I had one of those magical moments walking down the aisles of my local Trader Joe's — I found a new exciting vegan product: Broccoli and Kale Pizza Crust [1]. I couldn't get it in my cart and back home fast enough! Already being a fan of Trader Joe's Cauliflower Pizza Crust [2], I couldn't wait to get this in my oven and into my mouth. I whipped up a pizza with it and tried this new healthy crust; here's everything you need to know before buying TJ's latest craze.
What Does It Cost?
For $5, you get one small crust. It says that it's three servings, but realistically, I'd say there are two, as long as you're eating it with a big salad.
What Is It Made With?
I love that broccoli is the first ingredient! And that it's vegan — many low-carb crusts use either eggs [4] or cheese [5] as a binder. And like Trader Joe's Cauliflower Pizza Crust, this Broccoli and Kale Pizza Crust is also gluten-free. Along with the broccoli and kale, it also contains corn flour, potato starch, cornstarch, water, olive oil, and salt.
Don't Forget This Important Cooking Tip!
Full disclosure: I did not read the cooking instructions and that was a slight fail. The box says you need to bake the crust separately on both sides before adding the toppings and baking again. Whoops!
I have to say that even with missing that step, it wasn't terrible at all. It was very "soft and floppy" (my husband's words), having more of an al dente pasta texture than a pizza crust. Good thing I bought two crusts! (PS: it did not go to waste!)
So, How Does It Taste?
OK, take two. When making the second pizza, I followed the box's instructions (go me!), baking each side for 10 to 12 minutes first, then topped with tomato sauce, vegan cheese (I used the Follow Your Heart brand [6]), and fresh basil. It said you could even broil the crust for an additional four to five minutes for a crispier finish, but I skipped this step since I prefer it softer.
So how did it taste? Does the fact that I went back and bought two more Broccoli and Kale Pizza Crusts answer your question? Compared to Trader Joe's Cauliflower Pizza Crust, this has a similar soft and chewy texture, although the broccoli crust seemed slightly firmer. It also has more flavor, which I preferred; the cauliflower crust is pretty bland.
And no, this crust didn't taste at all like broccoli or kale; it just tasted slightly more herby than the cauliflower crust. For pizza that's low in carbs (15 grams for one-sixth of the crust), this was damn good! I mean it's no New York-style pizza, but for being made out of vegetables, it's pretty amazing.
Cauliflower vs. Broccoli and Kale
The nutritional info on the left is for the Cauliflower Pizza Crust. As you can see, the Broccoli and Kale Pizza Crust has fewer calories per serving and fewer carbs. It also offers slightly more calcium and iron (win!). And since it also tastes more flavorful, I'll be buying the Broccoli and Kale Pizza Crust from now on.
Pizza Topping Ideas
If you need some inspiration as to how to top your Broccoli and Kale Pizza Crust, try these variations:
- Instead of tomato sauce, spread Trader Joe's Vegan Kale Pesto [7] on the crust and top with cheese, sliced tomatoes, and fresh basil.
- Spread with salsa and top with corn, black beans, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese.
- Spread with tomato sauce and add sautéed mushrooms, peppers, and sun-dried tomatoes.
- Spread with tomato sauce and top with roasted onions, zucchini, and marinated tofu.
- Cook up some BBQ jack fruit [8] and add that to the crust with sliced red onion and diced pineapple.
- Brush with olive oil, add a little ricotta and mozzarella, and sprinkle with garlic, fresh parsley and basil, and broccoli florets.