Trader Joe’s Paneer Tikka Masala

May 20, 2009 | Reviewer: Abi

Trader Joe's Paneer Tikka Masala Price: $3.49
Serving: 1 box, 9oz
Calories: 330 per serving
   Calories from Fat: 190
Fat: 32%, 21g
   Saturated Fat: 39%, 8g
   Trans Fat: 0%, 0g
Cholesterol: 14%, 40mg
Sodium: 35%, 850mg
Protein: 9g
Carbohydrates: 8%, 25g
Fiber: 6%, 1g
Sugar: 3g
Weight Watchers Points: 8 POINTS

Trader Joe says: Paneer Tikka Masala with Spinach Basmati Rice – Authentic Indian Recipe

Abi says: I love Indian food. I like the rich flavors, the enthusiastic use of seasoning, the way you can eat with your hands using rice and/or naan. I like that there are dishes with cheese and dishes with meat and dishes with neither cheese nor meat.

What I don’t like is that paneer tikka masala doesn’t travel well. Sure, I can throw some leftovers in a plastic container, but the constant fear of a purse full of sauce is a huge deterrent. I’m talking serious fear here. I love my purse. I love paneer tikka masala. I don’t want my purse to get any paneer tikka masala lovin’. What can I say? I am a jealous lady.

You know who else is jealous? Everyone who saw this meal, from my commute buddy to coworkers, people either saw the box and said ‘Wow, that looks really good. I need to start bringing frozen food to work.’ or they endured the amazing aromas of my lunch and said ‘I am going to go get some Indian food now. Also, I hate you Abi for making me spend money instead of eating my sandwich in peace.’*

This meal weighs in at just 9 ounces, but provides such a hearty portion of tikka masala’d paneer that I was worried I wouldn’t have enough rice. The tikka masala is fragrant with spices that must come straight from heaven. The individual cheese cubes are not quite in the same abundance as shown on the box. In fact, the picture on the box is only really a “Serving Suggestion” if the suggestion is “Buy two boxes of the meal and put them on the same plate.”

Alas, I can’t tell you much about the spinach rice. In my enthusiasm to consume this meal I completely forgot to taste it solo. I just mixed everything together into one rather unattractive mass of super-delicious food. So, as a sauce-conveying mechanism, the green rice is awesome. As a stand-alone meal component I’m at a loss.

What I can tell you is that Trader Joe’s knows what they’re doing with this meal. There is exactly enough rice for the paneer and sauce, the flavor of the tikka masala is divine without being overly spicy (I adore spicy, this was medium intensity), and there’s no chance that the meal will end up all over the inside of your purse. Could this meal get any better? Yes, it could include a chocolate lava cake, then it would be perfect.

Bravo, Trader Joe’s!

*Not an actual quote. More like the gist of a quote. Yes, that person did go buy Indian food.

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comments

30 Responses to “Trader Joe’s Paneer Tikka Masala”

sp on May 20th, 2009

I was going to suggest reviewing this – it’s SOOO good. As is the similar TJ’s chicken tikka masala with cumin rice. My local TJ’s ran out of this meal due to their underestimating demand for it – it’s that good!! Can’t wait for it to reappear…
christine on May 20th, 2009

I must try this!
Marion on May 21st, 2009

What do you think of the TJ’s shelf stable boxed Indian meals? They are not frozen… now that IS convenient!
MaryAnne on May 21st, 2009

I LOVE Indian food. When I have a craving and need something to bring to work, I get Amy’s Palak Paneer. However, I do not want to see the nutritional info on my Indian food and do not even want to think how many calories I’m inhaling at the buffet. This being over half pure fat makes me cringe but my mouth is still salivating.
veh on May 21st, 2009

I’m in. I love the TJ butter chicken.

I didn’t see this last time at my TJ’s,hope they have it in stock this weekend.
Debbi on May 21st, 2009

I have never had Indian food before *hanging head in shame* but after reading this review and all of the comments, I may just buy me some … I am counting on all of you not to lead me astray!
Dez on May 21st, 2009

TJs needs to come to Canada. That looks pretty awesome.
I love the Amy’s Indian meals, but the price has skyrocketed at Costco. It used to be about $12 for 4 meals, but it’s up to $17. Still cheaper than the food court, but I would rather put together leftovers when we’re up over $4 per.
Gigi on May 23rd, 2009

Not exaclty frozen but still a heat and eat have you tried Target’s Archer Farms Red Garlic Curry boxed meal?

Also surprisingly good. But I have got to try this now!
Francois on May 24th, 2009

I’ll have to give this a try. My experience, aside from the FROZEN Trader Joe’s garlic naan (which is delicious), their “Indian” food has been abysmal.
suz on May 24th, 2009

Gotta say, this was one of the most delicious things I’ve eaten in recent memory. I wanted to lick the plastic container to soak up the tikka-y goodness–and would have, if I hadn’t been in the lunchroom at work. Really, it’s a shame that the rating scale ends at 5 points, because this stuff is a class above other frozen food. Also good is the curried lentils w/cumin rice. Haven’t tried the butter chicken, yet, but a box is sitting in my freezer and I have a hunch it’ll be yum.

