The pros:Â Trader Joe's Yellow Jackfruit Curry with Jasmine Rice is the newest addition to the frozen foods aisle. Unlike so many of my recent posts, this item might not be seasonal.
The cons:Â You'll need to like yellow curry to appreciate this dish. Coconut milk drives up the saturated fat in this dish.
The verdict: Â Confession time:Â When I buy something from Trader Joe's I actually start a draft of a review for it. Most of the items I get to, some I get distracted from and move on to newer finds. Yes, that end cap of new items gets me every time. Without exaggeration, I have over 200 items in my draft folder for this blog waiting to be finished and published. One such item is Trader Joe's Canned Jack Fruit. I've been hesitating on it because I had absolutely no clue what to do with it. I've never had Jackfruit prior to reviewing this pre-made item. Perhaps that review will come to be after the New Year.
This is one of those item I'm glad Trader Joe's offers, because I had no idea: what jackfruit was, what it tasted like, or how to use it. So, if you are in the same boat where you thought the same things here we go. Jackfruit tastes like an artichoke and shares a similar texture. It was pretty good. It's more savory than sweet so don't let the same throw you. I enjoyed eating it. Now, I can go back to the can that has been sitting in my cabinet and have some clue what I can pair it with.
This is a typical freezer entree. Mine needed just over 5 minutes to cook. The jasmine rice did come out of the microwave quite sticky, but still fragrant and yummy. This is a yellow curry made with coconut milk, so be ready for all the fat that comes along with that. The curry is much thinner than many of the other Indian curries at Trader Joe's, but this is more typical of Thai cuisine. I personally wished it wasn't quite so thin. My rice was absolutely swimming in the amount of curry sauce. The heat is a mild to medium heat. The yellow curry tastes of coconut and spices.
While the star item here is the jackfruit, this also has some peppers and even less eggplant. I hardly noticed the eggplant at all. For $2.79 this is a solid choice for vegans, fans of Thai yellow curry, or the curious about trying Jackfruit. A cool find and a food item that should be explored a bit more in my world. I liked it this dish.
Here is the visual run down of what you get if you buy this product:
The box of Trader Joe's Yellow Jackfruit Curry with Jasmine Rice:
The nutritional information and the ingredients:
How to prepare:
How Trader Joe's describes this dish:
Out of the package you get:
After being cooked and plated you get:
A closer look at Trader Joe's Yellow Jackfruit Curry with Jasmine Rice:
Would I buy this again? Trader Joe's Yellow Jackfruit Curry with Jasmine Rice was good, but I prefer the Indian curries that Trader Joe's sells. This is a solid option for people who are vegan or who are curious about Jackfruit but have no idea what to do with it. I might buy this again.
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!
judilyn says
Coincidence? I'd never heard of jackfruit, but a friend put a picture of hers up on Facebook yesterday ! Now I'm curious about it.
Virtual hugs,
Judie
becomebetty says
They do sell it in canned form. Because this was already prepared, I was brave enough to try it. It's not bad. Reminded me a lot of artichoke and was quite filling.
KingOfBeacon says
I have to go try this. I've never had savory jackfruit, only sweet. I wait every year for the fresh. They say it makes a great vegan pulled "pork".
becomebetty says
I've heard the same thing too. I can see some similarities in the texture thinking about it. I think it will take well to whatever sauce it is placed in. If you try it, let me know what you think.
Ellen Shick says
Hi Betty, I had jack fruit when I was in Mexico and really liked it. It was so amazing to see these huge fruits hanging by tiny stalks from the bottom branches of trees. They almost looked fake!
Anyway, thanks to Trader Joe's and thanks to you for letting us know about this.
becomebetty says
Hey Ellen! Thanks for stopping by and sharing. Did you have any while you were in Mexico? Just wondering how fresh jackfruit tastes.
Tom says
Just made this for lunch, and found it quite tasty! I added some Sriracha because I like a bit more spice. Glad I read that you only needed 5 minutes in the microwave, I had mine set for 6:30 (since TJs seems to consistently underestimate cooking times). This meal was actually being cooked as I was nuking it, so after reading your cook time comment, I went right over to my microwave. Yep, at just past 5 min, the curry was bubbling over the side of the container. What was a minor spill could have been a major one.
But this is all about the food! I liked the taste of this meal, though the texture of the jackfuit was very soft. That’s my only complaint. The price and convenience are great, so I will buy this again.
First time on your site, I love it!! Thank you for your work, Betty.
becomebetty says
Hey Tom,
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. I'm glad the directions helped you. I know I had a newer microwave, but it's good to know that someone else can confirm the same information. It sounds like you've had jackfruit before. How was it different in texture?
Anyways, thanks again for stopping by and thank you so much for your kind words. It means a lot to me.
julio najarro says
first time trying this and it was a great experience. it was perfect for me, I just add an extra 2 minutes in the microwave and it was done perfect. now it will be part of my book of recipes adding a little twist to it.
becomebetty says
Hey Julio! Glad you enjoyed this and shared how you make it. I can't wait to hear how you make it your own and add a twist to it. Thanks again for stopping by!