Trader Joe’s Chicken Vindaloo

February 7, 2008 | Reviewer: Chavi

Trader Joe’s Chicken Vindaloo Price: $2.69
Serving: 11 oz.
Calories: 290 per serving
Fat: 5%, 3.5g
Cholesterol: 10%, 30mg
Sodium: 25%, 590mg
Protein: 16g
Carbohydrates: 16%, 47g
Fiber: 11%, 3g
Sugar: 3g
Weight Watchers Points: 5 Points

Trader Joe says: Vegetables and white chicken with a vindaloo curry sauce served over steamed rice.

Chaviva says: The U.S. Department of Agriculture inspected this little bowl of Indian nosh or wholesomeness, but they didn’t inspect it for deliciousness.

When I first saw this dish, I was immediately stoked. You see, I’ll do anything to try a new Indian dish if I don’t have to go to a public restaurant and eat alone. I whipped out my BlackBerry, clicked on the bookmarked Weight Watchers calculator and punched in the figures. I was very pleased to find out that Trader Joe’s Chicken Vindaloo was only 5 points (about the average point value for a Lean Cuisine — my lunch entree of choice), and thus purchased the frozen bowl o’meal.

After heating the bowl for 4 minutes, then stirring the contents (most of which were still frozen) and popping it back in for another 4 minutes, I scurried to my office to sit, huddled over the bowl, for the brief lunch break I take. Upon first bite, I was shocked with the taste of nothing. This is a curry dish and I pride myself on being a “hot head” — that is, I am able to withstand all foods at any heat level — but this meal was completely benign. I decided to not judge it upon first bite, and took another. The spices started finding their way into the nooks and recesses of my mouth, and it started to taste more like Indian fare, but it reminded me of leftovers. I swore I was eating day-old peas and carrots from a failed stew and leftover chicken from a failed soup and leftover rice, just mushed together in a little black bowl and stuffed into the freezer section at Trader Joe’s. I could throw this together at home if the only requirement for wholesomeness is to “taste like a leftover mash.”

The look of the meal also resembled that of leftovers, like when you go to a restaurant and they stuff the rice in with the entree. That drives me crazy because it means that I don’t get that fresh rice-meets-entree experience. I eat a lot of frozen meals at my boring office job, and this definitely doesn’t rank up with my favorites. The chicken was plenty tender, but it failed to wow me the way that a lot of other pre-packaged Indian meals I’ve had have done — especially on the flavor indicator. I did finish the entire bowl, but only becuase I didn’t want to have to figure out the points value for only eating some bizarre fraction of the meal. Afterward, my mouth felt as though it had consumed a full Indian buffet, but a piece of gum took care of that sad untruth.

Alas, Indian nosh, you are banished to the Dept. of Agriculture for further testing. Wholesomeness just isn’t enough these days.

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comments

7 Responses to “Trader Joe’s Chicken Vindaloo”

Crow on February 7th, 2008

The Dept. of Agriculture isn’t inspecting individual bowls. They just stand around a food processing plant, and maybe poke at every 100th cow that comes down the conveyor hooks, or prod a chicken with a stick. The meat can’t show signs of disease, it’s perfectly acceptable if it shows signs of tasting like crap.
Jenn on February 7th, 2008

I completely agree. This meal was only edible after I doused it in Sriracha. At which point it kind of ceased to be Indian food, but it did make my mouth a whole lot happier.
Abi Jones on February 7th, 2008

The soupiness of these meals just kills me. I suppose it is a combo of my complete lack of patience and the rice and sauce being cooked together.
Chavi on February 8th, 2008

Har har, Crow

I’m glad I’m not alone, though, in my experience with the soupy ricey mush bowl!
Gigi on April 30th, 2008

I wholely agree… this bowl was disgusting in taste and looks.
Mawi on September 3rd, 2009

Are you kidding me? Perhaps they’ve repaired the problems you all saw, because I give this high ratings for frozen foods. Maybe it’s time for a fresh look, people. If I’d read these last year, I wouldn’t have tried it today. I won’t pretend it “looks” good – IT’S A FROZEN ENTREE FOR PETE’S SAKE
But it tastes yummy. I wouldn’t mind a shade more seasoning, but it has an authentic curry taste. Great textures, and, once you stir it as directed, OF COURSE it isn’t separated. Duh! Also, there is absolutely no “soupiness” to it. No, it isn’t parched dry either. It’s just fine. The veggies are NOT mush, and the chicken tastes fresh.
Disclaimer: I tend to only like “super-spicy” foods when it’s necessary for flavor. But this was certainly just spicy enough to be too much for those who don’t enjoy spiciness.
April on January 21st, 2010

I just tried this tonight and I completely agree with your review of it.. total garbage.. I ate half of it and threw the rest out. I’ll stick to fresh real Indian food from here on out!