I go through stages of wanting to copy cat recipes I try at restaurants, but every time I try, I fail miserably! I swear I need to steal Mama Pea’s brain so I can get better at it…you want to copy cat this dish for me lady? I would love you forever…not that I already don’t.
Anyhow, I got this awesome grain salad at Trader Joes last weekend and I fell in love. It was the perfect combo of flavors and light enough to not weigh my down for a 2+ hour long drive home. I don’t have a picture of it because well, I ate it in the car, in the dark…but here are the ingredients I can remember:
- Chickpeas
- Barley
- Assorted Vegetables
- Olive Oil
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Cumin
- Other Spices
- Fresh Green Cabbage
And…that’s all I can remember.
So, since I loved it so much, I wanted to try making it at my place so it would be cheaper! I purchased some farro at Whole Foods the other day because I’ve been trying to find it forever, and decided to use that instead of the barley. I tried to use the ingredients I remembered on the list and came out with this:
And it sucked. GAH! I was so mad…I just need to stop copying recipes I try in different places…
So, obviously no recipe for this one. And I don’t know about you, but raw red cabbage tastes like dirt…not to be replaced with green cabbage in a dish like this. BLECK.
Anyone out there good at copying recipes? Any tips? I’m ready to give in and just pay the $5 at the store for it!
I’m on it. I have plans to go to TJ’s tomorrow and I was just thinking that I need a good salad recipe for the holidays. I’ll keep you posted!
Yay!!! I would love if you could recreate it because it was sooooo good!!!
For me, working out what spices and herbs were used is the hardest part, especially if there’s a subtle one in there. Sadly there isn’t a TJs within at least 200 miles of me, so I can’t even begin to be of help with that salad. :/
Sorry you didn’t like the red cabbage…I’m a big fan of cabbage raw or cooked, and I actually like the flavor of raw red cabbage. I also have some excellent recipes for cooked red cabbage, so let me know if you need a few ideas!
I can never recreate recipes either! I usually don’t even try anymore, haha.
I wish I could copy cat recipes from restaurants. But usually I order something that I probably wouldn’t make myself at home so I just abandon the idea, and make cupcakes instead
At least your salad looks pretty!
jealous