If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I could get a vegan Thai street food experience without leaving my couch,” then Trader Joe’s new Vegan Pad See Ew Stir Fry is here to answer your oddly specific wish. It’s like they knew we needed a way to enjoy Pad See Ew without the hassle of finding a decent Thai restaurant or, heaven forbid, cooking from scratch. So, let’s dive into this microwavable magic and see if it lives up to our lazy, delicious dreams!
Jokes aside about the name, Thai food and dishes like Pad See Ew have gone quite mainstream over the past few years. Trader Joe’s has stepped up to the plate and offered a wide variety of Thai dishes over the past several years. Much to the delight of many of their fans. I love Pad See Ew and order it all the time at my local Thai restaurants. It’s a super flexible dish when you make it at home because you can throw any protein into it and whatever vegetables you like. The keys are the noodles and the sauce.
What is Pad See Ew?
Pad See Ew is a beloved Thai street food dish, known for its savory and slightly sweet flavor profile. It features wide rice noodles stir-fried with soy sauce, garlic, and Chinese broccoli, often accompanied by a protein like chicken, beef, or tofu. The noodles are typically cooked until they develop a delightful char, adding a smoky depth to the dish. The balance of flavors – salty soy sauce, sweet hints from sugar, and the slight bitterness of the Chinese broccoli – creates a harmonious taste that is both comforting and satisfying. It’s a go-to dish for those craving a hearty, flavorful meal with a touch of Thai authenticity.
Trader Joe’s only gives us one way to make it and that is to microwave it. Simple enough. Just peel back a corner of the clear plastic and nuke it in the microwave for a 2 minutes and then stir and hit it again for 1-2 minutes and let it cool a bit. The aromas coming out of the microwave reminded me of a Thai restaurant so I couldn’t wait to taste it.
I have reviewed many Thai products from Trader Joe’s. Here are some of my favorites:
From the picture above it looks like there are a lot of vegetables but that’s deceiving because they are on top and when they are cooked and stirred up there aren’t many. The tofu comes in two forms. Sheets and cubes. The sheets are hard to see but you can see cubes in there.
The garlic aromas and flavors are great and it does have an authentic Thai flavor, except there is almost no heat. If you want more heat, I would definitely put something on here to kick it up, Sriracha? Chili Crunch? Even the Trader Joe’s Thai Peanut Sauce might make this really interesting! I might even throw in some more veggies like bok choy or broccolini… don’t be shy! The only downside is that there isn’t enough sauce. I want more it was so good!
Conclusion
I’ve had a lifelong love affair with Thai food after I lived there as a child when my father was working at the American Embassy there. Since then I’ve seen the rise of Thai food in the USA and have always stayed in touch with what is going on at my local Thai restaurants. Trader Joe’s has done a great deal to spread Thai food love. I applaud that!
In conclusion, Trader Joe’s Vegan Pad See Ew Stir Fry earns a solid 8 out of 10 stars. It’s a convenient and tasty option for those nights when you need a quick meal without sacrificing flavor or you need something flavorful and easy at work. However, it could benefit from a bit more vegetables and sauce to truly capture the essence of traditional Pad See Ew. Additionally, a touch more heat would elevate the dish, bringing it closer to the spicy, savory delight we know and love from Thai cuisine. Despite these minor tweaks, it’s an easy and enjoyable meal that busy moms will appreciate for its simplicity and taste.
Nope. It’s a poorly seasoned soggy mess that doesn’t resemble any Thai restaurant preparation of a delicious dish. All the things this review cites as minor quibbles add up fast. Will not be purchasing again.
As we have seen with Trader Joe’s, there is huge product variation from box to box. I should try it again
I finally got around to trying this last night and absolutely loved it. Definitely getting it again. My only complaint is the garlic was so strong it stayed with me forever.