Trader Joe's Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli

It's the season where everything is coming up pumpkin. If you go to Trader Joe's they sneak pumpkin into just about everything so you end up trying just about everything. So in looking for ravioli the other day I came across this in the refrigerated aisle and figured I'd try it. Trader Joe's Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli is definitely something worth looking at if you enjoy a good butternut squash ravioli.

Review

Trader Joe's Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli is a fantastic seasonal offering. It tastes like pumpkin without being overwhelmed by it. It has a good spice blend added to give it a touch of sweetness. Enjoy this with meatballs or with Trader Joe’s Meatless Meatballs.

The pasta is in two different colors: yellow and orange. Very festive.

The cooking directions are spot on, unlike some other pasta products at this time of year. So yes, all these need is about 2.5-3 minutes in a pot of boiling water and they will be cooked perfectly. They will fade slightly.

Are the ravioli as full as I would like them to be? That's maybe the only reason I'd take off points on this dish. The filling is good, but just not generous. But the filling is both sweet and savory. It has familiar spices that pair well with pumpkin along with some brown sugar to round out the flavor.

And then there is the issue of pairing. Some people might be stumped on how to serve this. Butter, cheese, a cream sauce, or even a brown butter sauce with sage and walnuts would pair well. The filling tastes slightly sweet so you might want to keep a certain level of contrast here.

How do you make this dish better? By washing it down with a pumpkin beer like New Belgium Pumpkick (also found in Trader Joe's and you can buy single bottles to make sure you actually like it instead of committing to a 6 pack).

Pumpkin beer like this one adds and enhances the flavor without muddling it. As for a sauce, I'd stick with a butter sauce or a light herb sauce. There are a lot of flavors already present and you will run the danger of overwhelming this dish. I enjoyed it with just a little bit of butter.

Packaging

Packaging is straightforward. These are packaged in a plastic container with a soft plastic covering which can be cut into. There is no excess packaging here.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some common questions about this product

Overall

For me, this is an item to look out for when the pumpkin products come in. It is priced at $3.69 and you could get 1 serving out of this package. But if you are really hungry or not serving anything then consider this a single serving. The price did go up modestly as in previous years it was priced at $3.49. Still a good deal and a good pumpkin-flavored item.

Would I buy this again? For me, Trader Joe's Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli is an annual purchase that I look forward to.