Sharing my thoughts on Trader Joe’s Shakshuka Starter – an incredibly easy + delicious weekend breakfast for 2!
My love for Trader Joe’s runs deep. Honestly, it’s bordering on obsession but hey, what can you do? Whenever I go to Trader Joe’s, I’m usually really good about sticking to my grocery list and not throwing everything I want into my cart. But I do keep a list in my Notes of cool Trader Joe’s items that catch my eye + I want to try out. So each visit I stick to my list and add in one (okay, usually 2) new product.
I first saw Trader Joe’s Shakshuka Starter over on @TraderJoesList on Instagram + it immediately went onto my list. The trouble was, I never saw it stocked at my local TJ’s. Like, I looked for weeks. Is that embarrassing to put on the internet? Oops, too late.
FINALLY, my ship came in and I found Trader Joe’s Shakshuka Starter in the freezer section. I tossed a loaf of Trader Joe’s focaccia with roasted tomatoes + parmesan into my cart and was excited for a fun weekend breakfast.
How to Prepare Trader Joe’s Shakshuka Starter
Shakshuka normally is prepared with eggs for protein but I don’t like eggs at all. I’ve tried over the years but nope, eggs just aren’t for me. I got a little creative and fried up halloumi slices I have on hand because halloumi is dee-licious. If you haven’t jumped on the halloumi train yet, I highly encourage you pick some up in the Trader Joe’s cheese section on your next visit!
The Trader Joe’s Shakshuka Starter directions said I could microwave it but I opted for the stovetop option. Add the contents of the packet (aka a frozen block of tomatoes and peppers) to a small skillet along with 2 tbsp of water. Heat over medium heat until thoroughly warmed.
It took less than 10 minutes and while the shakshuka was heating up, I fried up the halloumi slices.
The shakshuka was very flavorful, you can tell they use fresh, ripe tomatoes in this item. Because I love things on the spicy side, I added a hearty amount of red pepper flakes for some zip. I topped with crumbled feta and chopped basil because that’s what I had on hand. You can definitely add cilantro if that’s your style, the bright color adds a fun element to this breakfast dish!
You can eat the shakshuka with bread, which is an excellent tool to soak up all the tomato-ey goodness. But I ended up just eating this straight with a spoon!
Would I Buy Trader Joe’s Shakshuka Starter Again?
Yes, absolutely. It literally costs $2!! In a restaurant, shakshuka costs easily $10 and even getting the ingredients for the dish would cost you about that much.
For an easy, flavorful breakfast dish, you really can’t beat the price. I will say the serving size says 2 but it’s a little light. If you were in a big breakfast mood, you’d have to add some bacon or sausage to fill up.
It’s a fun breakfast for the weekend when you want to feel fancy but also want to stay at home. I also had this shakshuka for dinner one night when I didn’t feel like really cooking or cleaning. Trader Joe’s to the rescue!
Have you tried Trader Joe’s shakshuka starter?
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