You really cant go wrong with this! For example, if you're shopping for Irish soda bread on . Season with salt and pepper to taste. My late Jewish grandma (Romanian by birth) made a delicious roasted eggplant spread that had a ton and I mean a ton of garlic in it and it was fantastic. Rub corn meal all over the chicken. Great product. This choice isn't exactly the most calorie-friendly option as far as dips go, but I was in the market for flavor, not diet food. While recipes for toum vary, its usually made from raw garlic, oil, lemon juice, and water. One delicious, one awful, both Bulgarian, of similar packaging and nearly identical names. The sauce I thought would take five minutes to create, and which actually took me much longer due to my insistence on roasting my own peppers. Plus, they only take 30 minutes or less to prepare, so dinner tonight is bound to be a breeze. My love for Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend has been documented on Insider before, so it's needless to say that I was very excited to give this dip a try. Learn about the number of calories and nutritional and diet information for Trader Joe's Spread, Eggplant Garlic. REVIEWS 20 reviews. ??? VERDICT: As far as grocery-store guacamoles go, this was definitely one of the better ones I've tried. after the first bite, a reaction aided by the hints of chili seasoning that gave this product a pleasantly smoky aroma. My husband doesnt like eggplant but does eat this sauce on pasta. Offers may be subject to change without notice. And in terms of taste, I thought this option did an OK job of capturing that slightly spicy, creamy-queso flavor without any actual cheese, as the presence of garlic powder and green chilis gave it an added kick. This is part of our comprehensive database of 40,000 foods including foods from hundreds of popular restaurants and thousands of brands. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Like the non-vegan dip, it has an irresistible combination of caramelized onions, garlic, and salt, albeit with a slightly sweeter profile thanks to the addition of agave sweetener. VERDICT: I may not be an expert on Southern dips, but Trader Joe's pimento cheese option tasted like a winner. Just when I thought Trader Joe's couldn't win my devotion any more, I found this spreadable version of the iconic Unexpected Cheddar. A great substitute to Zankou Chicken for those of us who dont have it here. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We make a dish from Croatia called CEVAPCICI BALKAN SAUSAGE. Trader Joe's has cleverly paired its eggplant with rich tomatoes and savory onions and garlic. All else set aside, I must praise Trader Joes for fetching interesting foods from interesting places. Learn how your comment data is processed. Take a tour, and learn a bit about each . This spread is something I can easily see putting out for guests who suddenly showed up, along with some crackers, which would take all of 2 minutes of work, and would look impressive and have them asking you yum, this dip is delicious; did you make it?. Fancy food store employee, professional tarot reader, small apartment dweller, devoted thrift store shopper. Simmer for 30 minutes: Cover the pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Heating allowed the cayenne, vinegar, and other seasonings to become more pronounced and melted it to a queso-like consistency that made it much easier for scooping. Or pasta. It's literally just mango. I usually stock up on Cinammon Pita Chips, Blueberry Soda, Grapefruit Soda, Frozen Oatmeal, Mississippi Mud, and Samuel Smith's Organic Stout.Should I add something else to my grocery list? Its great on its own or used as a shortcut ingredient for pasta, tzatziki and more. This video is review of Trader Joe's Red Pepper, Eggplant and Garlic spread.Trader Joe's Red Pepper, Eggplant and Garlic spread is based on a traditional Bul. INGREDIENTS: Better Than Bouillon veggie base - 1 tsp Garlic powder - 3 tsp Filtered water - 1 cup Red yellow and green peppers (frozen) - 16 oz (I love the Trader Joe's Melange a Troi. I definitely won't be buying this one again. One of my favorite places on earth is a Mediterranean market near my apartment on Seattles north end. Add one tablespoon Garlic Spread to 2 cups Greek yogurt. There was definitely a noticeable tang present at the end of every bite, so if you're someone who really hates yogurt, you may find that off-putting. Eggplant Garlic Spread with Sweet Red Peppers from Trader Joe'sTrader Joe's Eggplant garlic Spread is based on a traditional Bulgarian recipe of fresh harve. Trader Joes Pantry Staples: What Are Your Favorites. And when I say anything, I mean anything. Toss garlic-butter with cooked pasta. If ajvar threatened to turn me against Bulgarian condiments, this spread has rectified all wounds. This spread, which is made in Bulgaria, is absolutely delicious. 1 / 2. Inside an omelet? Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. You can make toum at home. I got into this already with the craptacular ajvar, and I dont want to kill it all over agian here, but TJs is really wrecking their own house with these name games. This product had just the right amount of tang, garlic, and herbiness to pair well with a wide variety of dishes and flavors I tried it with chips, crackers, and veggies and thought it tasted exceptional. There are also flaxseeds, chia seeds, coconut flakes and granola to mix in for textureand fiber. I know they're very popular in Southern cuisine, but I'm pretty sure I can count on one hand how many times I've eaten something that contains these tiny, red chili peppers. Is made with fresh garlic, lemon, salt and oil but can be tricky to make. It's absolutely delightful. VERDICT: As someone who can't get enough of a savory-sweet onion-dip flavor but doesn't always want something overly decadent, I personally can't get enough of this stuff. African Heritage Diet as Medicine: How Black Food Can Heal the Community. Both the vegan and nonvegan caramelized-onion dips would complement any appetizer table. These are new condiments and new terms for me, but Im doing my best to get them right. Would I Recommend It: Yes try it with your chicken or pasta, or slathered on bread and topped with goat cheese. When I attempted to sample it chilled, I couldn't even get a proper scoop of the stuff without my chip breaking, but once heated, it developed a creamier texture and still maintained a thick consistency that reminded me of pureed squash. Thankfully, Trader Joe's does this game-day classic justice. I believe Serious Eats has one. Packed with salt, garlic, onion, and sesame goodness, this dip hit all the right notes for me, especially when paired against the cool, Greek-yogurt base. Opening the jar I had reservations; would using this spread diminish the effort I put into my meal? Elizabeth Barbone is the founder and recipe developer behind Cook Fast, Eat Well. Butter the outside of each slice of bread. Additionally, the chunks of cooked chicken throughout made it substantial enough to be eaten on its own or mixed into a salad, but pairing it with a tortilla chip added a dimension of salt that nicely played up the heat. Trader Joe's Trader Joe's Eggplant Garlic Spread. It also had the optimal salsa texture chunky enough to remind me that it's made of fresh ingredients but blended so I could easily scoop it with a chip or spread it on top of another dish. I have a feeling it would taste best paired with foods like cucumbers or tomatoesto tone down the saltiness. A traditional Bulgarian recipe that pairs well with pita or flatbread. VERDICT: I'd much rather spend $3.99 on a tub of sour cream and a ranch packet or a spread that I could actually taste the avocado. a cheese board could be a nice appetizer before the meal. +. As the spread hits the tongue it is nearly sweet, thanks to the sugar added by TJs to offset the harshness of the taste. Some are much spicier than cousin ajvar, some sweeter, and so on. Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas. Onion dip is one of life's simplest pleasures, and I grew up recognizing it as an essential component of many summertime barbecues. But of course, when compared to other dips on this list, it's definitely one of the least-inspired choices for a spread as far as snacking goes. It's heavily smoky and aggressively salty and, in my opinion, borders on tasting slightly fishy. It is tasty with salmon too. slightly festive dessert suggestion, the cranberry orange bars are delicious and pretty looking. Unfortunately, this dip didn't deliver the kick I had hoped it would. Required fields are marked *. From a comforting, cheesy pimento spread to spicy hummus, the chain currently offers a wide selection of dips for virtually every palate. What a delicious little savory snack! Its great as an appetizer with goat cheese or as a base for a mozzarella and basil pannini. These may be my favorite TJs product ever! Fantastic. Bake at 475F until the crust is browned, then let cool slightly. These two products, Trader Joes Eggplant and Garlic Spread (with peppers) and Trader Joes Red Pepper Spread with Eggplant and Garlic, could not be positioned to confuse the casual shopper more. Trader Joe's claims the following for all products under the "Trader Joe's" brand name: The finest quality, natural ingredients. