So, Trader Joe’s recently released its 10th Annual Customer Choice Award Winners. It’s not a list I actively follow and honestly, I just found out about it this year.
Some of the stuff on the list I’ve tried before so it wasn’t a surprise. As many times as I’ve been in Trader Joe’s, however, I never really paid too much attention to the Mandarin Chicken.
Now we do try to eat as fresh food as possible so I think maybe that might have been a reason. And plus, who doesn’t love orange (mandarin) chicken? Well, probably not vegans but I’m sure there’s a vegan version of it.
I was off to try. I had to try the Mandarin Chicken that so many have raved about. Off to Trader Joe’s!
So I picked it up and decided to get two bags. It was a risk because if it came out horrible, I would be stuck with a bag. But I figured I have yet to have anything horrible from Trader Joe’s, so why not?
So, after reading the instructions, I prepared it on the skillet with olive oil. (You can also bake it.) It took a bit longer than the instructions suggested; I think I was cooking for like, 10-15 minutes other than the suggested 5-8 minutes. Maybe I wanted to make sure the chicken wasn’t cold.
Nevertheless, I finished it and tried it:
I made the rice. I just used long-grain white rice. Not the healthiest, but I bought that for another recipe I’m going to share.
So, what is the verdict?
OMFG, THIS IS SO DELISH!
Frfr. You need to try that. I highly recommend it. It’s crunchy with the right amount of sweet tartness (is that a saying? It is now) and it is just so darn good! And it’s super affordable! I think I only paid $3.99 a bag (prices may vary).
What’s your favorite Trader Joe’s item?