Trader Joe’s Chicken Tandoori with Spinach

May 9, 2006 | Reviewer: Abi

Trader Joe's Chicken Tandoori with Spinach

Serving: 1 bowl, 12 oz.
Calories: 360
Fat: 11%, 7g
Sodium: 20%, 520mg
Protein: 22g
Scary warning stickers: 1

Trader Joe says: Boneless white chicken simmered in spinach and exotic spices. Served with seasoned rice.

Trader Joe's Chicken Tandoori with Spinach

Abi says: In my brief tenure (1.5 months) as self-appointed lead reviewer on www.HeatEatReview.com, I’ve come to find that Indian food consistently ranks in the top ten of all meals. In fact, we’re going to have to post a top-ten meals list just to show how much we’re impressed with frozen Indian meals from New Jersey.

Todays’ entry, a tandoori chicken with spinach and seasoned rice falls into the pit of every bowl meal (watery rice*), but manages to save itself with abundant and tasty chicken and a flavorful and healthy spinach sauce.

If you were ever a baby sitter or a parent, then you know exactly how the spinach in this dish looks. It was a surpise when I opened the meal and found some yellow rice, bright orange tandoori chicken, and cooked spinach looking like what you’d find in a small child’s diaper. The picture you see above is how it looks mixed together. You’ll just have to imagine the layer of spinach on top of the meal.

But if you’d made it this far without being grossed out, I suggest you go to Trader Joe’s and stock up on these bowls in all varieties. The tandoori chicken is delicious. This meal isn’t nearly as spicy as the Massaman Curry (though gringos out there might think it so) but it does pull off the lovely mixture of rice, tandoori chicken, and spinach sauce with such grace that you’ll have a hard time believing it came out of a microwave.

Downsides? Well, aside from the aformentioned looks, just one of (many) bites of chicken was dry. Also, there are approximately 10 peas in this dish. They add color, but I made the mistake of biting into one and discovered that they don’t taste too great. I love peas (fresh and frozen, but not canned), but I suggest avoiding these ones or swallowing them whole. I guess TJ’s can’t get everything right.

*Watery rice can be avoided by letting most meals sit for a minute or two in the microwave. This works at home, but your coworkers won’t be down with your meal hogging the microwave just to congeal. Thus, I often complain about sauces that start off sort of watery and magically thicken during the course of the meal.

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3 Responses to “Trader Joe’s Chicken Tandoori with Spinach”

Ken on November 13th, 2006

Has anyone on the West coast ever seen these? I’d love to try this one (as well as the Massaman Chicken). But the only Indian & Thai dinners I’ve seen here are the Chicken Masala (love it!) and the Vegan Pad Thai with Tofu (quite good).

Does TJ’s think West coasters don’t like Thai & Indian food?!
Melissa on April 19th, 2007

I’m currently eating this for lunch right now…for the first time. I avoided the watery rice by cooking for 5 min. w/ lid on….then stirring & removing lid & cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes. It seems to make the rice soak up the extra liquid. Also, it’s a bit on the bland side - needs salt. But after that…for a low fat, high fiber meal in a bowl…it’s pretty darned good. It could use some more peas or some carrots or some other additional vegetable in my opinion.
Trader Joe's Chicken Tandoori with Spinach | HeatEatReview.com on July 23rd, 2007

[…] meal was also reviewed by Abi, who also gave the meal 4 stars. So now that this meal has received 4 stars twice in a row that […]