc in General, New, Products, Rant, Trader Joes Tags: , , , , ,


By now you’ve probably heard of TJ’s Shawarma Chicken Thighs which are very good and a big hit. I gave them a big thumbs up, and from what I can gather checking the internet, everyone seems to agree that they’re great. TJ later came out with other marinated chicken thigh flavors. They have three versions now, they added a “HARISSA” version and a “LEMON & HERB” one. I decided to give the HARISSA flavored chicken thighs a try. These are a bit trickier for me. Unlike the SHAWARMA version which I buy pretty regularly now, I don’t think I would buy the HARISSA version again, though I did make a great Chicken and Rice dish using them. Some bloggers seem to like the Harissa version while many others don’t. Not a clear cut winner, so you may have to try and decide for yourself if you are interested. As for me, these Harissa things are nowhere near as good as the Shawarma ones. 

Now after some careful label checking, I think I figured out one major “problem” with these after I looked closely at the two packages. Here’s one big difference between the Shawarma and Harissa versions: the liquid content.

The label on the Harissa Flavored Chicken Thighs says “Contains up to 28% Solution….”

The Shwarma Chicken Thighs however say “Contains up to 7% Solution…”

A-ha, right? The “Harissa flavored” version has a much “wetter” marinade that the Shawarma version and this wetter marinade (i.e., more water) means they would absorb more liquid as weight into the meat sitting in this package. To me 1/4+ of the weight of a package of chicken being marinade seems massive. So one thing I found with these compared to the Shawarma thighs is it was harder to get a good sear going quickly when I threw them into a hot cast iron pan, as with the Shawarma thighs. Which frankly makes sense considering a much higher liquid content, and that fact is not in the Plus Column. Another bugging point to me was, why would tomato paste be the first ingredient in a “Harissa” marinade? Tomato paste is present in harissa, but its a minor player, the primary ingredient being fresh or dried red chiles.

These also didn’t have anywhere near as a distinctive flavor as the Shwarma version. So all in all, these are “just OK” for me. Personally I wouldn’t buy them again (unless I was making an Arroz con Pollo, for which these worked well). Frankly my suggestion is, if you really want to make some “Harissa Chicken” — just buy some boneless chicken at TJ, buy a jar of TJ’s Harissa ($2.70) and marinate it with lots of harissa smeared all over the thighs (or breast) for a 1/2 hour or so. I bet it would be delicious and work way better than these. Boneless skinless organic thighs I think are 2.99 a pound. These Harissa chicken flavored thighs sell for $4.99 a pound. 

PS – If I remember correctly when I looked at the label, the “LEMON & HERB” marinated thighs have an even higher “contains up to XXX % solution” content (50% or more?) You are paying chicken prices for lemon juice!

So these are not terrible but not great. RATED AS “MEH” – UNLESS DOING AN ARROZ CON POLLO which did turn out great with rich tomato-y rice (and if you want a basic recipe idea leave a Comment)