The I Love Trader Joe's Plant-Based Cookbook: 150 Delicious Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes Using Foods from the World's Greatest Grocery Store

Introduction

When you say the words Trader Joe’s to a TJ’s lover, there’s a consistent reaction. Their eyes go soft, the corners of their mouth creep up into an unconscious smile, and they will, undoubtedly, make a contented noise of happiness laced with yum. Smaller than a traditional grocery store, with oddly packaged food and an offbeat aesthetic, Trader Joe’s is truly an experience—an experience that has won the hearts of millions of faithful shoppers.

What is it about Joe’s that makes it so magical? First off, the prices can’t be beat. You don’t need coupons or sales to get the best price at TJ’s—there’s a no-haggling policy. The best price is presented up front with no clubs to join or hoops to jump through—it’s a nice change. Trader Joe’s works from a unique model: The company purchases products you’re likely familiar with from other retailers, except it buys them directly from producers, rather than going through a distributor, like other retailers do. Cutting out the middleman lets TJ’s build a relationship with these producers and lowers the cost of the items because the producers can now offer larger quantities of their product. As a result of this direct relationship and the cost-savings, most of the products are repackaged in TJ’s quirky packaging. By using the TJ’s packaging, the producers have the benefit of offering their goods to a greater audience, but they lessen their risk of competing against themselves at the other stores. There are even some items that are distributed exclusively by Trader Joe’s, typically seasonal and imported items that have limited runs.

Despite being a chain, Trader Joe’s is a privately held company. Because they don’t have stockholders to appease, they’re able to do things a little differently. Although they aren’t franchised, the company recognizes how important it is to connect to the community. With their well-trained and caring staff, they work to be a neighborhood market. In your local Trader Joe’s, you’re likely to see murals of local points of interest painted on the walls. Additionally, TJ’s builds relationships with local farms and bakeries in their respective neighborhoods, bringing business to the community and bringing you fresh, quality food.

I’m a longtime lover of Joe’s and my praises of the store on my blog have, over the years, garnered some disbelief. I’ve even been asked if I was being paid to advertise for them—I wish! While it can seem too good to be true, this sort of fervent passion is just what happens to Trader Joe’s customers. The store’s unique products, high-quality standards, and happy staff create the perfect recipe for an exceptional shopping experience. When you have that sort of dynamic, no bribery is needed—the love TJ’s instills in its customers inspires them to willingly, and happily, preach the good word.

TRADER JOE’S QUALITY

Trader Joe’s is known for its quality standards, which far surpass anything you’ve seen at most any other grocery store. No GMOs, no added hydrogenated fats, no food coloring…it’s quite impressive and assures you that you’re feeding your family quality food.

In addition to the general quality standards, TJ’s also has some wonderful labeling practices. Many house products are labeled with easy-to-read symbols, denoting which products are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or low sodium, or fall under a host of other categories.

One thing to note, however, is that items are not always marked with all the categories they fall into. For example, the semisweet chocolate chips are vegan, but marked only as being gluten-free. This is why I recommended grabbing one of their handy product guides. Available both in-store and online, they list all of the items that are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free.

If you have dietary restrictions, always be sure to read the label. Distributors, manufacturing processes, and recipes change, and regional differences occur—all important things to consider, regardless of where you shop.

A NOTE ON ALL THINGS VEGAN

There are differing standards in determining whether a product is truly vegan. Some things that are important to strict vegans are not as important to other vegans. In that light, I want to be clear about some of the products used in this book and their relationship to vegan dietary guidelines.

For many vegans, the source of sugar in an item is a key determinant because most sugar is refined using a charcoal filter, and charcoal can be considered an animal by-product. Not all vegans observe this and for the purposes of this book, the source of sugar is not something that I concerned myself with. There are certain things used in this book (such as boxed baking mixes) that, when prepared in the way I instruct, become vegan baked goods, but the source of the sugar in the mix is not determined.

Additionally, while Trader Joe’s is a phenomenal store, it doesn’t have the endless breadth of options one might find at a conventional grocery store. In that case, there are certain items listed in the vegan options, such as vegan puff pastry or vegan cheese, that will have to be located at other stores. However, you’ll find that the majority of the vegan alternatives listed are readily available at your local TJ’s.

RENNET AND CHEESE

Rennet is an enzyme that goes into cheesemaking. It can come from one of three sources: animal (intestines), microbial, or plants. Often, the ingredient list simply refers to it as rennet, leaving the cheese buyer unaware of the rennet’s source.

Thankfully, Trader Joe’s labels the source of rennet on their ingredients. Additionally, you can get in-store information on which cheeses use microbial rennet and which use animal rennet, important for vegetarians who eat dairy. I recommend double-checking the source when you shop at different locations, as many of their cheeses vary by region. Information on their nationally carried cheeses is available in their handy product guides.

PRODUCT AVAILABILITY

Sometimes the day comes when you visit your beloved Trader Joe’s and a product you’ve come to rely on is no longer on the shelf. Perhaps they’re just out, you think. Sometimes that’s just it—they are out. But occasionally the item in question is gone, not because of a back stock issue, but because it’s been diskontinued. This can cause panic, but never fear! Check with your friendly Hawaiian shirts, because they may have more information. For example, some items (like Pumpkin Pie Spice) are seasonal—so they are temporarily gone, but not forgotten. And if the product you seek has, in fact, crossed over the rainbow bridge, there’s a good chance that something new and magical has also entered the store, something delicious that you might love even more.

And not to get your hopes up, but I have seen long-lost favorites (including my beloved Valencia peanut butter!) make returns after indefinite time off the shelf. You never know what will happen, only that it’s sure to be delicious.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?: A NOTE ON OIL AND VINEGAR

Mild vinegar: When mild vinegar is noted, it means a lightly flavored vinegar such as white distilled or apple cider vinegar.

