Trader Joe’s Tempura Shrimp with Soy Dipping Sauce is a popular frozen option for those craving a quick and tasty seafood snack or appetizer. These shrimp are coated in a light tempura batter and come with a sweetened soy dipping sauce, offering a mix of crunchy texture and savory flavor. Whether you’re hosting a party or enjoying a quiet night in, these tempura shrimp are a convenient choice.
Product Description
Trader Joe’s Tempura Shrimp come frozen in a 16-ounce box, priced at around $7.99. Each box contains 10 large shrimp that are farm-raised in Thailand and coated in a traditional Japanese tempura batter. The shrimp are paired with two large packets of sweetened soy sauce, providing more than enough dip for all 10 pieces.
Review of the Product
While Trader Joe’s Tempura Shrimp offers a convenient way to enjoy tempura at home, the overall experience can vary depending on how they are cooked. When baked in the oven, the shrimp achieve a decent level of crispiness, though the texture might not match the light, airy quality of freshly made tempura. The shrimp can become slightly dense or even mushy if not cooked properly, which detracts from the ideal tempura experience.
These are also a bit greasy coming out of the oven, so be prepared to see quite a bit come out during the cooking process.
The soy dipping sauce, however, is a highlight, adding a sweet and savory flavor that complements the shrimp well. The sauce’s thicker consistency compared to regular soy sauce helps it cling to the shrimp, enhancing each bite. The balance of flavors between the crispy batter and the rich dipping sauce makes for an enjoyable snack, though it might not fully satisfy those looking for an authentic tempura experience.
Ingredients and Nutritional Information
Ingredients:
- Shrimp: Shrimp, tempura batter, soybean oil.
- Soy Dipping Sauce: Water, sugar, soy sauce (water, soybeans salt), glucose syrup solids, modified food starch, salt, yeast extract.
Nutritional Information (per 3-ounce serving):
- Calories: 210
- Total Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
- Sodium: 360mg
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 7g
Each serving also contains 20 calories and 230mg of sodium from the dipping sauce. The sodium content is notably high as is typical with soy sauce products, which is something to be mindful of, especially if you plan to enjoy more than one serving
How to Prepare Trader Joe’s Tempura Shrimp
Oven-Baked:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Arrange the frozen shrimp in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes on each side, until the shrimp are golden brown and crispy.
- Serve with the soy dipping sauce (thawed in warm water while the shrimp bake).
Pan-Fried:
- Heat about ¼ inch of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the shrimp and cook for about 2 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
- Drain on a paper towel and serve with the dipping sauce.
Air Fryer Directions:
- Preheat the Air Fryer:
Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and let it preheat for about 3-5 minutes. - Prepare the Shrimp:
Arrange the frozen tempura shrimp in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Make sure they are not overlapping to allow for even cooking. - Cook the Shrimp:
Air fry the shrimp for 8-10 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time to ensure both sides become crispy and golden brown. The exact time may vary depending on the size of your shrimp and your specific air fryer model, so check for crispiness. - Serve:
Once the shrimp are cooked, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving with the soy dipping sauce.
For a crispier result, an air fryer is recommended if you have one available, as it can achieve a similar texture with less oil and hassle.
Serving Suggestions
Trader Joe’s Tempura Shrimp can be enjoyed in several ways:
- As an Appetizer:
Serve the shrimp with the provided soy dipping sauce alongside other Asian-inspired starters like edamame or spring rolls. - In a Bowl:
Add the tempura shrimp to a rice bowl with steamed vegetables, avocado, and a drizzle of spicy mayo for a satisfying meal. - On a Salad:
Top a fresh green salad with the crispy shrimp and use the soy sauce as part of a vinaigrette for a light, flavorful dish.
Pairing Suggestions
Beverage Pairings:
- Japanese Beer: A cold, light lager like Sapporo pairs well with the salty, crispy shrimp.
- Sake: For a more traditional pairing, a chilled sake enhances the subtle sweetness of the shrimp.
Food Pairings:
- Steamed Rice: Simple steamed rice is a great base to soak up the soy sauce and complement the shrimp.
- Stir-Fried Vegetables: Lightly stir-fried vegetables like bok choy or snap peas add a fresh contrast to the fried shrimp.
FAQs About Trader Joe’s Tempura Shrimp
The following are commonly asked questions about this product:
Yes, air frying is an excellent method to achieve a crispy texture without using as much oil as pan-frying.
Yes, if you don’t use all the sauce, you can freeze it for later. Just be sure to thaw it properly before use
If you have leftover shrimp, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consume them within a day for the best texture.
