REVIEW – Trader Ming’s: Spicy Beef & Broccoli from Trader Joe’s (Frozen)
Since Trader Joe's Kung Pao Chicken was better than a lot of other frozen Kung Pao chickens I've had, my boyfriend and I decided to try some of Trader Joe's Szechuan Style Spicy Beef & Broccoli. Unfortunately, we didn't read the instructions fully before buying it and assumed it was microwavable, like their Kung Pao chicken. However, the beef & broccoli ended up being mostly cooked on the stovetop. The only part that was microwavable was the bag of broccoli.
The spicy beef & broccoli came in three separate packets: beef, broccoli, and sauce. The bag of broccoli also came stuck to the outer bag.
Bag of frozen broccoli stuck to outer packaging
We cooked it all following the instructions on the back of the bag, except we only used half of the sauce. It took us a total of about 15-20 minutes to make.
The beef wasn't great. A few of the beef bits were grisly, and beef wasn't very crispy because of the sauce. Although the beef bits had a slightly crispy exterior, the inside of the beef was very mushy, which I didn't like at all. The sauce was sweet and a little tangy, but I didn't care for it. I'm glad we only used half the sauce or it would have been too sweet. The only part I did like about the beef was its spiciness. The broccoli was also OK, but it didn't really add anything to the beef.
Refrigerating the beef didn't do the beef any favors, either. We had it as leftovers the next day; it tasted worse. The beef was even mushier, and I couldn't eat the three pieces I put on my plate.
Food: Trader Ming's: Frozen Szechuan Style Spicy Beef & Broccoli
Source: Trader Joe's, Tucson, AZ
Rating: Blegh
Rating (as leftovers): Disgusting
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3 Comments
REVIEW – Trader Ming’s: Spicy Beef & Broccoli from Trader Joe’s (Frozen)
We had this last night and although the sweet/sour aspect wasn’t what we were expecting (although the package clearly stated that the sauce was slightly sweet – dunh) we both really liked it. I paid no attention to the healthy aspect, because I almost never do. We served it with Jasmine rice and between the two of us we ate every bit of it. I’d like to get some of that sauce to use in other Asian meals.
I just tried this for the first time and threw half of it out. Was the first thing out of the trader joes that was not edible. I hate to say it too, cause when you get your hopes up for something to be good, it’s a let down… If you like chewy meat, go for it. Not for me. Was filling though, for what I did eat.
I did read the instructions and cooked it the way it was supposed to. It is very tasty and I’d give it an absolute yum — except for one thing. The beef has fairly large percentage of gristle that you cannot chew. I find one or two pieces acceptable — but this has more than that.