Mild vegetable oil: Mild vegetable oil denotes a vegetable oil that is virtually flavorless and suitable for cooking and baking, such as canola, grapeseed, or a vegetable blend.

Olive oil: Ooh, mama. Trader Joe’s is the land of high-quality olive oils that are actually—gasp—affordable. The selection can vary and so will your budget and taste, so I keep it general so you can insert your preferred oil of choice. Unless it suits the recipe, I would stick with a plain olive oil and avoid infused varieties like garlic.

Breakfast

Call it breakfast, brunch, or brinner (breakfast-for-dinner)—anyway you cut it, it’s my favorite meal of the day. This chapter is full of recipes to please sweet and savory breakfast lovers alike, running the gamut from quick meals to lovingly prepared spreads for your family to feast upon. The one thing they all have in common is that they’re chock-full of delicious ingredients your family will happily wake up for.

BANANA CINNAMON ROLLS

PEANUT BUTTER CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

ORANGE-BLUEBERRY CORNBREAD MUFFINS

WILD RICE BREAKFAST PORRIDGE

ORANGE CREAMSICLE COFFEE CAKE

BLUEBERRY CRUMB CAKE

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN PANCAKES

SAVORY MUFFINS

BREAKFAST COOKIES

TASTY TOFU SCRAMBLE

QUINOA BREAKFAST BREAD

CINN-AGAVE PB SPREAD

APPLE OATMEAL PARFAIT

QUICK AND DIRTY DANISH

A TALE OF TWO FRENCH TOASTS

SPICED APRICOT OATS

SAVORY BREAKFAST ROLLS

CRANBERRY BANANA OATMEAL MUFFINS

THE ULTIMATE WAFFLE

BANANA CINNAMON ROLLS

Oh, lordy. These rolls are moist and tender and filled with banana and cinnamon. You’ll never again be satisfied by regular cinnamon rolls after tasting these beauties. Add a healthy smear of Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting and they’ll easily prove to be the most redonkulous things you’ve ever tasted.

ROLLS:

1 (¼-ounce) packet active dry yeast (about 2 ¼ teaspoons)

¼ cup warm water

½ teaspoon Trader Joe’s Organic Evaporated Cane Juice Sugar

3 tablespoons melted unsalted butter

¼ cup warm milk

2 tablespoons Trader Joe’s Organic Maple Agave Syrup Blend

1 cup mashed ripe banana

4 to 5 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

FILLING:

6 tablespoons Trader Joe’s Organic Evaporated Cane Juice Sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 large ripe banana, thinly sliced

5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter

1 ½ cups Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)

To make the rolls: In a large bowl, combine the yeast, warm water, and sugar. Swirl the mixture together and let it sit to proof the yeast. It will become thick and cloudy. Add the butter, milk, maple-agave syrup, and mashed banana, and mix well. One cup at a time, incorporate the flour until a dough comes together. The dough should be tacky. Knead until elastic, about 5 minutes. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel and let the dough rise until doubled, about 1 hour.

To make the filling: In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead. Roll out the dough into a 12 x 18-inch rectangle. Sprinkle the cinnamon topping over the surface. Spread out the banana slices randomly on top of the cinnamon. Cut the cold butter into small bits and sprinkle them randomly on top. Roll the dough tightly into a log beginning from the long edge. Cut the dough into 12 even slices and arrange the rolls in an ungreased 8 x 11-inch pan. Cover and let the dough rise until the rolls are doubled, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake the rolls, uncovered, for 20 minutes, or until golden. Let them cool slightly and frost with the Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting before serving.

MAKES: 12 rolls

VEGAN OPTION: Use nondairy milk and Trader Joe’s Vegan Buttery Spread in place of the dairy equivalents.

PEANUT BUTTER CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

This frosting is pure bliss. Just nutty enough, not too sweet, and oh so creamy. Spread it on Banana Cinnamon Rolls

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4 ounces cream cheese

2 to 3 tablespoons Trader Joe’s Organic Creamy Salted Peanut Butter

4 to 5 tablespoons Trader Joe’s Organic Powdered Sugar

splash of milk

In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and the peanut butter with a handheld mixer on medium speed. Add the powdered sugar until the frosting is to your desired sweetness. If the frosting gets too thick, add a splash of milk to smooth it out.

MAKES: 1 ¼ to 1 ½ cups of frosting

VEGAN OPTION: Substitute nondairy cream cheese and nondairy milk in place of the dairy ingredients.

ORANGE-BLUEBERRY CORNBREAD MUFFINS

Tender, orange-kissed cornbread muffins bursting with tender blueberries…seriously, does anything sound more delicious than that? These are simple, fast, and tasty—woo-hoo!

juice and grated zest of 1 large orange (about ⅓ cup juice)

¼ cup mild vegetable oil

⅔ cup milk

1 (15-ounce) box Trader Joe’s Cornbread Mix

1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with liners or lightly grease and flour the cups. In a large bowl, combine the juice, zest, oil, and milk, and whisk to combine. In 2 batches, incorporate the cornbread mix. Gently fold in the blueberries. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cups, filling to just under the rim. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of each muffin comes out clean, 15 to 18 minutes.

MAKES: 12 muffins

VEGAN OPTION: Substitute a nondairy milk for the dairy milk.

WILD RICE BREAKFAST PORRIDGE

This dish is based on a delicious breakfast porridge served at a popular Minneapolis restaurant. My version increases the heartiness while drastically lowering the fat. This porridge is highly addictive, so I suggest making a large batch. It keeps well in the fridge over the course of a couple of days.

2 cups milk

½ cup Trader Joe’s Rolled Oats

1 cup cooked Trader Joe’s Wild Rice

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