Trader Joe’s Shrimp Tikka Masala with Cumin Rice

My family loves Indian food, especially authentic Indian food from restaurants. But because we can’t get restaurant food all the time, we also enjoy trying Indian food from grocery stores.

Aldi sells some jarred Indian sauces along with naan as Regular Buys, as well as some dishes such as samosas as occasional Aldi Finds (Special Buys).

Aldi’s cousin, Trader Joe’s, also sells a selection of Indian dishes, including frozen samosas, vegetables with sauce, aloo chat kati pouches, and masala simmer sauce.

One of the more recent entrees I tried from TJ’s is the Trader Joe’s Shrimp Tikka Masala with Cumin Rice.

Trader Joe's Shrimp Tikka Masala with Cumin Rice

Trader Joe’s Shrimp Tikka Masala with Cumin Rice cost $3.49 for a 10-oz. box at the time of publication.

It’s found in the freezer section, and the box describes it as “shrimp in a mildly spicy tomato sauce.” It’s a product of India.

Primary ingredients are cumin rice, masala curry sauce, and cooked shrimp. Sauce components are straightforward, with recognizable ingredients such as onions, coconut oil, onion powder, tomatoes, butter, garlic, ginger, green chilies, cilantro, and more. From an ingredients perspective, it looks like a healthy dish with whole food ingredients.

If you’re avoiding allergens, it contains milk, coconut, and shrimp. It may contain traces of soy and wheat.

Trader Joe's Shrimp Tikka Masala with Cumin Rice

Nutrition information and ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)

One package contains just one serving, which will net you 480 calories, 23 grams of total fat (29% DV), 15 grams of saturated fat (75% DV), 430 mg of sodium (19% DV), 46 grams of total carbohydrates (17% DV), 0 grams of sugar, and 23 grams of protein.

This meal is supposed to be heated from frozen, and it only has microwave directions. To prepare it, remove the food tray from the box and pierce the film four times to vent. Heat on high power for 4 minutes. Carefully pull back the film and stir curry and rice gently. Heat for an additional 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Allow to cool for 2 minutes before serving.

One of the first things I noticed when I heated this entree for lunch is that there aren’t a lot of shrimp. On one side of the microwavable tray were five medium-sized shrimp in a generous amount of sauce, and the other half of the divided tray held the seasoned rice. It’s enough food for one person to eat for lunch, but you aren’t going to be overeating with just this. You might want some side items such as naan, samosas, or a salad, or at least some fruit, to help fill you up. Given that fact that this meal is only $3.49, it’s perhaps not such a big deal that the portion is on the smaller side.

As far as how this meal tastes, it was surprisingly good. Sometimes frozen Indian entrees can be a little on the bland side, but this was well seasoned, with a mild to medium amount of spiciness. It didn’t just taste like spicy tomato sauce either, as some grocery store Indian sauces do. This sauce was complex, with hints of garlic, ginger, cilantro, cumin, cloves, and other spices.

I would consider buying this again as a quick, easy, and tasty lunch.

The Verdict:

Trader Joe’s Shrimp Tikka Masala with Cumin Rice is seasoned well, with mild to medium spiciness, and makes for a tasty lunch. My only disappointment is that it doesn’t have a lot of shrimp, but for the price, I can’t complain much.

About Rachael

Rachael is the Co-founder of Aldi Reviewer. When she isn't busy shopping at Aldi, she enjoys cooking, gardening, writing gothic romance, and collecting more houseplants than she probably should. You can learn more about her at rachaelsjohnston.com.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *