Trader Joe's Steamed Pork & Ginger Soup Dumplings

Almost five years ago, I reviewed Trader Joe's first stab at freezer case soup dumplings. And yes, they weren't entirely bad. But I may have asked for a pork flavor...because, sorry to those who don't eat pork, pork is one of the most beloved meats used in Chinese cuisine. Chicken is healthier but pork is fattier, and fat means FLAVOR. And seeing as one global epidemic (no I'm not talking about racism but that's another disease for another day) has rocked the food world and certainly changed how many of us eat, dare I say I was quite happy to finally see this during a recent TJ's run. 

Same photo setup as the packaging for the previous version, except they've opted for a cool, modern galactic Pantone-aesthetic purple. 

Same product description. Same heating instructions. Same eating instructions. It's always good when an unfamiliar food (to Middle America) comes with instructions. 

Ginger is the number 2 ingredient listed here. This is a plot point. Pay attention. :P

I guess I never noticed, but the shape of the plastic tray leaves these dumplings with a leaf pattern on the bottom. Does it affect the cooking process? Maybe?

There's only one proper way to prepare these - steaming. Just cuz a microwave option exists does not mean that it should be used. Example - some people have chosen to wrap themselves in plastic in order to protect them in public places. Like hospitals. Like they've wrapped themselves in literal plastic wrap because people have discovered what the scientists haven't - plastic will protect you from contracting a nasty novel coronavirus.* I mean, it's a free country so you can wrap yourself in plastic if you so choose. But should you wrap yourself in plastic just because you can? :P

*OMG SARCASM

1) The soup leaked a little from the dumplings. Yes the little puddles of liquid on the parchment were slightly savory = soup. 

2) These taste better than the chicken soup dumplings. Why? Pork. Fat. Flavor. Therefore the meat and soup taste better. 

3) Even though some of the soup leaked a little, as long as you handle these babies with care, you still end up enjoying a fair amount of soup. And actually these dumplings have more soup than some soup dumplings I've had in restaurants.

4) "Copious amounts of ginger" in this case means WAY TOO MUCH. Like they need to tone it way down. Like cut it by a third or a half. I know this is a sincere attempt at producing a nice Chinese food, but not everything needs to be baptized in ginger or soy sauce for it to scream I'M AUTHENTIC. 

5) Generally speaking, I prefer a thicker skin on my dumplings because I like the texture. This skin is definitely too thin. Thin skin is not always a bad thing. Din Tai Fung's skin is neither too thick nor too thin (but for me on the thinner side), and their soup dumpling are world-class. But I think a thicker skin *might* help with the issue of the leaking soup. 

6) Aside from the too thin skin and the excessive ginger, these soup dumplings are actually pretty good and a welcomed respite from quarantine homecooking. Which I have enjoyed. But I long for the day where we can eat soup dumplings with friends and family in public without wondering if we're endangering anyone or transmitting anything. 

7) $2.99 for one box of 6 dumplings. 

TL;DR: Trader Joe's Steamed Pork & Ginger Soup Dumplings. Too much ginger for my liking but I ain't entirely mad. It's still a good dumpling. +1 pandemic point. 8 out of 10. Mantou Joe repurchase? Until it's much lower risk to eat out in a restaurant, sure why not?