If you’re looking for a side dish to go with Trader Joe’s Middle Eastern Style kebabs (koobideh), Trader Joe’s new pilaf is a pretty decent option. Trader Joe’s Chicken, Lentil and Caramelized Onion pilaf ($4.49) is flavored with saffron, cinnamon and cumin and cooks up pretty quick in the microwave. It’s similar to something we make on the regular at home: Red Lentils and Rice, but the spices are turned up a bit more in the home version with allspice, coriander, and cloves.
I know saffron can be divisive for some people. I love it, my husband not so much. Here I think you can smell it more than you can taste it, but YMMV depending on your sensitivity.
The bag says it’s 2.5 servings, which is about right. I made about half the bag for lunch and topped it with a little chopped parsley for freshness and color. Otherwise it’s just kinda brown. The bag I got was light on chicken and the couple of pieces in this half of the bag were tough and chewy. (I may be proven wrong when I go to have the other half of the bag, but I kind of doubt it based on a quick look-see).
If you’re gonna use this as a side dish with the kebabs or chicken, it’s not that big of a deal, but if you were gonna have it as a main, that’s a bit of a let down, especially for $4.49. I’d pick up some pre-cooked chicken to throw in just in case.
The ingredient list is pretty clean and the sodium isn’t off the charts. Would I buy it again? For us personally, probably not, just because I make something similar. But I think it’s a good option to have if you’re short on time or you just don’t keep that many spices in your pantry. If you try it, let me know if your bag was any more generous with the chicken.
Check out some other We Tried’s from Trader Joe’s:
Spicy Mexican Style-Riced Cauliflower
Cauliflower and Butternut Squash Risotto
Jalapeno-Seasoned Corn and Rice Puffs