We Tried Trader Joe’s Teriyaki Mushroom Mini Bao Buns

I was skeptical when I saw that Trader Joe's newest dumpling was teriyaki-flavored. Teriyaki in a bao? I imagined a gloopy super sweet soy-based sauce overwhelming the veg filling. But now that I've tried Trader Joe's Teriyaki Mushroom Mini Bao Buns? I think it's meant to be more of a shorthand toward a sweet,…

ByMichelleFebruary 18, 20250Comments

Product Review

We Tried Trader Joe’s Vegan Soup Dumplings

Vegetarians & vegans and people who occasionally eat plant-based, you've got a good xiao long bao option. Trader Joe's Vegan Soup Dumplings, officially Steamed Vegetable Soup Dumplings, are very good. As usual, I recommend steaming them on the stove, if you can. The soup tends to dry up in the microwave, and these seem to…

ByMichelleJune 17, 20240Comments

Recipes

Ingredient Inspo: Nian Gao with Trader Joe’s Rice Cakes

I usually buy rice cakes at my local Asian market, but I want Trader Joe's to keep stocking Asian ingredients along with the pre-made frozen meals. So I picked up a bag of Trader Joe's rice cakes a couple of weeks ago. I made the Nian Gao from The Woks of Life, adding a red…

ByMichelleMarch 20, 20230Comments

Product Review Recipes

We Tried Trader Joe’s Green Onion Pancakes

First off, Trader Joe's Green Onion Pancakes are not to be confused with the Scallion Pancakes they've carried for awhile (years?). The Scallion Pancakes are the Korean version, aka pajeon, and in TJ's case have other veg in addition to the scallions. These, as the label says, are the Taiwanese version. Flaky texture, just…

ByMichelleJune 17, 20210Comments

Recipes

Diana Kuan’s Sichuan-Style Peanut Noodles

In the last couple of weeks, I've been bumping into recipes with sichuan peppercorns everywhere I look. First, it was the Crispy Sichuan Chile Chicken in MILK STREET: TUESDAY NIGHTS, then it was a recipe from Danielle Centoni's upcoming FRIED RICE book, and then, it was the Sichuan-Style Peanut Noodles from Diana Kuan's RED HOT…

ByMichelleJune 17, 20190Comments

Book Reviews Recipes

CHINESE SOUL FOOD by Hsiao-Ching Chou | Book Review + Recipe

Stir-fries in Chinese Soul Food are so fast, I made the Chinese Rice Cakes with Chicken and the Beef with Asparagus on the same night. Chinese Soul Food is a book you'll actually cook from, not just look at the pretty pictures I've had the good fortune to attend one of Hsiao-Ching Chou's dumpling classes at…

ByMichelleApril 9, 20180Comments