If my shopping cart can be counted as a case study, it is safe to say that Trader Joe’s makes the most money on impulse buying. “Yeah, I needed some new kitchen towels.” “I wonder how that would taste on popcorn.” Mood odyssey! ”Are all pretty normal examples of what goes on my mind as I stroll through their corridors. I usually buy at least three things that I didn’t intend. This is how I recently came across a glass of Sweet & Savory Tomato Spread.
I wish I could say I loved it. The spread – basically tomato jam – is advertised as a “delicious, hearty counterpoint to cheese and cold cuts or roasted meat and vegetables”, but it is not at all tasty. It’s sweet, almost sweet, with no noticeable salt and not nearly enough acidity. It’s jammy but not good, and the overwhelming amount of sugar obscures any brightness you could hope for in a tomato-based product.
That doesn’t mean it’s completely useless – it’s not bad when paired with an aggressively spicy cheese or charred piece of super-salty meat – but it’s best when mixed with lots of acid, hot mustard, and / or ethanol is combined. These ingredients suppress the syrupy sweetness and allow the tomato to breathe and glow. Here are my three favorite ways to use TJ’s tomato spread, especially if – like me – you don’t like it that much.
Make a cocktail
I am not a stranger Jam cocktailsbut my usual ratio of 2 ounces of alcohol, 3 tablespoons of jam, and 1/2 ounce of lemon juice didn’t quite match with this particular spread. The cocktail I made with these measurements was – much like me – way too thick and sweet. Fortunately, this was easy to fix: I reduced the jam and increased the vodka and lemon to make a fresh, sweet, flavorful cocktail that tasted like it came from the garden. To do it you will need:
- 2 1/2 ounces of vodka
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Trader Joe’s Sweet & Tangy Tomato Spread
- 3/4 ounces of fresh lemon juice
Pour everything into an empty cocktail shaker and shake to dissolve the jam. Add ice and shake again to cool. Double strain through a sieve in a cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry tomato if you have it.
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Whip up a vinaigrette
While the spread isn’t as “sweet and flavorful” as it claims, a bunch of apple cider vinegar can fix this. This dressing is cheerful, nimble, and absolutely perfect for a crispy, carrot-heavy coleslaw. To do it you will need:
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons Trader Joe’s Sweet & Tangy Tomato Spread
- 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
Add it all to one jugClose the lid and shake until the bandage is emulsified. Pour on a pile of raw plant pieces.
Glaze the meat a little
Mixing half a cup of jam with a quarter cup of mustard makes a really excellent glaze for roast meat – this is one case where the candy-like taste of this spread is beneficial. Just mix the two ingredients together (I would use a very hot mustard here) and brush up some chicken, pork, or lamb before frying. I especially like it chicken.
