Trader Joe’s Cuban Style Citrus Garlic Bowl Review

If you’re in the mood for a culinary journey to the vibrant streets of Havana but your bank account is screaming “Stay local!”, then Trader Joe’s Cuban Style Citrus Garlic Bowl is your ticket to a budget-friendly fiesta. Each bowl is a kaleidoscope of colors and flavors, starting with the bright yellow rice that’s been generously pampered with turmeric, because who needs bland rice, right? The rice is then playfully mingled with diced red bell peppers and onions, adding a pop of color and a crunch that makes you wonder why you ever settled for plain old white rice.

But wait, there’s more! Black beans bring their earthy goodness to the party, while chunks of sweet plantains add a touch of tropical sweetness that’ll have your taste buds doing the salsa. And let’s not forget the cilantro – because apparently, Trader Joe’s knows that no Cuban dish is complete without this controversial herb. Love it or hate it, it’s there, confidently making its presence known.

Now, for the main attraction: chopped, juicy, marinated chicken thigh. This isn’t just any chicken; it’s the kind that reminds you of what chicken is supposed to taste like before it became a bland, overcooked staple in your diet. It’s tender, it’s flavorful, and it’s definitely not there to play second fiddle to the rice.

But the real MVP of this culinary masterpiece is the superbly savory citrus-and-garlic infused mojo criollo sauce. It’s the kind of sauce that makes you want to lick the bowl clean (but please, let’s keep it classy). This sauce doesn’t just complement the dish; it elevates it to a level of deliciousness that’ll have you questioning all your past food choices.

Preparation:

This couldn’t be simpler to make, just pierce the clear plastic top and stick it in the microwave for several minutes, let it rest, and start eating! Perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. Great for taking to work. It isn’t the most attractive looking dish in the world, but it was tasty and healthy. At 400 calories, it’s filling enough. You could add some avocados or cheese if you needed a few more calories, but this bowl has a lot of nice flavors. I will definitely be buying this again!

If you visit the Trader Joe’s website for this product, they repurposed it into tacos, which I think is a great idea!

Final Verdict

In summary, Trader Joe’s Cuban Style Citrus Garlic Bowl is like a party in your mouth where everyone’s invited and leaves satisfied. It’s a symphony of flavors that’s not just good for a frozen meal, but alarmingly good. So, the next time you’re wandering the aisles of Trader Joe’s, contemplating your dinner options, do yourself a favor and grab this little box of Cuban joy. Your taste buds will thank you, and your wallet will give you a nod of approval.

The only downside of this Cuban bowl seemed to be the lack of salt. Once I sprinkled some salt on it, it livened it up a bit. This is a product that I will buy over and over again. Super simple. It’s very flavorful and of course easy to make. I’ll give it 8 Bells out of 10 Bells!

INGREDIENTS:

COOKED SEASONED RICE (WATER, LONG GRAIN RICE, TURMERIC [FOR SPICE AND COLOR]), COOKED CHICKEN THIGH (BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN THIGH, CANOLA OIL, ORANGE JUICE CONCENTRATE, LIME JUICE, ONION, GARLIC, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, GINGER PUREE, SEA SALT, LEMON PEEL, SPICES, GARLIC POWDER, ONION POWDER), COOKED BLACK BEANS (BLACK BEANS*, WATER), COOKED PLANTAINS (FRIED PLANTAINS [PLANTAINS, PALM OIL], CANOLA OIL), ROASTED RED BELL PEPPER (RED BELL PEPPER, CANOLA OIL, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL), ORANGE JUICE CONCENTRATE, LIME JUICE, YELLOW ONION, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, ROASTED RED ONION (RED ONION, CANOLA OIL), GARLIC, GINGER PUREE, CILANTRO, SEA SALT, LEMON PEEL, SPICES, GARLIC POWDER, ONION POWDER.
MAY CONTAIN TRACES OF SOY, WHEAT.

NUTRITION FACTS:

1 serving per container | Serving size 1 bowl (312g) | Amount per serving: Calories 400
Total Fat 18g (23% DV), Saturated Fat 2g (10% DV), Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 45mg (15% DV), Sodium 540mg (23% DV), Total Carbohydrate 44g (16% DV), Dietary Fiber 1g (4% DV), Total Sugars 13g—Includes 3g Added Sugars (6% DV), Protein 16g, Vitamin D (0% DV), Calcium (2% DV), Iron (15% DV), Potassium (6% DV).
The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.