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat. Served with air fryer chicken. It will be nice to have a little less salt, but I still love it!!! NOW WATCH: A psychologist explains how Trader Joe's gets you to spend money, isn't exactly the most calorie-friendly option, Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend, Click to keep reading other Trader Joe's taste tests in this series. I'll be definitely purchasing it again, but not as often as some others on this list. Get our best recipes, grocery finds, and clever kitchen tips delivered to your inbox. EatingWell may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. (Price: $4.29), The "Customer Favorite" seasoning tossed with almonds and cashews? One delicious, one awful, both Bulgarian, of similar packaging and nearly identical names. Related:The 9 Best Trader Joe's Products of 2021, According to Customers, We like these for their size because they're smaller than a burrito-size tortilla and larger than a taco-size tortilla, but you can make them work for a taco, burrito or quesadilla. But although it's located in Trader Joe's refrigerated dip display case, this product is technically classified as a sauce. Inspired by the flavors of classic Mexican street corn, this dip seemed like it was specifically designed with sunny afternoons in mind. Traditional Olive Tapenade: The best add to any cheese board. First things first, Trader Joe's deserves praise for packaging guacamole in two separate pouches. Ive gone through almost a whole jar in two days. (Price: $3.29), Perfectly portion-controlled for adults and small enough for little hands to easily hold, these mini ice cream cones come in three flavors: chocolate, chocolate chip and vanilla. VERDICT: I'll definitely pick this up when I want a cheese spread for snacking. Trader Joe's has bouquets of fresh flowers daily, including arrangementssome including orchids!ranging from $4 to $10. Your email address will not be published. Would I Buy It Again: I already killed my first jar, so its pretty likely I will. Rated 5 out of 5 Deb W - December 19, 2021 (Fun fact: the spread is Vegan!) I've tried many store-bought tzatzikis, and Trader Joe's take on the Greek staple was by far the most balanced. Your email address will not be published. Ingredients: Eggplant, red peppers, water, sunflower oil, tomato paste, sugar, sea salt, dried garlic. I also loved it. When I sampled it straight out of the refrigerator, it was disappointingly flat, with the hot-sauce flavor totally muted under the thick cream-cheese base. Hope this helps! 120. I always bring it camping: When scrambled with eggs its a lovely breakfast, and when tossed with pasta it becomes a campsite pasta alla Norma, with the tomatoes and olive oil quickly transforming into a sauce. For a dish that's all veggies, you wouldn't think it would be able to pack in 250 calories of fat (70% of all the calories in the dish!). VERDICT: Ultimately, the bruschetta sauce is worth trying at least once but it's probably best suited for a setting with utensils. ), this price is hard to beat. I love this spread for salads! It soaks up the flavor from the garlic, parmesan, and tomato puree, so it's loaded with flavor. Grill the sausages for 5 minutes on each side over medium heat. Looking for something cheesy with a bit more heat? And when it came to heat, this dip delivered, as it's topped with a dollop of that very pesto for a concentrated burst of hot flavor. Nutritional info Vegetarian About this item Red Pepper Spread with Eggplant and Garlic Use as a dip for crudites or as a sauce for grilled vegetables Add to pasta dishes or use as a spread on chicken So it was unsurprising that Trader Joe's upgraded version of this familiar favorite turned out to be one of the standout dips I tried. Although the dip was on the saltier side, its creamy fruit was by far the most prominent flavor. I tend to avoid store-bought spinach dips because, in my experience, they usually have an odd aftertaste or seem mayonnaise-y. The beloved grocery chain has an uncanny knack for discovering flavor combos that its devout customers never even . Would I Buy It Again: This spread has no place in my cabinet. Continuing my foray into the popular world of Serbian/Bulgarian/Macedonian food stuffs comes Trader Joes Eggplant and Garlic Spread. Any form of chicken! But I have yet to find any recipe using the toum with chicken! If sauce is too thick (pasta seems dry) add a splash of pasta cooking water. Another good recent find is the gnocchi with gorgonzola, in the freezer section. Wowza. The dip also has cilantro and garlic, which give it a nice, well-rounded flavor and depth. I discovered this spread while browsing the aisles at Trader Joes and was drawn to its neon bright shade of orange-red. The chunks of roasted red pepper are only the beginning; the eggplant and garlic round out the spread and the spicy kick adds another level of flavor. Dont forget to eat it with Costco chicken. And Trader Joe's went the extra mile by adding chopped bits of actual caramelized onions to the mix. I'm nowhere near being a cannoli expert but I think Trader Joe's missed the mark in mimicking the dessert. Im not quite sure why Trader Joes embraces some of the cultural names for its dishes, likedukkah, but not others, like this poor spread, unless perhaps they feared the outrage of countless babushkas, their dudgeon raised high by a sub-standard product peddled under the name ajvar. If you love garlic, Trader Joes Garlic Spread and Dip is a must-try. All Right Reserved. Even with the sugar, however, the bitterness comes through, clean and strong, right from the beginning. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The red pepper spread is more like lutenitsa. Final Synopsis: A hearty, tasty spread ruined by a strong bitter flavor. A Traditional Bulgarian Recipe of Eggplant, Garlic, and Fefferoni Peppers. It was a little spicy, smoky, and every bit delicious. It's a delicious combination of spices that adds a crunchy, roasted, savory flavor to a wide range of dishes. On a blind taste test, I'm not sure if I'd be able to identify the eggplant in it, but I'd still happily dip any veggie or cracker into it without hesitation. And so I wont call this can humble. Add a generous splash of pasta cooking water to thin. Hope they bring them back! To start, bring a ball of TJ's refrigerated pizza dough to room temperature, then stretch it onto an oiled sheet pan. In fact, its one of my must-haves for cooking and snacking. Drink them as is, add in your favorite fruit for flavor or keep these on hand for mocktails and cocktails. 10 Trader Joe's Products Chefs Secretly Love. "Trader Joe's seasonal items tend to sell out before the actual holiday arrives," Thomas says. I tossed a tub into my cart the next time I went to TJs. Caramelized Onion Dip Drizzle olive oil over the dough and top with minced or grated garlic, as well as the feta and dried tomatoes from the salad kit. I didn't mind this too much and actually liked how the ingredient gave this dip a lighter mouthfeel and smooth texture that made it easy to scoop with chips and veggies. Final Synopsis: A ljutenica that will do you well from Sofia to the Black Sea. Im more than willing to grant that the the subtleties of the spread are being lost on me. Drain pasta. -Shobi. Will definitely get this again!! So I suggest doing this and adding a slug of good olive oil too. Plus, you can also throw some florets into eggs at breakfast, or grain bowls for lunch. My favorite remains when you spread it on bread and put the chicken with pickles, lettuce and tomatoes and Panini! It tastes good with bread, pizza, vegetables, meat, and other food items. And best of all, it didn't have an artificial taste. Got it? Thanks for the input! My favorite way to eat it is as is, spread on crackers or some bread with crumbled cheese; its lovely with feta, shaved pieces of Cacciocavallo, or torn pieces of fresh mozzarella. Also, one of these bags becomes an ideal portion for a family meal or convenient meal prep. Unlike its very close cousin and shelf neighbor, TJs Red Pepper Spread with Eggplant and Garlic, this condiment is hands-down delicious like a thick, savory pasta sauce made with eggplant rather than tomato. I dont believe in calling food humble; it seems like an insult to the people who farmed and harvested it and to the cultures that survived on it. It's not as silky smooth as the sour-cream version but still yummy and light. That said, I'm sure cream cheese would have worked just as well. In its homeland, this spread can be many things piquant, red hot, even sweet what it is not supposed to be, and what most foods try and avoid being, is unpleasantly bitter. Add Parmesan and lots of black pepper. Trader Joe's offers a wide variety of both jarred and refrigerated salsas that could easily merit an individual ranking, but for the purposes of this review, I opted to sample the medium homestyle salsa. trader joe's has a bunch of nice cheeses and they have a cracker assortment box. Ingredients: Eggplant, red peppers, water, sunflower oil, tomato paste, sugar, sea salt, dried garlic. Learn the good & bad for 250,000+ products. And in terms of taste, it was more honeyed than I anticipated, but within seconds that sweetness quickly resolved into a mouthwatering blend of pure onion and garlic. a bitter condiment from the former Soviet bloc??? Crispy and flavorful from the air fryer. Its delicious mixed with sour cream. There are cumin-y chickpeas, quinoa-filled dolmas, braised gigante beans, and, my favorite, the eggplant with tomatoes and onions. The addition of cilantro elevated the dip without totally erasing the hummus flavor, and its bold, spicy profile gave it a unique and memorable edge. And when I say garlic spread, I mean. All it took was one bite for me to be instantly hooked. Trader Joes Red Pepper Spread with Eggplant and Garlic Reviews. Toss pasta with two tablespoons Garlic spread. Lets take a quick look at the history of this unusual spread before we get into what exactly its trying to do to your taste buds. Tip number one: Trader Joes red pepper spread. Chunky is an apt descriptor, as this spread gave me more artichoke bits than I expected, and that was a good thing this was by far one of the best dips I tasted. As with many folk foods (kimchi, etc) its taste, consistency and composition varies widely between households. VERDICT: If I could only pick one Trader Joe's hummus to eat for the rest of my life, it would be this option.