Michelin Star Meals at Trader Joe's!!

Michelin Star Meals at Trader Joe's!!
Recreate these affordable, quick Trader Joe’s meals in your college kitchen
By: Eshayna Madan


“Grrr” your stomach roars against your silent class. Not only are you hungry, but your stomach is angry at you for not feeding it. Day after day of eating McDonald’s fries, Kraft Mac and Cheese, and only one meal a day, you leave your stomach craving some whole foods that will keep you satiated for the next couple of hours. What should you do? Well, luckily you clicked on the right article. I have been in this situation numerous times, and have found the ultimate solution: Trader Joe’s!


Trader Joe's is your gate to achieving gourmet at your fingertips. Get ready to embrace a tasteful journey where budget meets brilliance, and everyday ingredients yield high-quality meals that will keep your tastebuds asking for more.


As a foodie, I am always looking for high-quality meals, but as a student, I am looking for something quick and cheap to eat. To balance taste, time, and affordability, I have spent the past 2 years experimenting with the in-expensive, high-quality ingredients found at Trader Joe’s. I have compiled my top three recipes that taste Michelin Star-worthy but are only worth $5 total. Are you up for the challenge, Master Chef?


What we will cook up in this article:

1. Why Trader Joe’s?
2. My Favorite Recipes

1. Scrumptious Shawarma Chicken + DILLicious Salad

2. Classic Caprese Pasta Salad

3. The BEST Italian-inspired Sandwich

4. Honorable Dessert Mention

So, let's dive into the aisles of innovation and flavor – it's time to elevate your college cooking game!


Why Trader Joe’s?

1. Cheap Products 
2. Quality Products

1. Cheap Products

You must be wondering, why use Trader Joe's ingredients over the produce at infamous teen hangout spot, Target, or even corner stores like Ralph’s and Walmart? The answer lies in its supply chain --- in other words how a business decides to manufacture its products and bring them to the store.

“80% of Trader Joe's products are made from its own private label.”(Tyler and Taylor, Business Insider) This essentially means that Trader Joe’s purchases its products directly from the supplier or the manufacturers, rather than popular retailers like the classic favorites Oreo and Goldfish. You will see Trader Joe’s produce their own take on these popular items such as Joe Joe’s and Cheddar Rocket Crackers, with their private Trader Joe’s label.



By using a private label they can cut down costs by not buying products marked up by popular retailers. Let’s do a quick cost comparison…

A pack of the same quality chocolate and cream sandwich cookies 13.4oz



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As you can tell, since Trader Joe’s has produced their products under their label, they only have to pay a supplier, while Target, Ralph’s, and Walmart all have to pay a brand retailer who charges a marked-up price from the original production cost to make a profit. This impacts the retail price we pay since both Trader Joe’s and other grocers charge customers a marked-up price from the cost of production to make a profit. The lower the production cost, the less they have to charge customers to make a profit.

That may have been a lot of business talk, but at the end of the day, Trader Joe’s says it best:

“Most grocers charge their suppliers fees for putting an item on the shelf. This results in higher prices... so we don’t do it.”(Trader Joe’s)

2. Quality Products

Trader Joe’s uses a “truck-to-shelf model, where inventory goes directly to the shelves to keep it fresh rather than storing it in the back.”(Morgan, Forbes) They bring the products directly from the supplier to the store; there is no middleman involved to prolong the process. Therefore, unlike any other grocery store, you receive fresh, quality sourced ingredients at the best price! Even top chefs, like Marcel Vigneron, say "I honestly like a lot of the organic produce from Trader Joe's,"(Leiva, Business Insider) and they even use them in their professional kitchens, so why can’t you use Trader Joe’s in yours?

Now that you are convinced that Trader Joe’s is the place to buy quality ingredients on a budget, let’s get into how you can use these groceries in my favorite recipes!

My Favorite Recipes

1. Scrumptious Shawarma Chicken + DILLicious Salad
2. Caprese Pasta Salad
3. The BEST Italian-inspired Sandwich
4. Honarable Mention: Dessert

1. Scrumptious Shawarma Chicken + DILLicious Salad

This recipe is for my readers who want a lean meal driven by protein and greens. AKA eating clean for dummies. If you are a fan of pickles you will also love this recommendation of using Trader Joe’s newest dill-flavored salad. The dynamic duo of savory and tart!




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Total Time: 20 minutes

Grocery List:

• Pre Marinated Shawarma Chicken Thighs 

• Dill-icious Chopped Salad Kit 

• Olive Oil Cooking Spray 

One Serving: 1 chicken thigh, ½ salad kit

1. Ensure that the chicken thighs are thawed and at room temperature. 

2. Cut the chicken thigh into cubes. 

3. Turn on your skillet to medium heat and spray some olive oil with cooking spray. 

4. After two minutes put your cubed chicken in the skillet and let it cook for 10 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through. 

5. Take off your skillet from the heat, and keep the chicken aside.

6. Prepare the Dill-icious Chopped Salad Kit by dumping all the ingredients into a bowl (greens, dill powder/chips/ dressing).

7. Top of your salad bowl with the cooked shawarma chicken cubes. 

8. Enjoy!

2. Caprese Pasta Salad

I recently tried this recipe out and loved it! I got the stamp of approval from my friends as well, so this is a party favorite. The best part about this recipe is you can prepare it ahead of time since it is a cold dish, and it can be used over multiple meals…perfect for college students on the go!

