Trader Joe's Harvest Blend pilaf is a delicious combination of couscous, orzo, garbanzo beans and quinoa cooked with a handful of simple pantry staples. This easy, versatile, and hearty side dish is ready to serve with your favorite proteins in under an hour!
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Like so many people, I am a big fan of Trader Joe's store brand products. They are often unique, affordable, and - most importantly - super tasty! And once I discovered Traders Joe's Harvest Blend I immediately knew this convenient and appetizing product was going to be another TJ pantry staple in our house.
In just one bag you get a fantastic combination of four different grains, legumes, and pasta. To make this easy recipe we first cook the blend with sautéed onions and garlic, to really infuse every bite of the pilaf with deep flavor.
Then add your choice of chicken stock, or vegetable stock for a vegetarian and vegan recipe, cover the pot and simmer. The lid stays on and there is no need to stir. Less than 40 minutes later and the pilaf is perfectly tender, fluffy, delicious and ready to devour!
Recipe ingredients
Trader Joe's harvest grain blend. A combination of pearled couscous, orzo, split baby garbanzo beans (also known as split chickpeas), and red quinoa. The package has just the right proportions of each!
Broth. Use your choice of vegetable or chicken stock.
Onion and garlic. Classics aromatics that add delicious savory flavor to the dish.
Olive oil. Use a high-quality EVOO for sautéing.
Salt and pepper. A bit of both to lightly season the pilaf after cooking.
Fresh herbs. Garnish the dish with chopped fresh parsley, thyme or basil, if you like
How to make this Trader Joe's Harvest Blend recipe
Start by selecting a medium-sized saucepan and place it on your stovetop. Pour in a good amount of olive oil, just enough to coat the bottom of the pan, and turn the heat to medium. Allow the oil to warm up for a minute or two, but be cautious not to let it smoke.
Once the oil is warm, take a handful of finely chopped onions and a few minced garlic cloves, and carefully scatter them into the pan. Stir them gently with a wooden spoon or spatula.
You'll want to sauté these until the onions become a bit see-through — a sign they're getting nicely cooked — and you can smell the inviting aroma of garlic and onions mingling together. This usually takes about 3 to 5 minutes.
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Now, it's time to add the Harvest Grains Blend to the mix. Pour the grains directly into the pan with the onions and garlic. Stir everything together so the grains get a nice coating of the oil and become friendly with the onion and garlic flavors.
You'll want to keep this on the heat just long enough for the grains to become a bit toasty and golden, which typically takes around 1 minute. Be sure to stir continuously to prevent any sticking or burning.
Next, carefully pour your choice of broth into the saucepan. Watch as it sizzles and steams up, then give the mixture a gentle stir to make sure everything is well combined. Increase the heat just enough to bring the contents to a boil.
Once you see those bubbles popping up, turn down the heat to a low simmer and cover the saucepan with a lid. Now, it's all about patience. Let the grains simmer and soak up all that flavorful broth, becoming tender and plump. This process usually takes about 30 minutes, but you might want to check occasionally to ensure the liquid is absorbing nicely and the grains are cooking evenly.
When the grains feel just right — tender to the bite and all the liquid absorbed — turn off the heat. This is a good moment to add your personal touch with seasonings. Sprinkle in salt and pepper according to your taste preference, then put the lid back on and let the pilaf sit undisturbed for about 5 minutes. This rest time allows the flavors to settle and the grains to firm up a bit, making it easier to fluff.
After those 5 minutes are up, remove the lid. Grab a fork and gently fluff the pilaf, separating the grains and letting a bit of steam escape. The final touch is a sprinkle of fresh herbs — maybe some parsley, cilantro, or dill, finely chopped for a burst of color and freshness.
Your pilaf is now ready to grace the table! Serve it as a delightful side dish, pairing beautifully with your main dishes, and enjoy the harmony of flavors and textures it brings to your meal.
Leftovers and reheating
Store leftovers in the air tight container in fridge for up to 4 days. When ready to use again, just simply reheat in the microwave. Heat for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Servings suggestions
You can pair this flavorful pilaf with just about any main dish... It is great to serve as a side dish with meaty proteins like steak, pork chops, chicken, or seafood. Or enjoy alongside your favorite plant-based main dishes. But honestly, it is so delicious and hearty that I even like to have a large bowl of the harvest blend pilaf by itself for lunch or a lighter dinner.
Frequently asked questions
No, this is not a gluten-free blend of grains and pasta. Both the couscous and orzo contain gluten.
Yes, you absolutely can! Depending on the appliance you can either use the sauté function to cook the aromatics right in the rice cooker pot, or sauté them separately on the stove before adding to the rice cooker.
The term "pilaf" refers to the method of cooking, and not the specific ingredients used. This method includes first sautéing ingredients in the pot - like the onion, garlic, and grains in this recipe. Then any type of broth is added, the pot is covered, and everything simmers together like a typical rice or cooking other hearty grains. The result is a fluffy but fairly dense dish with loads of flavor in each bite!
Although it looks quite similar to rice, orzo is actually a type of very tiny pasta. It is made with a simple combination of semolina flour, wheat flour, and water. The texture of orzo is tender like rice, and because it has a rather neutral taste, the pasta is great to soak up the flavor of whatever it is cooked with.
The water will be totally evaporated and you should be able to see small holes across the top of the pilaf when the harvest blend is done cooking. After removing from the heat and setting to the side for several minutes (keeping covered!), the perfectly cooked pilaf will fluff nicely with a fork and be toothsome.
More Trader Joe's recipes
- Trader Joe’s mozzarella sticks air fryer
- Trader Joe’s tater tots air fryer
- Trader Joe’s breaded tilapia air fryer
- Trader Joe’s bool kogi air fryer
- Trader Joe’s spring rolls air fryer
- Trader Joe’s salmon pinwheels air fryer
Hope you will like this Trader Joe's Harvest Blend recipe as much as we do. Please rate the recpie if you made it and leave a comment if you have any questions or suggestions.
Recipe
Trader Joe's Harvest Blend Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Trader Joe's Harvest Grains Blend
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- ½ onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh herbs for garnish parsley, thyme, or basil
Instructions
- In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic, and sauté until the onions are translucent and fragrant.
- Pour in the Harvest Grains Blend and toast lightly with the onions and garlic for about 1 minute.
- Add the broth, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and let it cook for about 30 minutes, until the grains are tender and the liquid has been absorbed.
- Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper, and let it stand covered for 5 minutes.
- Fluff the pilaf with a fork, garnish with fresh herbs, and serve as a side to your main dishes.
Video
@tatiana_thetopmeal TRADER JOE’s harvest blend pilaf! Comment “recipe” and i will send you the recipe in to your dm! 🍛🍛🍛 #traderjoes #traderjoesmusthaves #traderjoesrecipe #pilaf #quinoa
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