This $3.79 Dinner From Trader Joe’s Is A Weeknight Lifesaver
I keep this product in my freezer at all times.
Everyone has their go-to products at Trader Joe’s. Every month, I make a special trip out to the only store in my city to stock up on two things: frozen hot wings for my picky child, and frozen Japanese-Style Fried Rice for everyone else in my family. Having a few bags of this fully cooked rice in my freezer gives me a reassuring feeling that even if everything else in the day goes sideways, we’ll still have dinner on the table at a reasonable time.
Related: 12 Things You Should Buy At A Southern Supermarket, According To Food Editors
Trader Joe's
Why I Love Trader Joe’s Japanese-Style Fried Rice
This isn’t your ordinary fried rice. Instead of the usual peas and carrots, this Trader Joe’s version has edamame, slivers of hijiki seaweed, carrot strips, and little bits of fried tofu. The rice is also flavored with soy sauce and mirin (a Japanese rice wine typically used in cooking) so you don’t even need to spice it up if you don’t want to.
It's Easy to Prepare
All you have to do is heat it up in a pan on the stovetop or in the microwave and you've got a complete meal—starch, protein, and vegetables, too.
Related: 50 Simple Dinner Recipes That Start With a Box of Rice
How To Dress It Up
While it does make a perfectly fine meal as-is, I often like to use it as a building block for a more substantial dish. Changing it up throughout the week keeps weeknight dinners somewhat interesting.
Add seasonings: I like to add a dash of sesame oil, chili crisp, and sliced scallions, which work well with the other ingredients.
Add eggs: Some nights, I serve portions of the rice with fried eggs on top, or I will scramble eggs and fold them into the cooked rice.
Turn it into a bowl: This fried rice also makes a great base for a bowl dinner—top it with strips of grilled chicken or steak, or roasted salmon.
Add veggies: I have also bulked up the vegetables by adding sauteed spinach or bok choy.
Whether you use it as a building block for supper or make it your main meal, at less than $4 a bag, you really can’t go wrong with this product.
Related: 14 Easy Bowl Meals For Dinner Tonight
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