Trader Joe’s Cod Provençale with Ratatouille and Rice Review

Trader Joe’s Cod Provençale with Ratatouille and Rice Review – I put this frozen seafood dish in the same category as Trader Joe’s Chicken Teriyaki, they have been selling it for decades (well, it seems like it) and I kept walking by it for years without picking it up and in an effort to explore every part of the store, I picked this up for lunch the other day.

This is another “Product of France” item and usually, when it’s from Europe for some reason I am never disappointed in the food. You have two things going on here cod Provençale (pronounced Pravensal, the “ç” is soft) and Ratatouille (which you should know how to say because everyone has seen the movie). When something is cooked Provençale style, it just usually means in the style of Provence in Southern France which is usually tomatoes, garlic, saffron, peppers, anchovies, olives, olive oil, and wild herbs. 

In this case the tomatoes, garlic, and whatever comes from the Ratatouille which is another specialty of Provence. Ratatouille is a vegetable stew made of eggplant, zucchini, onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes, cooked in olive oil and flavored with herbs and garlic. Which seems like a perfect pairing with cod.

This all comes frozen in one of those paper-like trays that you can either pop in the oven or microwave. I opted for the microwave because cooking it in the oven was going to take an inordinate amount of time, something like 45 minutes, versus about 6 minutes in the old microwave machine. 

You lift the corner ever so slightly, then stick it in the microwave for 6-7 minutes and immediately you start to smell the fish and the Ratatouille cooking. By the way, you will not be knocking out your co-workers with the stench of microwaved fish at the office with this one, it has a much more subtle smell than that.

This is very similar to the Trader Joe’s Salmon in mint sauce that I review several years ago and is still for sale at Trader Joes also. They look like they both come from the same company. 

When I opened it you could finally see the piece of cod nestled into the rice and Ratatouille and rice. At 370 calories this is a little light as a full meal for me, but if you added a salad and some bread then it’s a full meal.

I think this is a great option for a quick and healthy meal. The flavors were pretty bold and I like the Ratatouille flavors. The fish and the rice were cooked perfectly and all in all, I would give it 8 Bells!

Dist. & Sold Exclusively By Trader Joe’s, Monrovia, CA 91016 • PRODUCT OF FRANCE • KEEP FROZEN

INGREDIENTS:

RAW COD, RICE DUO (BROWN RICE (WATER, BROWN RICE), WILD RICE (WATER, WILD RICE, SALT), TOMATO PUREE
(TOMATO, SALT, ACIDITY REGULATOR: CITRIC ACID), FRIED ZUCCHINI (ZUCCHINI, SUNFLOWER OIL), FENNEL, FRIED EGGPLANT
(EGGPLANT, SUNFLOWER OIL), EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, WATER, ONION, RED PEPPER, ROASTED YELLOW PEPPER BASIL MODIFIED
STARCH (RICE AND/OR CORN AND/OR TAPIOCA), SALT, GARLIC, SEASONING HERBS (ROSEMARY, BASIL, OREGANO, PARSLEY, THYME,
LAVENDER), SALT, VEGETABLES (GARLIC, TOMATO), PEPPER, SUNFLOWER OIL, CHIVE, BLACK PEPPER EXTRACT, MINT, THYME.

HEATING INSTRUCTIONS:

MICROWAVE (1200 watt): Microwave cook times may vary depending on oven wattage. Lift one corner of the package to vent. Heat on high for 6 to 7 minutes or until heated through and sit for 3 minutes before opening. 

CONVENTIONAL OVEN: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the top of tray and place tray on baking sheet on center rack
of the oven. Cook for 40-50 minutes uncovered or until fish is cooked through. Fish should reach a temp of 145 degrees F.