Three Ways to Use Trader Joe’s Sweet Salted Tomato Spread
If my shopping cart can be considered an example, I think it’s safe to say that Trader Joe’s makes most of his money from impulse purchases. “Yes, I really needed some new tea towels”, “I wonder how it would taste with popcorn” and “I deserve an odyssey of mood !” these are all pretty standard examples of what happens in my little head as I walk towards their aisles. I usually buy at least three things that I didn’t intend to buy, so I recently got a can of their sweet and savory tomato spread.
I wish I could say that I was in awe of it. The spread, which is mostly tomato jam, is advertised as “a delicious savory variation on cheese and cold cuts or grilled meats and vegetables,” but it is not at all savory. It is sweet , almost sugary, with no visible salt and almost no acid. It’s a jam, but not in a good way, and the overwhelming amount of sugar darkens any brightness you might hope to find in a tomato-based product.
That doesn’t mean it’s completely useless – it’s fine when paired with an aggressively spicy cheese or charred chunk of super-salted meat – but best when paired with a lot of acid, hot mustard, and / or ethanol. These ingredients muffle the syrupy sweetness, allowing the tomato to breathe and shine. Here are three of my favorite ways to use TJ tomato paste, especially if you, like me, don’t like it.
Make a cocktail
I’m not new to jam cocktails , but my usual ratio of 2 ounces of alcohol, 3 tablespoons of jam, and 1/2 ounce of lemon juice wasn’t quite right for this particular spread. The cocktail I made with these sizes was – like myself – too thick and sweet. Fortunately, this was easy to fix: I reduced the amount of jam and increased the amount of vodka and lemon to create a fresh, sweet, tangy cocktail that tasted like from the garden. To make it you will need:
- 2 1/2 ounce vodka
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Trader Joe’s Sweet & Hot Tomato Spread
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
Add everything to an empty cocktail shaker and shake to dissolve the jam. Add ice and shake again to cool. Strain twice through a sieve into a cocktail glass. Garnish with cherry tomatoes if available.
Whisk the vinaigrette
While the pasta isn’t as “sweet and pungent” as it is claimed, you can fix it with apple cider vinegar. This bright, vibrant dressing is perfect for crunchy, heavy carrot tortilla. To make it you will need:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 Tbsp Trader Joe’s Sweet & Hot Tomato Spread
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Put everything in a jar , close the lid and shake until the dressing emulsifies. Pour a bunch of raw plant pieces over the top.
Glaze meat
Mixing half a cup of jam with a quarter cup of mustard makes a really great frosting for grilled meats – this is one example where the candy flavor of this spread is an advantage. Just mix the two ingredients together (I would use a very hot mustard here) and brush with some chicken, pork, or lamb before baking. I especially like chicken .