Trader Joe's Dumpling Salad & Pantry Meals for Days You Just Cannot Cook
Find inspiration for quick, tasty meals in the pantry and freezer. Text and images by Kanika Samra.
The new year always begins with the lingering high of NYE celebrations until January starts to feel endless and rolls into February, and before you know March is here. In those long wintry days, at least in the northern hemisphere, sometimes the thought of cooking yet another meal can be both daunting and exhausting. That is when having a few tricks in your back pocket for quick and easy comfort meals goes a long way.
Slipping into cozy with ease
All this winter, from December 2023 until recently, I have craved the sense of “hygge” but without the effort that might go into creating a cozy experience. Yes, I can wrap myself in throws and make cups of hot cocoa and tea, but I haven’t always found the same motivation to cook a full meal. On those nights the freezer serves as a good stand in, invariably providing at least one ingredient - fully or partially cooked - that I can use as a mainstay to anchor a meal.
Quick meals from the freezer
More often than not that one ingredient has been either Trader Joe’s chicken or pork gyoza potstickers. Funnily, the packaging of these freezer aisle staples carry a further description emphasizing they are dumplings in case that wasn’t clear already. This is a common aspect of cross cultural food nomenclaure: they go the extra mile to clarify what an item is. Such as the now well known chai tea latte courtesy of Starbucks which essentially means tea-tea latte. No such thing exists! Anyway, I digress.
Since mid January I’ve used my stock of these dumplings, alternating between pork and chicken, at least once a week to make a large leafy salad with a spicy dressing incorporating another item that’s become a staple in my fridge.
Seeking comfort in the familiar
And then there are times when the body craves familiar comforts, usually from foods I was raised with. On those days I turn to the dry pantry and grab things to make a quick meal such as khichdi or dal-chawal. From the first spoonful taken only after foo-foo-ing or blowing air to cool it a bit, to the mouthfeel of lentils and rice and their soothing warmth as they slide down the throat - each sensation invariably builds to create a sense of comfort and safety.
The simplicity of such meals adds to their charm. They require very little prep, cook fast and provide both nourishment and emotional satisfaction that only the food you’ve grown up with can. I bet there are a few things in everyone’s repertoire that do the same whether inherited from family or acquired later in life.
Clean out the fridge
The beauty of lentils cooked the Indian way is that they can be easily tweaked to become one pot meals akin to stews and lentil soups. Whether you make a simple sambar or a dal with veggies, each offers the scope to once in a while clean out the fridge while providing a nutrient rich meal.
Use that leftover rice
In keeping with the theme of cleaning out leftover produce is the ability to recast leftovers from a meal. One of the most versatile sides is plain white rice. We’ve shared recipes for reusing leftover rice in a few different ways on the blog. Each is delicious, easy to make and offers comfort in its own way. Three amongst those are listed below:
Expanding the circle of comfort
The Trader Joe’s dumpling salad that I now make is a new addition to my repertoire. The mix of ingredients needed for this meal should be accessible to most people. Use dumplings of your choice -vegetarian, vegan, chicken, pork or even seafood shumai- and they needn’t be from Trader Joe’s. Similarly, pick a soy sauce of your liking. You may or may not use a chili oil. The salad mix can also be whatever you like, though keeping it slightly crunchy creates a good contrast to the softness of dumplings. Here’s my no-recipe guide for a riffable and easy dumpling salad:
Trader Joe’s Dumpling Salad
An easy to make ensemble meal using frozen dumplings (from Trader Joe’s in this case), lots of leafy salad greens and a quick soya sauce based dressing.
Total time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
Frozen dumplings ~ 6 for one serving (any; Trader Joe’s chicken dumplings were used here)
Salad mix ~ store bought or make your own (used greens from Tucson CSA here)
Cucumber ~ half regular or one Persian, sliced thin (optional)
Soy sauce ~ 1/4 cup
Sugar ~ 1.5 tsp
Chilli oil ~ 2 tsp; to taste
Sesame oil ~ 1 tbsp
Vinegar or lime juice ~ 2 tsp (Used apple cider vinegar here)
Garlic clove ~ 1, finely chopped (optional)
Ginger ~ 1/2 inch strip, julienned (optional)
![Images of ingredients use in the dumpling salad](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8ca6b30a-5382-415e-a3d2-00172440daa3_3024x3024.jpeg)
![Images of ingredients use in the dumpling salad](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F18798f0e-b007-4783-b137-a2f2017d7ec7_3024x3024.jpeg)
Salad Assembly:
Prep the salad greens: If using fresh unpackaged greens such as used here, wash them thoroughly in multiple water baths and then pat dry. Break apart large leaves or roughly chop them. Put in a large bowl to assemble the salad.
Peel and slice cucumber. It can remain unpeeled as well. Use as much as you’d like. For one serving, I used about a quarter of a regular cucumber.
Cook/reheat dumplings as per package instructions: Most frozen dumplings are precooked and only need to be reheated to be used. Please follow instructions on the packaging. Once ready, keep aside in a separate bowl and allow to cool before adding to the salad.
Dressing for the dumpling salad Make the dressing: Finely chop ginger and garlic, if using. Transfer to a bowl. Add approximately 1/4 cup or a few tablespoons of soy sauce to it followed by sugar and a dash of vinegar or lime juice. Mix in a heaping teaspoon or more of chili oil or chili crisps. Finally add some sesame oil. I love the flavor of toasted sesame oil, also from Trader Joe’s. But if you do not like it, use another oil such as EVOO.
Assemble the salad: In the bowl with the greens, add the dumplings. Arrange them such the they are evenly distributed. Then pour the dressing all over and gently toss. That is it! The Trader Joe’s dumpling salad is ready to it. Dig in!
![Assembling a dumpling salad](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8dd81b41-4a4b-4edb-972c-252c2048687c_3024x3024.jpeg)
![Assembling a dumpling salad](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F76f79611-ba82-406a-af8a-49907e25dc71_3024x3459.jpeg)
![Assembling a dumpling salad](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffa2e046d-34ad-4cb5-82df-0bcb5ab13134_3024x3299.jpeg)
![Assembling a dumpling salad](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_720,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F060b91de-e1cf-47de-939a-5227a500918e_3024x3679.jpeg)
Hope you enjoy making a dumpling salad such as this. It’s become one of my go to’s for a quick meal. If you end up trying this or riffing on it, drop a line and let us know what you thought or tweaked.
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Cook along on Youtube
I visited India in February and one of the things I always request are homemade Puranpoli. Soft, supple and absolutely delicious, these stuffed flatbreads are comforting and reminiscent of many childhood afternoons spent with my grandparents. I have made them in my kitchen though the suppleness has been slightly evasive. I’ll have to work on it! In the meantime, enjoy this ASMR filled video. And, if you haven’t yet subscribe to our Youtube channel.