This Trader Joe’s Salad is amazing! It has quickly become a favorite at our house.
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I am lucky enough to live five minutes from a Trader Joe’s. I know not everyone is as fortunate. Today’s salad is called Trader Joe’s Salad for a reason, all the ingredients can be bought at Trader Joes. But before those of you who don’t live near a Trader Joe’s click off you can still make this salad. I will provide you with substitutions for those of you who aren’t able to get to a Trader Joe’s. Trust me, you want to make this salad.
I actually made this salad three times in the last week and each time I made it the first thing I was asked was, “Is it on the blog?” Well, it wasn’t because I had found it at my friend’s blog Sweet Treats & More. I knew as soon as I saw it in my Facebook feed I had to try it. I do love Trader Joes after all and I love this salad and it is so darn pretty and easy to make! I made some of my own changes to the salad but you can find her original version here.
The salad starts with a base of arugula. I also like spinach in my salad so I added a nice pile of spinach right in the middle of the dish. You are going to need a nice long, flat or round dish for this salad as part of the appeal is how pretty it looks when you layer everything into the dish.
The other ingredients are:
Trader Joe’s Quattro Formaggio shredded cheese or you could use your favorite blend of cheese. This one is a blend of Asiago, Fontina, Parmesan and Mild Provolone.
Quinoa. I used the Tri Color Quinoa blend from Trader Joes. The original recipe called for Orzo
On the other side of the Spinach layer your:
Corn. I roasted my own corn but you could use canned corn
Pepitas or pumpkin seeds. I think sunflower seeds would be great too.
Trader Joe’s Bruschetta. You could easily use chopped tomatoes for this or make your own bruschetta blend. The Trader Joe’s version is found in the refrigerator section.
After it is layered all pretty in your serving dish, grab your salad dressing. The salad uses Trader Joe’s Parmesan Ranch Dressing or just use your favorite Ranch dressing
And give the salad a nice drizzle.
Then enjoy how pretty it looks before you toss it all together!
It may not look quite as pretty but it sure does taste delicious!
For some of my other favorite salads check out these:
- 1 Cquinoa cooked. I used the Trader Joe's tri-color
- 1 bag baby arugula coarsely chopped
- 1 bag baby spinach
- 3/4 can corn drained or 2 ears of corn roasted and cut off the cob
- 1 container Trader Joe's fresh bruschetta sauce liquid drained (found in refrigerator section) or fresh chopped tomatoes
- 1 cup dried cranberries.
- 1 cup salted pepitas or pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
- 1 cup Trader Joes Quattro Formaggio shredded cheese blend of Asiago, Fontina, Parmesan and Mild Provolone
- ½ bottle Trader Joe’s Parmesan Ranch Dressing found in refrigerator section or favorite Ranch Dressing
- Place a layer of arugula in bottom of dish.
- Layer all other ingredients on top of arugula
- Drizzle with dressing
- Toss.
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For me, you hit it out of the park every time. Your recipes are just so ‘usable’ for everyday and the invite-people -over-to-dine times. Wow – just the most helpful and interesting and practical, nicely and prettily presented. Thank you. Your are my go-to over and over.
Thank you so much Lyn! Your comment means a lot to me because that is exactly what my goal is. Useable, everyday, yummy recipes that everyone loves. Thanks so much for coming to the blog!
are there names for these salads?
I am not sure I understand your question Cathy?
I, too, have a trader Joe’s salad. I tell my friends to stand where the steamed lentils and beets are, in the fresh veggie section and I tell them to grab those, and then, everything under them and beside them ! I also turn around and get the wonderful crisp baby heirloom tomatoes, a bit of red onion. It’s all so very yummy.
My salad also has the herbed goat cheese from TJ’s.
It’s really good!!
Sounds yummy!!
We enjoyed this salad. I changed it slightly to make it vegan by omitting the cheese and substituting cannellini beans. I made my own vegan style ranch dressing using unsweetened coconut milk, white wine vinegar, just mayo (dairyfree eggfree mayo), garlic and parsley. Thanks for the good recipe.
So glad you enjoyed it.
Hi Leigh Anne, I’m new to your blog, but WOW. This salad is insane! The flavors blend so nicely and it looks so pretty… I love TJ’s and this salad will be my new go-to. Thanks so much for sharing your inspiration. 🙂
Welcome to the blog Bea! Glad you found me and I can’t get enough of that salad!! Enjoy!
I can’t wait to try this! What are some of your favorite things to buy at Trader Joe’s? I just love that store! Thanks for another great recipe!
Lisa,
That’s a long list but some of my top favorites are their corn salsa, organic popcorn (the popped one), frozen brown rice, I buy all my nuts and dried fruit there, cilantro salad dressing in addition to the one I used on this salad, I also like a lot of their cookies (the mini chocolate chip ones especially)
This was insanely delicious! I added avocado and threw frozen corn in with the quinoa while it cooked. I literally just devoured a bowl of it! You can tweak it to your own tastes and what’s available in the fridge. Really, really yummy. Thank you!
Shannon, I am so glad you loved it too and I love the idea of adding avocado! Thanks for sharing!!
As a main course, do you have an estimate of how many this would feed??
Love your blog, follow you everywhere!! 🙂
It would depend on who you are feeding, men, women children? I would say four as a main dish with a good size serving.
I love Trader Joe’s and shop there a lot!! Will definitely be making this salad this week and I’m thinking of adding cooked chicken to it for either lunch or dinner!! Thank you so much for posting this recipe!!!
So glad you are going to try the salad Suzanne. you’re going to love it!
We love salad and can’t wait to try this one. We are snowed in just now, but I think we have all of the ingredients! I will make it tomorrow! I am so happy to find your blog!
This salad looks delicious, going to have to try it. I get so many good recipes from your blog. Thank you
If I pre-made a few of these for my lunches during the week. Would they last the whole week in the fridge?
I wouldn’t put the bruschetta or dressing on it ahead of time or it might get soggy.
I absolutely LOVE this salad. This is week 3 of eating it almost daily. Thank you so much for this filling salad recipe!!