I'm not going to lie to anyone. When I saw this I was skeptical. I didn't know how I really felt about something that is usually so non-vegan. But I threw Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread in my cart fully expecting to try it, hate it, and throw it away. This might even have some doubters surprised, including yours truly.
Review
Once in a while I go into a product figuring I'm not going to like something. Lox, cream cheese on a bagel with capers, and red onions are one of my favorites. But to see "plant-based" and vegan on such a thing seemed kinda crazy.
I opened both dips I purchased when I got home and this was a big surprise. So plant-based dairy still has a way to go, I was still more concerned about the idea of vegan salmon.
So keeping in mind this is a dip, this is thick like regular sour cream but actually made from vegan cream cheese and mayo. This is absolutely a bit tangier because there is lemon juice along with the brine from the capers. But there were small chunks of vegan salmon that were basically spot on in terms of texture. I didn't miss the bite of actual fish because the taste seemed pretty close.
The dill is there but for me, it was on the back end as the capers and other acidic flavors were the primary notes here.
But, could you sub this out on a bagel? This dip is thick enough. Is it a full replacement for lox and bagels? No, this isn't meaty enough.
As someone who isn't vegan, this is a pretty good alternative. It's a little brinier and acidic than I would like and I would have liked a bit more of the creamy flavor to come through (along with some extra vegan salmon).
But I did walk away from this absolutely impressed with how good this plant-based alternative actually is.
Packaging
Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread is packaged in the same fashion that other dips are. This is in a plastic container with a thin layer of protective plastic over the top.
Where to buy
Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread is a refrigerated item and can only be purchased in stores at Trader Joe's.
Overall
Would I buy this again? To my surprise, yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
Product photos
Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread container:
The nutritional information:
The ingredients:
Out of the package you get:
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
The Bottom Line
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Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread
Product Name: Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread
Product Description: Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread is new and is not labeled as a holiday item.
Price: $4.29
Summary
Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread is new and a pretty standout item.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Trader Joe's Vegan Salmonesque Spread does a pretty good job of replicating a very non-vegan dish.
- Bits of vegan salmon were pretty spot on
- Good flavor otherwise.
Cons
- This isn't quite as creamy as I'd hoped, this does lean more acidy and briney.
- Not very "meaty" in terms of vegan salmon
I can see this being used for bagel & "lox" breakfast. TJ's is really aiming for the vegan crowd and offering so many vegan choices.
The only reason I would not get this, is because it contains carrageenan, a carcinogen. I won’t even feed my cat anything with carrageenan, which a lot of cat foods have. TJ’s Chai powder is wonderful (had it in a little cafe once), but it contains carrageenan, so, it’s on my “not buying” list.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on this!