Hack Trader Joe's Frozen Aisle For Unique Fusion Meals And Snacks

Fusion cuisine combines food associated with two or more different cultures. It's become a popular part of the modern culinary scene, with competition shows including fusion challenges and chefs. Thankfully, you don't have to be a pro to create tasty combinations at home. Everything you need for a good fusion dish is in the Trader Joe's freezer section.

The easiest way to formulate a fusion dish is to just think of what ingredients you like to see in a dish. Is it curry? Rice? Pasta? Next, you'll want to consider what ingredients you like that go together — like onion and tomato. Find a dish from two cultures that uses one of these and go from there. For example, you can take an Indian frozen butter chicken meal, heat it up, and fold it into a Taiwanese green onion pancake like a taco (a style of food from Mexico). That's taking inspiration from three countries using two containers from the Trader Joe's frozen section.

Another low-effort pair is Trader Joe's mandarin orange chicken and Italian umami garlic noodles. Top with a little teriyaki or yum-yum sauce, and add some stir-fried vegetables (which you can also get from the freezer section). The only limit to these ingredients is your imagination.

Bring together Japanese and Italian cuisine by combining TJ's karaage with frozen broccoli and tomato basil sauce. The crispy twice-fried chicken can already match with salted broccoli, which is found in both Japanese and Mediterranean food. Dipping both in an herbal tomato basil sauce with your fork or chopsticks plays to the strengths of these foods by adding a cool and acidic touch.

India and Greece share two similar items: pita and naan. They're not the same, but they do share fluffiness and flavor. Combine Trader Joe's Tandoori naan with tzatziki sauce and the brand's fully-cooked lamb slices to create a quick, filling gyro. Heat up some frozen vegetables and wrap them inside the naan to finish.

Kebabs are Middle Eastern in origin. We're used to seeing savory meat on the skewers, but why not use this idea for desserts? Japan has a similar concept in hanami dango, which is a sweet rice treat. Make your own version with Trader Joe's wide selection of dessert mochi (rice dough ice cream bites). Put your favorite flavors on a stick for easy eating. Mix coffee, chocolate, and caramel apple for a taste of autumn, or make it fruity by using mango, strawberry, and vanilla.

Fusion is a beautiful way of introducing new foods into your diet while still using flavors you're familiar with in your culture. Use Spanish rice for a spicy vodka risotto, or throw a Chinese invention like ice cream on top of your French lava cake. Fuse any way you want with the Trader Joe's frozen aisle.