Review: Trader Joe’s Channa Masala

Any trip to Trader Joe’s isn’t complete for me until I’ve stood around the Indian frozen food section and loaded enough meals into my cart to cause onlookers to give me looks of concern. I don’t think there’s a product in the lineup I don’t love. Every last one packs plenty of spicy punch and flavor.

This Channa Masala is no different and works perfectly as a standalone meal or accompanying something else for a mini feast of sorts.

Personally, I love the fact that no rice comes with the curry; I kinda hate when frozen Indian meals come with their own rice. I love making my own steamed basmati, its crazy easy when you know how; not least that means more room in the container for curry!

Trader Joe’s Channa Masala – what’s in the box?

Nothing controversial to see here. Inside the outer cardboard packaging the chickpea curry comes in a regular microwaveable safe plastic tray, covered with a plastic seal.

Trader Joe’s Channa Masala

Here’s the finished product with home cooked rice.

Trader Joe’s Channa Masala cooking instructions, nutrition, ingredients

Cooking is a proverbial piece of cake, and much like any other frozen curry. Remove the plastic tray from the cardboard sleeve, pop a few holes in the plastic cover, and then cook on high for 4-5 minutes. At that point I personally like to peel back the plastic, stir and cook one more minute.

The packaging also indicates you can cook this in the oven too, which I have not tried. Lastly it should be noted that while the product is vegetarian friendly, it does use ghee, so vegans will have to skip this dish.

Trader Joe's Channa Masala package front — Trader Joe’s Channa Masala package front

How much does Trader Joe’s Channa Masala cost?

I paid a measly $2.29 for this frozen meal in December 2018. That’s an absolute steal in my book. I’m not even sure I could make a single portion from scratch at home for that price.

Other Trader Joe’s products

Stuart Melling

Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you! I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC – Utah’s biggest and oldest online food magazine; I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune. I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV shows.

I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have covered the Utah dining scene for the better part of fifteen years. I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand. I started Shop Smart to catalogue my adventures in the grocery store and kitchen. Follow along on Instagram too!

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