Conclusion
Trader Joe’s Tempura Shrimp with Soy Dipping Sauce is a tasty, convenient option for those looking to enjoy tempura at home. While it might not completely replicate the lightness of freshly made tempura, the flavor and texture are satisfying enough, especially when paired with the sweetened soy dipping sauce. Just be mindful of the sodium content and cook the shrimp carefully to avoid any issues with texture.
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Trader Joe’s Tempura Shrimp with Soy Dipping Sauce
Product Name: Trader Joe’s Tempura Shrimp with Soy Dipping Sauce
Product Description: Trader Joe's Tempura Shrimp with Soy Dipping Sauce is a classic Trader Joe's dish.
Price: $7.99
Summary
Trader Joe's Tempura Shrimp is a perennial favorite in the freezer section.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Convenient: Easy to prepare and a quick option for appetizers or meals.
- Flavorful Dipping Sauce: The included soy dipping sauce adds a rich, sweet-savory flavor that enhances the shrimp.
- Crispy Texture: When cooked properly, the tempura batter achieves a satisfying crunch.
Cons
- High in Sodium: The sodium content is quite high, especially when using the dipping sauce.
- Inconsistent Texture: The shrimp can become dense or mushy if not cooked carefully, which may detract from the experience.
- Not Fully Authentic: The tempura batter and overall texture might not meet the expectations of those familiar with freshly made tempura
David Larson says
After 15 minutes in the oven, the shrimp began to "bleed" liquid onto the baking sheet and then that liquid spilled over the edge of the baking sheet onto the bottom of the oven AND YOU TALK ABOUT SMOKE!! What did I do wrong?
becomebetty says
Hi David. Let me ask a couple questions to see if I can diagnose this. Was your oven preheated to 400F? Did you defrost the shrimp at all? Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this.
Kay says
Amazing and delicious! As if you are at the restaurant. Baked to crisp as if it just came out of the fryer. I made my own shrimp tempura hand roll with rice and avocado and dipped it in the sauce.
becomebetty says
That's a great idea Kay. Thanks for sharing!
Milo says
How is the sauce prepared?
becomebetty says
Hey Milo! Just let that warm up to room temperature. Use is as a dip once your tempura is hot and ready. I hope that helps! Thanks for stopping by!
♥Curry Cutie♥ says
♥Of all the Brands of Tempura Shrimp had, Trader Joe's is easily my #1 Favorite. I like to lightly fry them in their Organic CocoNut Oil & heat up the Dipping Soy Sauce in a cup of hot water. Personally, a great appetizer for Anime Movie Night.♥
schweigenthaler says
How fortunate some of us must be to live on the West Coast with many exceptional Japanese restaurants at our disposal. I am assuming that is why my expectations seem to be higher than those of reviews I have seen elsewhere.
I would rate this product as clawing its way towards mediocre..Reasons:
1 . Texture. Good shrimp, frozen or fresh, have a sort of knack when you bight into them. These are decidedly flaccid. The tempura coating should also have a crackle, rather than being not quite mushy but definitely not crisp and very oily.
2. Flavor: There is one. Neither the tempura coating, which usually has a touch of salt, nor the shrimp tastes of much more than cardboard. Actually, not even that. There simply is none. While there is no doubt that these are farmed shrimp, which may explain the lack of taste, there are also good farmed shrimp to be bought, although they are rarer than some, which can be much worse than these. Good shrimp, fresh or frozen, should have a slight sweet taste along with the mouth feel. These are sort of un shrimp.
-The soy sauce, which is just mid level product bought in bulk, could be pimped up with a touch of ginger or rice vinegar.. perhaps a touch of alium (onion, garlic, chives..things like that. Spring onion clippings might add a little to it. What is does contain is sugar, which somehow does not fit.
Obviously this is not top cuisine. You don´t expect to buy that in the frozen foods isle, but one should be able to expect more.
TJ´s has some pretty good convenience dishes. This, unfortunately, is not among them.
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this!
Brandon Lee Mann says
How could anyone like this product? It is garbage. I am a 5 course meal 5 days a week but a guilty pleasure is ready made meals by myself and a binder of Hulu. Got these and am completely disappointed. Zero flavor, serving size makes no sense... 3.5 servings per box but it comes in 2 packs of 5... that was clue one it was going to be bad. 2nd clue is when there is 1/3 cup to dip 3.5 oz of shrimp in means "please dip and smother me in this so all you taste is sauce because the shrimp has no flavor". 3rd, the coating is oily. Very mushy and oily. No wonder these aren't on their website, the reviews would be horrible.
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing Brandon.