food photographer

An Easy 1-Minute Lunch

I’m a big believer in the “miracle product” over here. Anything that does multiple duty and will take my situation from average to fantastic is an instant win in my book. So yesterday, during a quick run to my local Trader Joe’s, I was specifically on a hunt for key ingredients to make my life quicker and easier (and moreover, to make delicious, healthy and FAST lunches).

salad with chicken, blueberries and wonton strips in a white ceramic bowl on a white countertop

I always love to grab a pack of their cooked chicken from the refrigerator section. It’s easy to throw into lots of recipes, and we had a lot of salad greens at home that I didn’t want to go to waste (is there any worse feeling than pitching unused produce?!). I also grabbed a package of organic blueberries, which they always seem to have and at a pretty decent price. Then, I saw it:

I don’t know if it’s a new product or just new-to-me, but this Vegan Creamy Dill Dressing caught my eye right away. I’ve used TJ’s dressings in salads and grain bowls on many occasions, and they always level things up. Since I’ve been trying to rely less on dairy and I had only some sad and almost empty salad dressings at home I decided to give this a whirl.

The verdict? Do not pass go, do not collect $200, just get thee to Trader Joe’s and get this dressing ASAP. I threw together this salad in under 1 minute and ate it just about as fast. The dressing is creamy, not overpowering, and makes this otherwise basic salad feel really special.

Pro tip: keep a bag of wonton strips on hand. Last year when Sam was born we subscribed to a meal service box, and I noticed how having these little extra toppings really make things go the extra mile.

I’m also excited to mix this dressing into chicken salad with grapes and walnuts, or to use as a dip with fresh veggies.