There is no comparison between these frozen entrees and the Tasty Bites. None at whatsoever. So if you (like me) swore off Indian food at TJs after one too many mediocre meals from a pouch, it’s time to try again.
Dani on May 26th, 2009

We moved from NY where we had GOOD Indian food on almost every corner to Charlotte NC where we have one decent but not great Indian restaurant near by. I have been eating Amy’s Palak Paneer and pining for the rest until I decided to try the TJ’s entrees, and all I can say is WHY did I wait so long?

I had this for lunch today and Oh my!!! It was FABULOUS! I like TJs, really, but now between this and the Masala burgers, they have been elevated to a whole new level. I need to get back in there and try the others too.
Kate on May 28th, 2009

WOW. I enjoy TJ’s butter chicken and a few other grocery store Indian entrees, but those just serve to tide me over until I can get the real thing. This is the first frozen entree that actually compared to the flavor of Indian restaurant food. I think I’ll be buying about 20 more next time.
Tina on May 29th, 2009

I am trying this today. Being an Indian, I can say this is really good. Much better than Amy’s and cheaper than Amys. Amy’s has a peculiar preservative smell which TJ’s does not so will def. go to TJ’s again.
Regina on June 1st, 2009

I just finished eating this for lunch. YUM! It didn’t look like much so I added some chickpeas since there was PLENTY of sauce. Moderately spicy—well done TJ’s! I will definitely be buying this one again!

P.S. The end of the review states “There is exactly enough rice for the chicken and sauce” I wanted to point this out because, I too, thought this was a chicken dish when I bought it. However, as stated on the box, this is a vegetarian meal. There is no chicken, only paneer. The paneer is delish, I only wish there was more!
Abi Jones on June 1st, 2009

Regina,

You’re completely correct. There is no chicken in this meal. Thanks for bringing the mistake to my attention.

-Abi
carlee on June 2nd, 2009

I just tried this meal last week. My favorite frozen meal previously was TJ’s Butter Chicken. But this is now my favorite frozen meal of all time.
veh on June 8th, 2009

I finally got one of these…and I totally agree with every positive comment. This is a tasty little lunch. It smelled a bit chemical when I heated it, but I didn’t notice an off taste, just creamy deliciousness.

But just not enough paneer!!!

Please, Jeebus, don’t let TJ’s discontinue this or the butter chicken!
Dennis on June 10th, 2009

All I can say is wow. I was pleasantly surprised by the great flavors and spiciness of this frozen meal. It’s much better than the boxed Indian foods and perfect for work.
Jennie on June 16th, 2009

Thanks to Google and my need for nutrition info, I found your review. It really is quite good, although I could live with either more cheese cubes, or some chickpeas thrown in there. To someone living in small-town Armpit of Michigan, with nary an Indian restaurant within an hour’s drive, it’s pretty awesome.
Traci on June 18th, 2009

I JUST ate this! It was so yummy, spicy and flavorful! Delicious.
I also added some garlic naan bread.
Best TJ frozen meal i’ve had. Can’t wait to try the other flavors.

Great site by the way )
Yamini on June 22nd, 2009

I’m Indian, and I have to say that TJ’s Paneer Tikka Masala is delicious. The spinach rice that comes with it is great by itself too. I’ve been stockpiling TJ’s frozen indian meals because I can never find the same type twice, and I live in fear that they’ll be discontinued! I also recommend the butter chicken, chicken tikka masala and the curried lentils. The chicken vindaloo is pretty bad, however.
Denise on June 26th, 2009

I suppose my stomach is sensitive, but it has NEVER hurt worse than when I ate this. Thinking about it makes me feel queasy. My stomach was in horrible pain for like 5 hours until I fell asleep. BE CAREFUL!
Karen on July 1st, 2009

I tried this based on all the positive comments. It was great considering it was a frozen meal from a box! I am used to the fantastic Indian/HImalayan place that my boyfriend and I order from religiously, and this tastes almost as good as stuff we’ve gotten from there. The TJ’s Chicken Tikka Masala is pretty great too, and I will have to pick up some TJ’s Garlic Na’an to go with. If you haven’t tried this yet, you really should.
Shannon on July 15th, 2009

Hmmm. Maybe my microwave was on the fritz? I found the paneer oddly spongy.
Pat on August 6th, 2009

All this deliciousness and gluten free too… Can it be? Can it really be??? Yum yum.
Lydia on August 25th, 2009

The paneer was great although the sauce tasted almost Italian. The rice left a lot to be desired. It was rather flat tasting.
Olga on February 17th, 2010

Just had this for lunch and had to Google for reviews, because I found it absolutely delicious, and I typically don’t like Indian food. But this was so good, I actually licked the bowl. Good thing I have my own office!
I like the butter chicken too, and I like the asian bowls as well, but I will definitely stockpile this dish in the freezer!
Neotoma on February 25th, 2010

I LOVE this frozen meal from Trader Joe’s. My only regret is that the portions are not any bigger. I can seriously pig out on it. My mouth is watering from just thinking about it!
cj on March 2nd, 2010

I had to look on line to insure this was a meatless meal. Would be nice to have some info. on the box.
However, am delighted with the taste and spiciness. I will definately buy more.
christee on March 11th, 2010

I just tried this a couple weeks ago after going into my local trader Joe’s for the first time and stumbled upon it. I love Indian food and I just had to try it and I’m so happy I did! Its absolutely delicious! The sauce is the best and tastes just like the masala sauce from my favorite Indian restaurant. I’ve since then stocked my freezer with the paneer AND chicken masala! Highly recommend it.