Trader Joe’s has a large selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes. The vegan soy chorizo from Trader Joe’s is definitely one of my favorites when I’m in the mood for something healthier than your standard pork chorizo.
Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo comes in a sausage shaped 12 oz. package and can be found in the refrigerated section. Currently, the price is $2.49 per package. This was purchased at the Chino Hills location in California.
Overall, we rated this a 3/5. A great chorizo alternative in terms of flavor and nutritional content. Preparation of this dish is also simple. It can be cooked in about 8-10 minutes in a skillet on your stovetop. Soy chorizo is very versatile and can be used in a number of recipes.
Continue reading for the full review of this item.
Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo Quick Look
| Where to Find | Refrigerated Section |
| Price | $2.49 |
| Cook Time | 8-10 Minutes |
| Food Allergens | Contains Soy |
| Our Rating : 3/5 | 1- Bad 2- Tolerable 3- Good 4- Love it 5- Must Try It |
What Does Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo Taste Like?
Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo has a lightly spicy, but rich chorizo flavor since it uses many of the same spices such as cumin, red pepper, garlic, and chili powder.
It really does taste like real chorizo, and in my opinion, tastes better than actual chorizo in some applications such as in eggs.
The texture of the soy chorizo is where it falls short. This soy chorizo is very crumbly and is hard to get very crispy without burning or overcooking. Even after adding a tablespoon of oil while cooking, the crispiness still isn’t as good as real chorizo.
Real chorizo gets very crispy and has that satisfying greasy flavor that gets better the longer you cook it (to an extent of course).
However, if you’re looking for a healthier, great tasting alternative to pork chorizo, the Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo is one of our favorite picks.
Does Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo Need to Be Cooked?
On the back of the packaging, it states to make sure to cook the soy chorizo thoroughly to 165 degrees Fahrenheit before consumption.
Although the soy chorizo is pre-cooked, heating it to the proper temperature will help you be able to consume it safely by preventing any potential food borne illness.
Not only does cooking the soy chorizo help prevent any food illnesses, but it will also make it taste delicious. The texture and consistency of the soy chorizo before cooking is very mushy, similar to ground beef.
How Do You Cook Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo?
Our favorite way to cook soy chorizo is by combining it with eggs and corn tortillas to make tacos for a delicious Mexican style dish.
If you prefer to make the chorizo by itself, you can skip adding in the eggs and tortillas. Be sure to thoroughly cook the chorizo for about 8-10 minutes.
Place a medium sized skillet on your stovetop. Turn the heat to medium and add 1 tablespoon of your favorite oil, or spray the skillet with nonstick cooking spray.
We opted to use nonstick cooking spray since we are trying to keep the calories and fat low. Once the oil warms up, place your desired amount of chorizo on the pan. In our recipe, we used half of the package.
After letting the chorizo cook for about 5 minutes, we then added 3 beaten eggs to the chorizo and continued to let it cook for an additional 3-5 minutes. Be sure to stir your chorizo and egg mixture every so often to make sure it doesn’t burn or overcook.
Once you it has reached your desired doneness, at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit, remove it from the skillet and place it onto a plate.
Next, take a few of your favorite corn tortillas and cook them directly on the skillet you just cooked your chorizo in. Heat them until they are thoroughly warmed up and ready to eat.
We used yellow corn tortillas, but white corn tortillas will work just as well.
I love spicy, so I decided to add a few squirts of sriracha sauce to my chorizo and eggs mixture. Now, simply spoon some of your mixture into a tortilla and eat it like a taco.
Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo Nutrition Information
Each package of Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo contains 6 servings. 1 serving is equal to about 1/3 cup or 56g. You will be getting 130 calories, 7g of total fat, 8g of total carbohydrates, and 8g of protein.
Each serving also provides 5g of fiber, 10% of your daily required potassium content, about 15% of the recommended iron intake, and a hefty amount of sodium at 660mg per serving.
Overall, the nutritional content of this soy chorizo is moderate at best. It contains a high amount of fat to carbohydrate and protein content, and a very large amount of sodium. If you are looking for a low to moderate sodium food, this should be avoided.
Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo Ingredients
- Water, Textured Soy Protein, Soybean Oil, Paprika (for color), Sea Salt, Distilled White Vinegar
- Contains 2% or less of cultured dextrose (to preserve), Maltodextrin, Caramel Color, Spices, Dried Red Pepper, Garlic Powder
Contains Soy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Soy Made of?
Soy is made out of soybeans. Many vegan and vegetarian foods are made out of soy. Some examples of these foods are soymilk, tofu, edamame, soy nuts and sprouts, soy sauce, miso, natto, and more.
Soy is used in a wide variety of foods as its consistency allows them to be made into oils and flours, as well and dairy and meat substitutes.
Can You Eat Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo Raw?
No. Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo needs to be fully cooked before eating.
Although it is vegan, and is a precooked grain-based meat alternative, the packaging clearly states that it should be heated up to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit to be safe to eat.
What Is the Difference Between Soy Chorizo and Regular Chorizo?
The main difference between the two chorizos is that soy chorizo is plant based, and also contains about half the fat and calories of pork chorizo.
This makes soy chorizo a much healthier choice, and a guilt free alternative when you are graving chorizo.
Does Soy Chorizo Taste Like Regular Chorizo?
The Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo does a great job at giving you a similar taste to regular chorizo. Soy chorizo However, regular chorizo still has a much greasier and crispy texture which really adds to the flavor.
Soy chorizo tastes like a healthier version of pork chorizo. Take everything that makes pork chorizo delicious and dial it back a little bit. The greasy flavor, crisp texture, and rich flavor are diminished in the soy version.
This doesn’t mean that the soy version is bad. Just don’t expect it to taste like your favorite Mexican chorizo because you will be let down. If you go in with an open mind, you will find that soy chorizo is great in its own way.
Does Soy Chorizo Get Crispy?
Soy chorizo does get a little crispy when you cook it long enough on a hot enough heat. To really give it a nice crisp, add a tablespoon or two of your favorite oil into your skillet before cooking.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we gave the Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo a 3/5 rating.
This is a great alternative to regular pork chorizo in terms of the fat content as it has about half. The main downside of this dish is the high amount of sodium per serving.
The preparation of this dish also requires a little more effort since it is recommended to be prepared in a skillet for the best overall taste. All the ingredients and spices make this taste similar to traditional chorizo. It is just missing the extra crispiness and greasiness that traditional chorizo is known for.