Three tasty meals you can make from Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s is a neighborhood grocery store that prides itself on bringing fresh, quality food to consumers at bargain prices. In addition to its low prices, Trader Joe’s offers a global selection of food items from the U.S. to Southeast Asia. 

With such variety packed in one store, the options can be overwhelming. Whether you can’t decide what to meal prep this week or you just want to try something new without fear it may turn horribly awry, the following meal options may work for you.

1. Thai Curry

Ingredients:

• Jasmine Rice
• Yellow curry spice packets 
• Coconut milk 
• Chicken breast 
• Red bell pepper 
• Small potatoes 
• Cilantro 

Steps:

Rice:

• Boil water in small pot and add salt
• Once boiling, add rice to pot (for every cup of rice, use 1.5 cups of water)
• Stir to keep rice from sticking together
• Cover the pot and put on simmer
• Check occasionally until rice is soft and fluffy

Chicken:

• Preheat oven to 400 F on “bake”
• Wash and prep chicken breasts with salt, pepper and lemon 
• Bake for 40-45 minutes
• Once done, cube up chicken breasts
• With another pot, pour in coconut milk and turn on medium heat
• Once milk is heated, add in curry spices and cilantro
• Cut up potatoes and bell pepper to add in pot
• After 10-15 minutes, add in chicken cubes until mixture is thickened and potatoes are tender

2. Vegan Tacos 

Ingredients:

• Prepared butternut squash
• Canned black beans
• Chickpeas
• Cilantro
• Avocado 
• Lime
• Taco seasoning
• Corn tortillas

Steps:

Filling:

• Microwave butternut squash on “high” for 5 minutes
• In a small pot, boil black beans and chickpeas
• Add in softened squash after bean and chickpea mixture reduces to a simmer
• Fold ingredients together with salt, pepper and taco seasoning
• After 8-12 minutes on low heat, turn off stove and let cool

Taco prep:

• Microwave corn tortilla for 10-13 seconds
• Place filling mixture in middle of tortilla
• Cube up avocado and chop cilantro
• Add two teaspoons of cubed avocado and sprinkle chopped cilantro on top of filling
• Cut up lime and squeeze 1/4 wedge on top of taco

3. Tofu stir fry

Ingredients:

• Firm tofu 
• Stir-fry noodles
• Spinach 
• Frozen carrots and peas
• Green onion 
• Low-sodium soy sauce
• Rice vinegar 
• Sesame oil 

Steps:

Tofu:

• Take firm tofu out of package and place on plate
• Put a smaller plate on tofu to drain excess water out
• Drain remaining water after 20 minutes 
• Cube up tofu

Noodles:

• Add water with salt to small pot and turn water on “high”
• Once water is boiling, add noodles
• When most water is reduced, add in carrots, peas and spinach leaves
• When all water is reduced, turn to simmer and add in tofu
• Mix ingredients well 
• Add in soy sauce, rice vinegar and sesame oil 
• Continue to simmer for 8-10 minutes
• Chop up green onion and sprinkle to taste and fold in mixture 

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