Trader Joe’s Meal Prep Curry Takeout
Published Sep 30, 2024
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If you want an easy Trader Joe’s meal prep idea, look no further than this Trader Joe’s Meal Prep Curry Takeout. Grab a few ready-to-cook ingredients and make a quick, fresh cucumber salad, and you can have four Indian-inspired dinners in less time than it takes to order take-out.
Meal prep can make the difference between eating takeout and eating at home, especially during those busy nights of the week when work or kids’ activities or other commitments get in the way. But what do you do when you only have a small amount of time to prep the meals? Trader Joe’s to the rescue!
These meal prep curry takeout bowls use a few of my favorite Trader Joe’s convenience foods, and combine them into a colorful, fun, super-convenient package. These have been one of my favorite Trader Joe’s recipe ideas that I’ve turned to again and again this year. I love to grab them for lunches or warm them up for a quick dinner on busy nights.
If you or someone in your home loves Indian food, these are guaranteed to be a hit. And if you have a bit more time and want more of a homemade touch, try them with my Instant Pot Chickpea Curry, or a Thai-style curry like Chicken Curry or Curry Meatballs.
What You Need
- Cilantro and Plain Yogurt – These are a bonus, but it’s nice to add a little color and flavor with come cilantro leaves on top of the curry. The yogurt is great mixed in right before serving or for dipping the samosas. Optional but fun.
- 1 box of Mini Vegetable Samosas – These have a bit of spice and come 12 to a box which is perfect for adding 3 to each of your meal prep containers. In the fall, Trader Joe’s often has a seasonal version – Mini Spicy Pumpkin Samosas which are also great.
- 3-4 cups cooked rice – But since this is supposed to be fast, grab the frozen bags of Jasmine rice. Two of those frozen bags, reheated in the microwave, will make enough for 4 meal prep containers.
- 2 (10-ounce) packages of Trader Joe’s curries – There are a few different options here, but I used one Coconut Chickpea Curry and one Madras Lentils. Tikka Vegetables are great too.
- Mini Cucumbers, rice vinegar, and cooking oil – Use these to make a really simple cucumber salad that is a fresh, cooling addition to serve alongside the warm elements.
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Variations
- Use slices of naan instead (or in addition to) the samosas
- Use cauliflower rice for a lighter option
- Serve a salad on the side instead of the cucumbers
How to Store Them
These meal prep containers should be fine if stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Keep the cucumber salad in separate airtight containers.
More Easy Trader Joe’s Shortcuts
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Trader Joe’s Meal Prep Curry Takeout
Equipment
- Half Sheet Pan
- Mixing Bowls
- Knife
Ingredients
- 1 box (12 total) Mini Vegetable Samosas
- 4 mini cucumbers
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons cooking oil
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 cups cooked white rice (I use frozen, microwaveable jasmine rice)
- 2 10-ounce pouches ready-to-serve Trader Joe's curries (like Coconut Chickpea Curry, Madras Lentils, and or Tikka Vegetables; these are sold near the canned goods)
- cilantro, for garnish (optional)
- plain yogurt, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Bake the samosas according to package directions.
- Finely chop the cucumber and combine it with the rice vinegar, cooking oil, and salt.
- Heat the rice and curries according to package directions.
- Into 4 meal prep containers, divide the rice, curries, and samosas. (Preferably do this in containers with divided sections so that you can keep the samosas separate.)
- Top the curry with cilantro leaves, if using.
- Store the cucumber salad in 4 separate small containers (I used 4-ounce mason jars).
- When ready to reheat, warm the rice, curry, and samosas in the microwave for about 90 seconds.
- Serve with cucumber salad and plain yogurt.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
