I’m always looking for ways to get more vegetables into my family’s meals. That can be a challenge when everyone has different opinions about what veggies are yucky and what veggies are acceptable. While I personally enjoy carrots, peas, and sweet potatoes, I know they rank low in terms of likability in my household.
Broccoli and cauliflower are generally well liked, though. So when I saw that Trader Joe’s — which is a cousin to Aldi — was selling a broccoli and cauliflower gratin during the holiday season, I had to pick some up to try. Who doesn’t like vegetables smothered in a cheesy sauce, after all? The packaging even quips: “If ‘eat your broccoli’ is a mantra that is getting on your nerves, here’s a way out.”
Trader Joe’s Broccoli & Cauliflower Gratin cost $4.49 for a 21-ounce package at the time of publication. With about four servings per package, that comes out to about $1.12 per serving.
This is a product of Italy.
If you’re looking out for allergens, this contains milk, egg, and wheat.
The full ingredients list includes broccoli, cauliflower, whole milk, water, mozzarella cheese, butter, wheat flour, extra virgin olive oil, Grana Padano cheese, sea salt, and black pepper.
It does contain some fat and a bit of sodium, but you’re also getting a serving of vegetables. A one-cup serving has 130 calories, 7 grams of total fat (9% DV), 4 grams of saturated fat (20% DV), 20 mg of cholesterol (7% DV), 420 mg of sodium (18% DV), 8 grams of total carbohydrates (3% DV), 2 grams of dietary fiber (7% DV), 3 grams of total sugars, no added sugars, and 6 grams of protein.
Nutrition information and ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)
The back of the package has directions for heating this in a microwave or in a conventional oven.
To microwave, remove the outer packaging and place the tray in the microwave. Heat on high for 8 minutes. Carefully remove the gratin from the microwave and stir. Then continue to heat on high for an additional 3-5 minutes or until hot. Allow to cool for 2 minutes before serving.
To heat in the oven, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Remove the outer packaging and place the tray on a baking sheet on the center rack in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes. Carefully remove the gratin from the oven and stir. Then continue baking for an additional 5-10 minutes or until hot. Allow to cool for 2 minutes before serving.
Ready to serve.
I heated this in my microwave because I was roasting a whole duck in my oven at the same time. It was easy and took the work out of serving a vegetable side dish.
This was very well liked among my family, and it did not last long at all. We practically licked the tray after it was all gone. It has plenty of sauce, some decent-sized pieces of broccoli, and a lot of small bits of cauliflower. It is cheesy, savory, and indulgent. This is something I’d buy again at Trader Joe’s.
The Verdict:
Trader Joe’s Broccoli & Cauliflower Gratin features diced cauliflower and small hunks of broccoli in a rich and cheesy sauce. It’s a fun way to eat a serving of vegetables, either during a regular weeknight dinner or served as a special side for a holiday meal.
