Tikka Masala Curry Sauce del Trader Joe's — Recensione di kyu (15 apr 2023)

I think this simmer sauce may be new-ish; in a win for us vegans, I read online that it’s intended to replace a discontinued jarred version, which was made with milk. Trader Joe’s keeps coming out with exciting new products, but I’m glad that they haven’t neglected their legacy items and are removing unnecessary dairy to keep them up-to-date.
I was definitely intrigued by the more novel ingredients in this curry (ground watermelon seeds?) plus I’m a certified #lazyvegan who’ll spring for anything that makes meal prep a bit easier! I was able to stretch this little pouch into three lunches by adding a load of frozen vegetables and baked tofu. I then spooned the #curry over steamed brown rice (last image, but warning, it’s not very photogenic.)
Upon opening the pouch, I was struck by how much it smelled like tikka masala — based on the aroma, I think they got the spices right. The sauce is creamy yet not heavy, with a prominent rich and savory tomato note. Flavor-wise, though, this must be one of the mildest curries I have ever tried (think 0 Scovilles.) It’s not necessarily a bad thing! — I think it’s great to make foods accessible to everyone, including those who are highly sensitive to heat — I just added cayenne to my desired level. Be prepared for a bit of greasiness as you cut through the plastic and extrude the contents into the pan, as a bag perhaps isn’t the neatest format.
For $2.99, it really isn’t a bad deal, just be prepared to doctor it up with a little extra chili alongside your protein and vegetables.