Trader Joe's has quietly released a new line of frozen soup dumplings that may be the best frozen dumpling product ever sold at a mainstream grocery store. At $4.99 for a bag of eight pork and ginger xiao long bao, they offer remarkable quality at an accessible price point.
The wrappers are thin and delicate without tearing during steaming, and each dumpling contains a generous burst of savory, ginger-laced broth inside. The pork filling is well-seasoned with a hint of sesame oil and scallion that avoids the bland uniformity common in frozen dumplings.
Our tasting panel rated these an 8.5 out of 10, docking points only for the fact that the wrappers become slightly gummy if overcooked beyond the recommended seven minutes of steaming. Served with black vinegar and fresh ginger, these are an absolute steal and are likely to become a permanent addition to our freezer rotation.
