All hash jokes aside, our mixture seemed like it was teetering on the verge of being too dry, honestly. A bit more moisture would have been quite pleasant here. The squash and sweet potato bites were a little too hard and even the celery seemed stiff. We did consume it a couple days before the "best by" date, but it seemed like maybe our batch had seen better days..?
It's not a mix I'd ever want to eat on its own. In addition to the lack of moisture and abundance of firmness, it's a very odd flavor combo to me. When cold, the onions clash with the sweet potato and squash, and the herbs and spices are overrepresented.
As far as seasonings are concerned, we're looking at parsley, sage, rosemary, and...wait. What? Just parsley, sage, rosemary...and no thyme. I bet Simon and Garfunkel are rolling over in their graves right now. Wait. What? Neither of those guys are dead yet? Well, that's good, I guess. Time for a reunion tour then, maybe?
As an additive to other foods, I guess I'm failing to find a soup that suits this unusual mishmash of not-super-Christmassy oddball ingredients. Sonia sautéed it with salt and olive oil, and I must say I like this melange much better when served warm. The oil helps with the dryness, and all the flavors blend into a nice savory snack—much less harsh and bitter than when consumed raw. It works amazingly well as an accompaniment to eggs.
The beautiful wifey has big plans to serve up the remainder of our hash with a Cornish hen, but I don't think we'll get to that before this review gets posted. In light of how good this stuff is when served as a hot dish, I'll have to give it the benefit of the doubt. Sonia agrees.
$4.99 for the 18 oz container. Three and a half stars a piece from the wifey and me for Trader Joe's Holiday Vegetable Hash.
Bottom line: 7 out of 10.
Not sure why yours was so dry. I've bought this twice, and both times it aged the way one expects cut butternut squash to do -- getting wetter -- over its few days in the fridge until I was ready to use it. Anyhow, here's a 5-star preparation: in a *big* skillet, sauté hash in a couple Tbsp. of neutral oil, then add one cup veggie broth and simmer till almost all the liquid is gone (so it's wet, but not soupy). Then add in a whole package of TJ's Steamed Lentils (https://www.traderjoes.com/home/products/pdp/steamed-lentils-090240) and stir gently till everything's mixed up and the lentils are heated through. Amazing vegetarian main dish or regular side dish.
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