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Total Time: 45 minutes 

Grocery List:

• Penne Pasta

• Ciliegine Whole Milk Fresh Mozzerella Balls 

• Vegan Kale Cashew & Basil Pesto 

• Mini Heirloom Tomatoes 

• Salt 

• Pepper

• Balsamic Glaze 

One Serving: ⅓ pasta bag, ⅓ box of mozzarella, ⅓ of pesto container, ⅓ tomato box

1. Bring a quart of water to a rolling boil in a pot.

2. Add salt and pasta to the water.                         

3. Let the pasta cook for 15 minutes, occasionally stirring. 

4. Strain the pasta and rinse it in cold water. 

5. The previous steps can be done a day in advance, with the pasta stored in the refrigerator.

6. Mix the cold pasta with the pesto, mozzarella balls, mini tomatoes, salt and pepper. 

7. Top with the balsamic glaze. 

8. Enjoy!

3. The BEST Italian-inspired Sandwich

Although Italy is known for its pasta and pizza, my favorite meal in Florence was an Italian sandwich from All' Antico Vinaio. With layers of prosciutto, burrata, and greens, I fell in love with the fresh ingredients stacked on top of toasted ciabatta bread. To bring Italy to Los Angeles, I have tried to recreate the infamous Italian sandwich!

  

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Total Time: 15 minutes 

Grocery List:

• Prosciutto slices 

• Burrata balls 

• Arugula 

• Vegan Kale Cashew & Basil Pesto 

• Lemon 

• Olive oil

• Salt 

• Pepper 

• Balsamic Glaze 

• Ciabatta 

One Serving: 1 ciabatta roll, 3 prosciutto slice, ½ burrata ball, handful arugula 

1. Cut the ciabatta roll in half and toast each slice to your liking.

2. Spread the pesto on the inside of each slice.

3. Layer the prosciutto slices on the bottom, followed by the burrata. 

4. On the side, prepare a bowl with the arugula and massage it with olive oil, lemon, and cracked salt and pepper. 

5. Add the arugula mixture on top of the burrata. 

6. Add salt, pepper, and balsamic glaze to the top, and close the sandwich with a second ciabatta slice. 

7. Enjoy!

4. Honarable Mention: Dessert

The strawberry mini mochis are the best dessert to exist! It's not too sweet and not too big. Give it a try at the end of any of these meals. Don’t blame me if you get addicted to them!

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Next time you find yourself craving a gourmet meal, save your bank account and walk over to Trader Joe's instead. Look out for these quality Trader Joe’s finds on the shelves for your next study night meal. Be sure to save this article and share it with your roommates for your next grocery-shopping trip!

Works Cited

“About Us.” Trader Joe’s, www.traderjoes.com/home/about-us. Accessed 20 Sept. 2023.

Image 2 and Image 5: “Chocolate Vanilla Creme Joe-Joe’s.” Trader Joe’s, www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/chocolate-vanilla-creme-joe-joes-076572. Accessed 20 Sept. 2023.

Image 6: “Dill-Icious Chopped Salad Kit.” Trader Joe’s, www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/dill-icious-chopped-salad-kit-074577. Accessed 22 Sept. 2023.

Image 4: Kleinheinz, Katelyn. “Cheddar Rocket Crackers.” Mrs. Trader Joe’s, Mrs. Trader Joe’s, 2 Sept. 2021, mrstraderjoescart.com/all-reviews/cheddar-rocket-crackers.

Image 11: Kleinheinz, Katelyn. “Strawberry Mochi.” Mrs. Trader Joe’s, Mrs. Trader Joe’s, 21 Dec. 2022, mrstraderjoescart.com/all-reviews/strawberry-mochi.

Leiva, Courtney. “11 Chefs Share the One Thing They Always Buy at Trader Joe’s.” Insider, Insider, 27 Aug. 2020, www.insider.com/best-things-to-buy-at-trader-joes-2019-3.

Morgan, Blake. “7 Reasons Customers Are More in Love with Trader Joe’s than Ever.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 12 Sept. 2023, www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2020/03/12/7-reasons-customers-are-more-in-love-with-trader-joes-than-ever/?sh=6af618823c1f.

Image 5: Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, 14.3 Oz - Ralphs, www.ralphs.com/p/oreo-chocolate-sandwich-cookies/0004400003202. Accessed 20 Sept. 2023.

Image 1 and Image 5: “Oreo Original - 13.29oz.” Target, www.target.com/p/oreo-original-13-29oz/-/A-87471268?ref=tgt_adv_xsp&AFID=google&fndsrc=tgtao&DFA=71700000108139124&CPNG=PLA_Snacks%2BCandy%7CSnacks%2BCandy_Ecomm_Food_Bev&adgroup=SC_Snacks%2BCandy&LID=700000001170770pgs&LNM=PRODUCT_GROUP&network=g&device=c&location=9030933&targetid=pla-382350310529&gclid=CjwKCAjwjaWoBhAmEiwAXz8DBe7SbTQWo1w4yf28xywIu6rd1t900jKCqHAgnH_RgOVy9VCtQ1RB3RoCYDQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds. Accessed 20 Sept. 2023.

Image 5: “Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, 13.29 Oz.” Walmart.Com, www.walmart.com/ip/OREO-Chocolate-Sandwich-Cookies-13-29-oz/1052966595?athbdg=L1200&adsRedirect=true. Accessed 20 Sept. 2023.

Image 3: “Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar Crackers - 6.6oz.” Target, www.target.com/p/pepperidge-farm-goldfish-cheddar-crackers-6-6oz/-/A-13005401. Accessed 22 Sept. 2023.

Image 7: “Shawarma Chicken Thighs.” Trader Joe’s, www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/shawarma-chicken-thighs-060667. Accessed 22 Sept. 2023.

Tyler, Jessica, and Kate Taylor. “Here’s How Trader Joe’s Keeps Its Groceries so Cheap.” Business Insider, 21 Oct. 2018, www.businessinsider.in/Heres-how-Trader-Joes-keeps-its-groceries-so-cheap/articleshow/66247833.cms.