One of the world’s most beloved grocery chains is Trader Joe’s, which is a key source for finding niche items, like Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce. This sauce is full of rich sweetness combined with savory notes of sage, garlic, and onion. You may be wondering: “how to use Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Alfredo sauce?”
Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce is best used in autumnal dishes, and because of it’s combination of sweet and savory ingredients, it is not limited to being eaten with pasta. Although it goes well with the Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli sold by Trader Joe’s it can also be used as a dip for vegetables or chicken, or even as a dressing to salads.
In this article, we will cover suggestions for how to use pumpkin alfredo sauce, the storage and proper handling of the sauce itself, and the potential health benefits that come with eating this delicious ingredient. We will even answer some of the web’s most frequently asked questions when it comes to pumpkin alfredo sauce! Let’s get right into it.
Suggestions for Using Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce From Trader Joe’s
When you first spot Trader Joe’s pumpkin alfredo sauce on the shelves, you might be so surprised and curious that you decide to buy it on an impulse.
After all, Trader Joe’s is the only place you can get this particular sauce, which makes it unique. However, you may find yourself at a loss for how to use this interesting ingredient.
Never fear; we have prepared a list of ideas for incorporating pumpkin alfredo sauce into various dishes! These can be seen below:
- Use as a Dipping Sauce – Pumpkin Alfredo sauce is best served warm, especially thanks to the dairy product inside. Once you’ve warmed it up in a small saucepan, it doesn’t necessarily have to be eaten in immediate incorporation. Instead, pair this with a tray of chicken fingers or even an assortment of veggies and you’ll have a great dipping sauce!
- Use as a Drizzle – You don’t necessarily need to use your pumpkin alfredo sauce only as a sauce for pasta or a dipping condiment. It’s flavor can go perfectly well as a drizzle over salad, combining cheese with sweetness, or even incorporated into a dish of scrambled eggs. Remember to lightly heat the mixture, first, even in cases of salad.
- Use As a Pasta Sauce – When you first notice the pumpkin alfredo sauce, you may discount the idea that it can actually be used as a pasta accompaniment. However, this would be a mistake. The pumpkin alfredo sauce works just as well by adding it to a dish of fettuccini as it might as a drizzle or dipping sauce!
Tips for Balancing the Flavor of Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce
You might be tempted to be nervous about what you add your pumpkin alfredo sauce to, even with the above ideas. After all, it’s flavor profile can seem weird at first glance.
However, the fact that the pumpkin flavor is so sweet and rich, as well as containing the usual alfredo ingredients like savory garlic and onion, actually makes it easy to balance.
Still, to give you the most confidence in your dinner choices, we’re happy to offer a list of tips for balancing this bold food choice’s flavor!
- Add Savory Ingredients – It may seem easiest to try pumpkin alfredo sauce out on a plain dish of buttered pasta, but we advise adding some roasted vegetables or a savory-seasoned protein, like chicken, instead. Not only with this give your meal more depth of flavor, but it will balance out the sweetness of the pumpkin sauce.
- Adjust the Amount of Sauce You Use – Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce tastes great, but there is such a thing as too much of a good sauce. Avoid overwhelming your food choices with the richness of the flavor by trying a little of the sauce at a time, especially in pasta dishes.
Handling and Storage of Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce From Trader Joe’s
Even after you are done enjoying a dose of the pumpkin alfredo sauce, you may want to try to use it in other recipes or add it to leftover meals. If this is the case, you’ll need to know how to store this delicious ingredient.
Below is a list of the best practices to keep the sauce fresh and safe.
- Close the Container Tightly – If you have not used all of your pumpkin alfredo sauce, or made sure to restrain yourself from disposing of the container it came in, you should be able to simply close the original lid tightly for storage.
- Transfer Leftovers to an Airtight Container – If you heated your alfredo sauce up, transfer it to an airtight plastic or glass container using a spoon.
- Place Sauce in the Fridge and Freezer – As long as your pumpkin alfredo sauce is in an airtight type of container, you should have no trouble storing it in a fridge or even in a freezer. It is important that it remain in a container that is tightly sealed, though, to lower the risk of freezer burn spoiling the flavor.
Considerations for Alfredo Sauce That Has Been Opened for an Extended Period of Time
If your pumpkin alfredo sauce was out on the counter, open, for several hours, you may need to discard it.
This is because the oxidization of the dairy-associated ingredients in the process can cause bacteria to grow. In short, the sauce may go bad, and you may get sick from eating it.
Potential Health Benefits of Pumpkin Alfredo Sauce
The potential health benefits of this sauce are actually pretty great! For example, one of the main ingredients in the sauce, pumpkin, is full of Vitamin A and can reduce the risk of disease through it’s antioxidant properties. It is also a great source of fiber for the digestive tract to work with!
However, there are always dangers when it comes to overconsumption of any product, and pumpkin alfredo sauce is no different.
It is high in calories and high in fat, as most alfredo sauces are. This can lead to increased weight and even heart disease if you aren’t careful to limit your intake of pumpkin alfredo sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Add Anything to Jar Alfredo Sauce?
It is not necessary to add anything to jar alfredo sauce except to heat it up, though salt, pepper, or other seasoning will not harm the dish.
How Do You Make Trader Joe’s Alfredo?
To incorporate Trader Joe’s Alfredo sauce into pasta, simply boil a pot of salted water until it reaches a rolling boil.
While waiting, place the alfredo sauce in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring to keep it from burning or boiling. After water has boiled, add pasta into the water and stir occasionally for 9 minutes, or until the pasta is tender.
After this, strain the water from the pasta over the sink, gently rinsing the pasta while it is in the strainer. Then add the heated sauce to the pasta and enjoy!
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, pumpkin alfredo sauce from Trader Joe’s may seem like an odd choice when you first notice it on the shelves, but it actually comes with a richness in both savory and sweet flavors. This makes it perfect not only for pasta, but for dipping chicken and veggies in.
To balance out the intensity of flavor, you can add more savory elements to any dish featuring pumpkin alfredo sauce.
Though the flavor is great for such a wide variety of dishes, consuming too much of it can cause an unhealthy amount of caloric and fat intake. With that said, it also comes with a great amount of fiber and antioxidants, and is a great choice for cooking!
