Trader Joe’s is famous for their considerably large freezer section, filled with a diverse assortment of cuisines. Shopping in the frozen aisle at TJ’s is a great option for saving money without sacrificing taste, although many of the dishes can be hit or miss (see Delish’s article ranking each one!). Additionally, many of the items are simply one component of a complete meal, for example, frozen rice or broccoli. Below, we list some of our favorite items from TJ’s freezer section, and how to spice them up with Sasya products!
Cauliflower Gnocchi – One of our all-time favorites here at Sasya (just ask our Operations Manager, Miranda… she loves these things!) would pair well with any of our dips. We recommend cooking them in a pan to preserve their shape and to prevent them from becoming too chewy. Recently, we paired the gnocchi with sautéed mushrooms and spinach, and topped it all with our Spicy Eggplant Salsa mixed with chunky tomato sauce!
Organic Brown Rice – Okay, this one sounds boring, but it’s the best frozen rice we’ve ever had. With just a few minutes in the microwave, this rice comes out perfectly cooked every single time – chewy but firm. For a quick and easy meal, add cooked vegetables (TJ’s also has some awesome vegetables like carrot spirals, in their frozen section!), a protein like chicken, salmon or tofu, and top with any of our dips. Brown rice has a naturally nuttier flavor than white rice, so it pairs well with our Peanut Coconut Dip.
Cauliflower Pizza Crust – This is a relatively new product at Trader Joe’s, and is a hot commodity amongst TJ’s regulars. It’s a great replacement for regular pizza crust, as it is gluten-free, much lower in carbs, and under 100 calories per slice. Top this with our Spicy Eggplant Salsa, sprinkle on some cheese and other toppings of your choice for a delicious and easy meal!
Dairy Free Vegetable Burritos – Both vegetarian-friendly and a great option for those who are lactose-intolerant, these burritos are filled with tomatoes, corn, onions, potatoes, black beans, red beans, bell peppers, and even broccoli! This website suggests to ignore the directions and put them in the oven for 45-min at 375 degrees, wrapped in tinfoil. They are only mildly spiced, so they could certainly use one of our dips to spice them up!
Mini Chicken Tacos – These mini tacos are perfect as finger-food at a party, or as a yummy snack! The box comes with 24 tacos and should be heated in the oven until hot and crispy. The tacos themselves only contain chicken and verde sauce, so arrange them in a circle around a bowl of your favorite Sasya dip or salsa for the perfect party platter!
Indian Dishes – TJ’s has a delicious variety of frozen Indian dishes, some of the best being the Chicken Tikka Masala, for the meat-eaters, and Vegetable Biryani, for the vegetarians. Our dips, containing similar but more vibrant Indian flavors, would pair well with these dishes and a side of warm naan bread.
Shrimp stir-fry – First off, it should be noted that the entire bag, and a pretty large bag at that, is about 200 calories. Not to mention, it only costs $4.99. The bag contains shrimp, broccoli, sugar snap peas, water chestnuts, bean sprouts, and red bell peppers. Top this with a dollop of our Spicy Peanut Coconut Dip, and you’ve got a delicious and healthy meal!
Veggie burgers – Last but not least, TJ’s has a wide array of veggie patties, including some of our personal favorites: the Quinoa Cowboy burger and Dr. Praeger’s California Veggie Burger. As with any burger, you’ll need some toppings to go with it! The Dr. Praeger’s pairs well with a juicy sliced tomato, fried egg and our Spicy Cilantro Salsa, but feel free to add any toppings your heart desires!
