This $2.29 Trader Joe's Find Would Make a Cardboard Box Taste Good

I thank my Floridian roots for my love of Cuban cuisine. Anytime I'm back in Florida, one of my favorite things to do is to visit some of the many Cuban restaurants in the city. I always make a point of visiting Miami’s own Enriqueta's Sandwich Shop in particular. 

My favorite Cuban dishes are simple yet super flavorful and include mojo sauce in one way or another. So when I stumbled upon a marvelously branded, Cuban-style seasoning blend at Trader Joe’s inspired by mojo-marinated meat, you can imagine my excitement. 

Mojo is a staple in Cuban cooking. It’s made by marinating onion in sour orange juice, garlic, and salt, then dousing it in hot oil and letting it simmer. You get a bright, citrusy sauce perfect for marinating meats, though it’s good with just about anything else under the sun. Mojo can also be made into a dip, known as mojo criollo. 

What I Love About Trader Joe’s Cuban Style Seasoning Blend

For starters, you get a 2.25-ounce jar for $2.29. It’s almost criminally underpriced for such a versatile seasoning blend. And that's a big part of its charm, as I use this blend on almost everything. Now that it's summer, I’ve been making lemon-herb chicken and chili-lime flank steaks like my life depends on it. Just adding this blend of tangy, garlicky goodness has completely transformed my favorite recipes. 

How I Use Trader Joe’s Cuban Style Seasoning Blend

Where this blend really shines in my book is with tater tots and french fries. I love nothing more than a fresh batch of tots straight out of the air fryer, sprinkled with salt and Trader Joe's Cuban-style seasoning. I also add the blend to simple vegetable stir-fries and leftover rice that I’m trying to return to its former glory. 

It’s an easy seasoning blend to experiment with as well. I recently made fish tacos and not only did I add the blend to the sea bass marinade, but I also sprinkled it on top of the final product. And it's simply amazing sprinkled lightly on a slice of avocado with salt. 

The $2.29 investment is a small price for the countless meals that can be elevated with this magical bottle. It makes nearly anything taste good. Take my advice and purchase two bottles at a time because you’ll be shaking that sucker frivolously above a hot batch of tater tots in no time.