Trader Joe’s Vegetable Samosas

July 29, 2008 | Reviewer: Guest Reviewers

Trader Joe’s Vegetable Samosas Price: $?.??
If you know, let us know!
Serving: 2 Samosas, 2.93 oz.
Servings per box: 3, 8 oz. total
Calories: 170 per serving
Fat: 10%, 6g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 15%, 350mg
Protein: 5g
Carbohydrates: 7%, 22g
Fiber: 12%, 3g
Sugar: 2g
Weight Watchers Points: 3 per serving

Trader Joe says: There might have been something on the box, but it wasn’t included with the review and Trader Joe’s doesn’t put any product information on their website.

Katie Hall says: I had never eaten Indian food before I met my husband. When introduced to the goodness that is the food of India, my husband (boyfriend at the time) and I developed a weekend ritual, that proved a sure-fire way to pack on the pounds:

Gorge on the delicious meats bathed in exotic sauces and wafting with far-away spices, piles upon piles of naan bread and sweet-smelling jasmine rice, and top it all off with some galub jumun at the local Indian food all-you-can-eat buffet for the ridiculously low price of $7.99.
Stop by 7-11 on the way home to by the biggest tub of coffee you can, so as to stem off the coming sleep-inducing carb-overload your body is about to endure. Be sure to take full advantage of all the “free” extras 7-11 offers: dump heaps of mini marshmallows in your hot chocolate, splash as many pumps of flavored syrup into your coffee as you can, stuff some extra chocolate flavored creams in your pocket for later!
Proceed to spend the rest of the day leveling up your night elf druid with said boyfriend in an appalling attempt to prove to him that, “Yes, we have TONS in common! Look! I LOVE to play pointless video games that have no end. EVER.”

But I digress…

Trader Joe’s Vegetable samosas are tasty triangles of tangible heaven. Though they are a little spicy for my taste (hence the 4 stars), but really, its nothing that a gulp of milk can’t tame. The outsides are crispy, though a bit greasy. Although the box says to bake at 350 for ten minutes (turning halfway through), mine came out of the oven a little cool inside so I put them in for a few minutes longer.

The box comes with some handy space-age metal coating on the inside top and bottom. This means you can cook the samosas in their carton, in the microwave. I have done this before and they have come out pretty good; I only decided to bake them this time because I thought they might come out crispier. They did come out marginally crispier, but I’d save time (and electricity) and nuke ‘em next time.

All in all, I like that I can understand all (OK, most, there are some wacky bacterial culture names that I have no idea how to go about pronouncing) of the ingredients on the back of the box. The calorie density isn’t that horrible — in fact, I almost always eat the whole box and never feel guilty/fat/horrible/gluttonous/stingy about it afterward.

comments

16 Responses to “Trader Joe’s Vegetable Samosas”

Nhaar on July 29th, 2008

Hey, those look pretty good! And for 510 calories for the whole box, they seem like a good little indulgence. Awesome! I’ll have to pick these up next time I’m at Trader Joes.
Katy on July 29th, 2008

I wish we had a Trader Joe’s here in Columbus. The closest one is in Atlanta, and Atlanta scares me. It’s so big and … big. Thus I have never actually been in a Trader Joe’s. Those are just another thing in a long line of things from Trader Joe’s that look really darn good and that I cannot have. Dadburnit!
Adina on July 29th, 2008

i stopped reading at gulab jamuns and ran to my nearest indian buffet
rob on July 29th, 2008

We don’t have TJ in Florida either. I live in what is pretty much a retirement city and indian food is hard to find, I really miss it from when I lived up north.

I would wreak havoc on those Samosas.
Becka on July 29th, 2008

I’m scared of Indian food for some reason. I actually bought some veggie samosas from Target and then never ate them…I think I might need to try these since they got such a high mark. I need to get over this ‘phobia’ seeing as I’m vegetarian and it seems Indian food would open up a host of possibilities with veg foods.
Erin on July 30th, 2008

I’ve always wondered about those. Trader Joe’s has such fun (and usually delish) frozen food and desserts. Will have to try these on my next grocery trip.
Crow on July 30th, 2008

Looks like a turnover gone horribly, horribly wrong.
Christine on July 30th, 2008

Those look yummy. Too bad TJ’s is too far from where I live. I might see if my Target has some though.
IEMusic on July 31st, 2008

This kind of look like a vegtable won ton.
Kim on July 31st, 2008

Your description of a fruitful relationship weekend ritual sounds… disturbingly familiar. Hey, it worked out though, right?
Abi Jones on July 31st, 2008

@Nhaar - Definitely one of those things that won’t give you a heart attack if you eat the whole box.

@Katy - I wish I could telling that you’re not really missing out, but if you’re a frozen food fan, Trader Joe’s is the best place. Ever.

@Adina - Now, galub jamuun is a love I do not understand. Egh.

@Rob - My future brother in law was in town recently visiting from Florida. Pretty sure Indian food made up half of the non-breakfast meals.

@Becka - Indian food is super-friendly for vegetarians. I can see how it is tough to try a new cuisine. If you have an Urban Spoon or Yelp listing for your town, why not try some Indian food in a trusted restaurant?
Abi Jones on July 31st, 2008

@Crow - A savory, nicely spiced turnover.

@Christine - Good luck!

@IEMusic - Thanks for commenting, names are appreciated - - advertisements not so much. You can always use a pseudonym if that makes you more comfortable.

@Kim - Mine was based on Thai

@Erin - I actually haven’t seen these. I need to pay more attention during my next TJ’s trip.
Rose on July 31st, 2008

I’ve never eaten indian food, and for some reason there is no super market that I can find that stocks frozen indian food, we also lack a TJ’s here in coastal GA. =[
Claire on August 4th, 2008

Mmm, these sound tasty. I wish there were some TJ’s near me…

On an entirely different note, I hope the reviewer doesn’t have to play endless amounts of mmorpg to impress her man now that they’re married! I myself tried to get into that with my boyfriend-turned-husband, but just couldn’t cut it.
Alisson on August 6th, 2008

These are awesome - one of my TJ staples.
Katie Hall on August 7th, 2008

@Kim and Claire:

After about a year of that routine, and 20 extra pounds, we agreed to put an end to that particular ritual. In fact, we moved out of area of our favorite Indian restaurant (it’s only 20 minutes away without traffic, though, so going there is a special treat). As for the MMPORG, he still plays, but I don’t. Sometimes I get a pang for the good ol’ days and log in, but after approximately 17 minutes of killing things and getting little or no reward for it, I get bored, log off and go watch Law and Order. During the commercials I contemplate what to do about this “I tried to impress my boyfriend by playing World of Warcraft and I all gained was 20 pounds” souvenir I have.

Thanks for the comments!