by Bottom Line: These frozen entrees from Trader Joe’s bring some heat, and the proper tweaks can really kick them up.
Trader Joe’s is a grocery chain that leans toward healthy, all-natural eating, and the California-based company now has locations throughout much of the country. Among their many popular items are the extensive selections in their frozen section which include fan-favorites like Mandarin Orange Chicken, Cauliflower Gnocchi, and Hatch Chili Mac & Cheese. Whenever I stop at TJ’s, I always check out the frozen section for items of interest and a recent trip produced two intriguing frozen entrees: Fiery Chicken Curry and the Sriracha Shrimp Bowl. Hoping that these would deliver some spice, I added both to my basket.
The Fiery Chicken Curry consists of curried pieces of chicken breast and is described on the package as “a Goan-inspired recipe with turmeric rice”. The chicken has a good curry taste with an intense blend of spices that delivers plenty of bold flavors. They are a little stingy on the chicken but very generous on the sauce and that helps keep the breast chunks tender (almost too tender, but that is just a drawback of frozen food). There is some tang to the sauce from the tomato base and that is well balanced out by a nice earthiness from the curry. There are hints of coconut and I could swear I tasted some mint in the background as well (it is not listed in the ingredients, though). The rice has a nice, fragrant flavor to it and is not mushy at all. This entree actually compares relatively well to what you might get in a restaurant and outperforms expectations for a frozen meal.
It has some kick, maybe a little bit above Medium heat on my scale, but nowhere near the “fiery” level promised on the box. Still, it is better on the heat than most frozen entrees and a good way to kick it up more is to add some of Trader Joe’s Harissa sauce. I added a couple of drops of Dave’s Insanity Sauce which did not affect the flavor much but got it to the fiery level. And I advise picking up some of Trader Joe’s naan in the bread aisle because that is perfect for sopping up that sauce.
The Sriracha Shrimp Bowl is described as “shrimp with Asian-style vegetables over brown and red rice, all topped with a spicy Sriracha sauce”. The veggies are tender but not mushy and have good taste. The rice has a nice nuttiness to it. The shrimp are somewhat small and rather sparse (only four in the bowl, though that is exactly what the picture on the box shows). They are a bit chewy, but still okay for a frozen shrimp entree. The sauce gives a little bit of a peppery zing, but otherwise does not add much and lacks the pop and tang you get from fresh Sriracha.
As is, the bowl does not deliver much heat, barely reaching the Mild level on my scale. But once you add some Sriracha or chili garlic sauce, this frozen entree comes alive. It is one of those frozen items that need something extra but still provides a pretty solid base. And if you pair it up with one of Trader Joe’s frozen egg rolls, you have quite a good meal.
I will definitely be picking up the Fiery Chicken Curry again and may go ahead and throw the Sriracha Shrimp Bowl into the basket as well. Both make for a quick and easy lunch or dinner that is not too high in calories, and both bring a nice kick, especially if you make the proper adjustments. As far as I know, these are regular selections in their frozen aisle, though I have found that Trader Joe’s tends to be catch-as-catch-can on some of their items. If you see either of them, I recommend picking them up. Just take note of my tweaks above to really bring out the heat and flavor.
Nutrition Info:
Fiery Chicken Curry
Serving Size: 1 Package
Calories: 360
Fat: 13g (5g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 23g
Carbs: 40g
Sodium: 620mg
Sriracha Shrimp Bowl
Serving Size: 1 Bowl
Calories: 320
Fat: 8g (1.5g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 15g
Carbs: 47g
Sodium: 690mg
