Trader Joe's Mojito Chicken with Black Beans and Rice: A Review

I picked up a grab-and-go entree at Trader Joe's last week. It was the first time I'd noticed this one. It was a Trader Joe's Mojito Chicken with Black Beans and Rice. One thing about it that had grabbed my attention was the packaging, or lack there of. The simple packaging consisted of a black plastic microwavable tray-like container covered with a single see-through piece of clear cellophane. A yellow Trader Joe's label was attached, and covered the bottom half of the transparent covering.

I loved this packaging because I was able to see the contents and tell the condition the food was in. I could see that there were plenty of chicken strips, and the black beans and rice looked fresh and good. I could see the seasonings on top, along with a small segment of an orange. This little 12oz-1 serving package of Trader Joe's Mojito Chicken with Black Beans and Rice dish would be perfect to take to work for lunch.

Trader Joe's Mojito Chicken with Black Beans and Rice is labeled as a traditional Cuban recipe made of chicken marinated in a citrus sauce with rice, black beans and peanuts. I couldn't detect the peanuts in taste or form, but the essence of citrus gave it a nice flavor. The rice and black beans reminded me of the food at the Chipotle restaurant, and I felt the quality was comparable to Chipotle's food as well.

I detected a hint of cilantro in the dish. I don't particularly care for cilantro, which is probably why I could tell it was in there. Fortunately it was a very minimal amount that they used so I was able to enjoy the dish.

When I checked the list of ingredients on the underside of the package, I found that the dish consisted of rice, marinated chicken, orange-cilantro sauce, peanuts, black beans, and seasonings. I could smell it through the package and it smelled wonderful!

Trader Joe's Mojito Chicken with Black Beans and Rice has no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. In addition, it has 4grams of dietary fiber, 25grams of protein, 25% Vitamin A, 40% Vitamin C, 8% Calcium, and 8% Iron.

On the down side, a 12 oz. Serving of Trader Joe's Mojito Chicken with Black Beans and Rice has 520 calories, 140 of which are from fat. 15 total grams of fat, 2.5g saturated fat, and 0 grams trans fat. The cholesterol is at 45mg, sodium is 860mg, and there are 15grams of sugar.

I took the Trader Joe's Mojito Chicken with Black Beans and Rice entree to work for lunch and it turned out to be a real treat. To prepare the meal, simply remove the clear top film covering and heat the entree in the microwave for 2 minutes.

The rice came out nice and moist, with some of it sticking together like when you order fresh, steamed, white rice at an Asian restaurant! There were ample strips of chicken, and it was very well cooked, and also moist and juicy. The black beans came out well, with no sign of dryness. The seasonings and orange piece were moist as also. I mixed the contents together and set my orange slice aside to save for last, though my guess is that the orange piece was really meant for squeezing over the entire entree. As mentioned, Trader Joe's Mojito Chicken with Black Beans and Rice contains peanuts. I did not see or taste peanuts in the entree. They may have been chopped up very fine, but I did not detect them.

Despite the small look of this entree, Trader Joe's Mojito Chicken with Black Beans and Rice dish was quite filling. There was an ample amount of food there, and I actually did not eat it all in one sitting. A small amount of it got saved for later for my 2pm snack. Being able to divide the 520 calories over several hours made me feel a lot better!

Trader Joe's Mojito Chicken with Black Beans and Rice entree is a delicious dish that should be kept refrigerated until ready for use. It works well for lunch, or as a small dinner. This filling dish is quick, tasty, and easily portable. I would definitely purchase this dish again, as well as recommend it to anyone who doesn't have a peanut allergy!