8 Things You Didn’t Know About Trader Joe’s Soup Dumplings

8 Things You Didn’t Know About Trader Joe’s Soup Dumplings

Trader – If you’re lucky enough to live near a Trader Joe’s, chances are you’ve seen their famous soup dumplings in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. If you haven’t tried them yet, don’t wait any longer! Once you get through one of these tasty treats, you won’t be able to resist getting more; they’re that addictive! These yummy soup dumplings also come in different flavors, such as chicken and vegetable, so there are plenty of options to choose from.

1) They’re Smaller Than Other Dumplings

While Trader Joe’s is not the only grocery store to sell soup dumplings, it does sell them in greater variety and quantity than most grocery stores. This makes the decision to buy soup dumplings easy, especially when they come in an eight pack, whereas other supermarkets only carry them four packs at a time. This is because traders joes soup dumplings are smaller than traditional dumplings, which means there are more in one bag. Unlike some other options that can be larger or frozen, these soup dumpling wrappers cook faster than typical Chinese restaurant quality offerings and have just the right amount of filling for what you need.

2) The Meat is Ground Turkey

I am in love with the soup dumplings from Trader Joe’s. For the uninitiated, they are usually found in the fridge section and come 8 to a package. The secret is that they’re made of ground turkey and quinoa, which makes them light and airy. And their seasoning–I could put it on everything–makes me feel like I’m eating Chinese food at home with my family again every time I make them. Other secrets? Unlike other supermarket brands, you can actually find the cooking instructions printed on the back.

3) The Meat is Gluten Free

Odds are you’ve tried Trader Joe’s Chicken or Beef soup dumplings before, and they’re delicious. The best part is they’re easy to make! You just need some boiling water, frozen Trader Joe’s soup dumplings, and chicken broth. Boil the water in a pot on the stovetop until it starts to boil then turn the stove off. Put a few soup dumplings into a bowl (enough for one person) and pour about 1/4 cup of chicken broth over them. Let it sit for about three minutes and enjoy!

#1: These Trader Joe food products have no gluten because Trader Joe imports from Japan. 

#2: This trader joes soup dumpling has significantly less sodium than other brands of their comparable items.

4) The Sauce is Soy Sauce Based

We all know Trader Joe’s, the wildly popular California grocery store. And the chances are, if you’ve been in one of their stores before, you’ve seen them. But if you haven’t seen them, then you might be asking what on earth are these little brown dumplings that look suspiciously like gyoza? The answer is trader joes soup dumplings. They’re deliciously crispy and pan-fried on the outside with a mild soy sauce based meat filling inside that contains pork and garlic chives. They go perfectly with both ginger and soy sauce or they can also be eaten alone with rice and your favorite dipping sauce!

5) They’re Actually Affordable

1. They’re Frozen–Oh, and it should be noted that all of their other frozen dumplings are actually really good too! 

2. They’re Very Easy to Make—Just microwave them in the bag for two minutes and you have an appetizer on your hands. 

3. Did I Mention How Affordable They Are?—And they only cost $2 a pop! 

4. They Taste Amazing with Soy Sauce or Chili Sauce—But we won’t tell if you just eat them plain, either way you go; you can’t go wrong. 

5. The Meat-to-Dough Ratio is Right: There’s plenty of meat in these dumplings and not so much dough (somehow Trader Joe’s still manages to get the perfect dough-to-meat ratio). 

6. The Soup Is Actually Kinda Good: It may not have any discernible taste, but it makes these dumplings even more delicious when they’re hot out of the microwave. 

7. You Can Freeze Them Without Any Issues: Yep, defrosting is as easy as microwaving them for a minute or two after being frozen solid overnight. 

8. The Square Shape Helps Their Texture Remain Unspoiled: The square shape helps keep their texture in tact while the dough cooks up fluffy and soft, making sure each bite has some soup inside of it. 

9. Plus, Those Seemingly Random Triangles Fit Together Perfectly When Fried: Just make sure you let them cool before frying them! 

10. And One More Thing That Should Be Said: We love these dumplings at trade joes so much that they’ve been our favorite food ever since Day One…

6) They Can Be Frozen

If you don’t want to finish the full package of dumplings, don’t worry! It is possible to freeze them for future use. Just place the unopened packet in a freezer bag and remove as much air as possible before sealing it closed. Then make sure to label the bag with the date, as well as any other information you want to keep with it. That way, you can be sure not to forget what is inside and how long it has been in there. As always, never put any form of liquid in your freezer because this will cause liquids (namely water) to expand and cause everything around it to freeze too.

7) They Taste the Same Thawed as Fresh

Whether you’re cooking your soup dumplings at home or eating them out, they are the same. The package doesn’t make a difference because they are made with raw, not cooked ingredients. After I defrost my soup dumplings and cook them on the stovetop with water, they taste just as good as ones from the freezer and ready to eat from the container. And guess what? They’re still just as delicious when eaten cold too! If you want to enjoy the convenience of a frozen dinner without the hassle of having to thaw it before dinner time, get yourself some soup dumplings.

8) What Goes Well With Them?

Chinese dumplings are a favorite dish at Trader Joe’s. Traditionally, these snacks are boiled and pan-fried for crispier edges, but the grocery store chain decided to switch things up. They added soy sauce and vinegar to the recipe, leaving room for dipping in hot mustard or chili oil! The staff likes to eat them with green onion, scallions, Chinese cilantro (coriander), chilis, and sesame seeds on top for some serious flavor. If you can’t get enough of Trader Joe’s soup dumpling by itself, this is one flavorful topping option that is sure to excite your taste buds. 

When do you think Trader Joes soup dumpling may be selling out? We hope not soon because they’re so delicious and filling. Let us know if you’ve had the chance to try them and what your thoughts were in the comments below!