The pros: Trader Joe's Thai Green Curry Simmer Sauce is returning to shelves at a reasonable price that is below other Thai curry sauces that they sell. It is also well priced as you would need an extensive pantry to achieve a similar sauce.
The cons: Lackluster and boring packaging. Frequently there is a lot going on in terms of the packaging, but with this there isn't anything but a boring orange label next to the green sauce.
The verdict: There are times some Trader Joe's packages deserve their own paragraph going through the fun details. Here, they went the path of basic and boring and the absolute opposite on the color wheel. Perhaps they were hoping you would ignore the fact that this product looks like something that would end up splattered in an Exorcist movie. It's the perfect shade of pea soup green. While it isn't the most appetizing looking sauce on first glance, it is pretty good overall.
This tastes very different from the Thai Red Curry Sauce I tried recently. This is very much fragrant from the lemongrass. But the coconut milk present here was quite assertive when I dipped my finger in it to give it a try before adding any shrimp or veggies to it. The flavor of the coconut milk mellowed out when mixed with veggies and protein. But the citrusy nature of the lemongrass and ginger were more apparent with the addition of shrimp.
It's also quite complex too. There are flavors that like kefir lime, lemons, shallots, and coriander that paired well with the shrimp that I had with this dish. But if there is one thing that makes a curry, it's heat. This sauce is only mild in heat. So if you are a spice junkie you might want to reach for some hot sauce here. As for me, I found it really pleasant not to have to sit and sweat my way through dinner. However, there is a school of thought in curry that needs to be discussed. How do you improve a curry? Add more heat.
For $1.99 you might be tempted to walk past this mundane looking package, however, if you enjoy a curry that is a touch sweet and citrusy, then you may find a pleasant surprise in this jar. This jar should be good for 3-4 servings. I used half of it when I made two servings.
Here is the visual rundown of what you get if you buy this product:
The jar of Trader Joe's Thai Green Curry Simmer Sauce:
The nutritional information and the ingredients:
How to prepare:
After being cooked with some shrimp and Trader Joe's Stir Fry Veggies:
A closer look at everything:
Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Thai Green Curry Simmer Sauce again.
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The Bottom Line
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Dag says
Oh crap. I knew I forgot to buy something at Trader Joe's. I was just there an hour ago . I have been meaning to try this. I did manage to score three bags of the bourbon maple walnuts. I placed a comment under that product. You're finished dishes always look so stunning. I will definitely have to get this on my next trip. Did you use Trader Joe's shrimp?
I did have Trader Joe's Tikka Masala Simmer Sauce this weekend. A friend of mine added some chicken to it & then served it over basmati rice with garlic naan. Quite good however I still like the tikka masala sauce in the frozen entrees better.
becomebetty says
Hey Dag! I actually used some shrimp I had from Costco, but I have used Trader Joe's shrimp in the past. The Black Tiger Shrimp, Red Argentinian Shrimp and Blue Shrimp are all very good. I have a jar of the simmer sauce sitting in my pantry. Yet another thing I haven't had a chance to write and photograph yet. But the way it sounds, I don't know if I'm missing that much.
Dagmar says
Don't get me wrong the Tikka Masala sauce is good but not as creamy tasting as the one in the frozen entrees. it's more rustic tasting.
becomebetty says
Good to know. I guess it's still worth a try.
Erin says
Ooooh that looks yummy! I love Thai Green curry but haven't ever tried making it at home. This looks pretty doable!
becomebetty says
Hey Erin! This was super easy. Just pour, warm, and serve. Thanks for stopping by!
Erin says
My pleasure! I'm going to have to head to Trader Joe's soon now. 😉
nancy says
I didn’t like this sauce, I won’t buy it again ..it lacked a lot of flavor, I was disappointed. I would need to doctor it up too much to bring it to my level of Thai taste????
becomebetty says
Hey Nancy! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this sauce. You are always welcome to share your thoughts here for products you like and don't like. Thanks for taking the time out of your day!