It's back! On a recent trip to Trader Joe's I noticed this little jar has made its annual return to store shelves. It's packaged the exact same way as it has been for years which means the product is basically unchanged. For those who think it's new, here are my thoughts on this from 2018.
Taste
I remember going to Florida as a kid. Aside from the typical Disney vacation, we made our way to an area called Tarpon Springs. It is a large Greek community if you've never been there. We went to one restaurant that is sadly, no longer there: Pappas' Restaurant. It was a truly iconic restaurant.
Aside from really awesome food, a solid Greek salad served with potato salad, they also had olive oil and some herbs mixed together. Perfect for dipping. A seasoning blend was sold in the shops not far from the restaurant. As a family, we put butter on just about everything. After we got home we definitely shifted towards olive oil.
Having olive oil (and good olive oil at that) with herbs and spices was life altering. When you have good olive oil you begin to start questioning the need for butter. Add something beyond just olive oil and you do have something special on your hands.
As is the case here. In this little jar you are getting ground almonds and spices. As long as your palate is agreeable to anise and fennel, you may find this little jar has lots of potential. Not only are you getting a nice pop of flavor, you are also adding quite a bit of texture to each bite of bread.
I had mine with Trader Joe's Kalamata Olive Oil which has a nice flavor on its own. With the Dukkah, it was that much better.
The crushed almonds add a nice texture as do the sesame seeds. You feel like you are getting something different in each bite. There is a nice pinch of salt that will make any flavors of the olive oil pop just a bit more.
My biggest concern was the flavor of anise and fennel. They aren't flavors I'm terribly fond of, but they do work here and I did not mind them. Each bite had a really good flavor that I kept going back for more.
Overall
While I did not get a chance to see how this would work as a crust to chicken or fish, I do imagine it would work very well. This is a very flexible topping that I'm glad to see back on store shelves. Priced at $2.99, it won't break the bank either.
Would I buy this again? While in 2018, I said yes, I still have the jar sitting on my shelves. I have a funny feeling that it was the anise flavor that slowed me down. And while I don't love anise, I'm sure someone out there does. If you are one of those people who love this product then stock up as this product seems to only show up in March and will likely be off of shelves once they run out of stock.
You can pick this up when it is available at Trader Joe's or through third party sellers on Amazon.
Visual rundown
The jar of Trader Joe's Dukkah:
Calories
Ingredients
How Trader Joe's describes this product:
Following Trader Joe's directions of bread, olive oil and then dukkah:
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
Trader Joe's Dukkah
Product Name: Trader Joe's Dukkah
Product Description: Trader Joe's Dukkah is a nut and spice blend.
Price: $2.99
Summary
Trader Joe's Dukkah is a seasonal nut and spice blend that shows up on shelves just once a year.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Trader Joe's Dukkah is back on shelves after a hiatus. It also makes for a flavorful dip in addition to olive oil.
- For those of you who like to stock up, it seems that Trader Joe's likes to put this on shelves in March
Cons
- If you do not like the taste of anise or fennel, then it is best to skip this product.
This is one of my favorites!!! So good and adds lots of flavor for less calories. I love this stuff and it's good by spoonful too!!
Hey Alek! I agree. I think this has the potential to be as good as Everything but the Bagel seasoning. Just wish they would have more suggestions on the container. Thanks for stopping by!
I love this product! I bought two jars when it first came out because I was afraid that they may discontinue it. I have added it to ground beef & ground turkey when making burgers. Turned out really well. I have also mixed it with some olive oil, butter & parmesan & then poured it over some pasta. Delicious. And you are correct....if your don't like the taste of fennel or anise this is not the mix for you.
Hey Dag! Thanks so much for letting me know that this pairs well with burgers and pasta. That wasn't even mentioned on the container and I'm glad you shared this! Thanks so much for sharing your insight.
That’s definitely going on my “next time I go to TJ’s” list!
Hey Judie! I think with the right spices this is another easy one to make at home. I'll have to experiment and see if I can post a recipe. Thanks as always for stopping by.
I think I found a really good authentic dukkah recipe.
https://hurrythefoodup.com/how-to-make-dukkah/
The recipe and pictures look really good! Thanks for sharing!
Can’t find it in the spice area of the TJ’s in Bend Oregon. Is this item discontinued?
Hey Max! I haven't seen them in a while. The dukkah seems to come and go with no rhyme or reason. Sorry I couldn't help you more.
I am so glad this is back! One of the ways I used it before I ran out was to press it into refrigerated biscuit/roll dough between the layers. So good especially with a thin smear of butter!
Hey Dag! I'm glad to see that you found new ways to enjoy this. Such a yummy sounding suggestion right there. Thanks so much for sharing!
I totally love this stuff! I also really like the flavor of fennel seeds (fennel anything) so i picked up a few when i saw this was back. I like it best either sprinkled on cucumber slices or on tofu just before searing it in a little olive oil. Also makes a great addition to some rice or grains to perk them up.
Friends, I have two words: ice cream!
TJ Dukkah is amazing on ice cream, pretty much any flavor. The anise and fennel are great aromatic complements to the sweet ice cream. Also sprinkle on fresh whipped cream on fruit. Try it!
Hey Amy! I would have never have thought about this combination. Thanks so much for sharing!
Love this stuff! It's great as a coating for Salmon, give it a try. I've also used it on a Pork Roast and loved it.