With the holidays nearly upon us, there are so many new things hitting shelves. Some are clearly meant for the Winter holidays while others are just for the Thanksgiving holiday. I'm not sure which category this is meant for, but this is another option as a side dish if you normally go through the refrigerated aisle for your sides.
Taste
And the refrigerated section does have a good selection of reliable side dishes. So far, I've seen the return of the delicious Scalloped Potatoes with Quattro Formaggio. I've seen the return of corn pudding, and the seemingly overlapping cauliflower gratin.
So with at least two comparison points, the scalloped potatoes, and the cauliflower gratin, I was curious how this would compare to a refrigerated and presumably fresher item.
Well, I was pleasantly surprised by what came out of the oven.
Now, my biggest complaint about any gratin is the potential to have a water or milky residue on the bottom. That was not the case here.
I opted for oven preparation. So yes, it took a bit, but the payoff was seemingly worth it.
While not quite on the level of the refrigerated options, this is a reasonably good competitor. The sauce was thick but more roux-y than say the scalloped potatoes. But both the cauliflower and broccoli had a good texture.
They were firm, but not too firm. The chunks of broccoli were larger than the cauliflower.
Overall
For $3.99 this is a reasonably priced side that will easily serve closer to three servings than the four listed. It wasn't watery and the sauce was thick.
Would I buy this again? There are so many things to try this time of year, so I'm one and done, but if this were out at a different time of year I'd pick up an extra one.
Product photos
The package of Trader Joe's Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin:
Calories
Ingredients
Directions
After being cooked you get:
And a picture from on top:
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Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
The Bottom Line
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Trader Joe's Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin
Product Name: Trader Joe's Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin
Product Description: A new frozen seasonal side dish.
Price: $3.99
Summary
A frozen side dish that is anything but watery or runny.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- An affordable side that is well done
- Will easy make for 3 servings
Cons
- Had a slightly more flour-y/roux-y taste to it than the refrigerated sides
Dagmar says
Another phew!......glad you liked it since I but this and the turkey Friday evening but haven't tried either yet. I'm looking forward to having the two of these together. Thanks for the review.
becomebetty says
Hey Dag! No problem. Look forward to hearing your thoughts on these when you get a chance to try them! Thanks as always for stopping by!
judilyn says
"Like" box is continually "loading . . ." again. The gratin looks very good! I have both in my refrigerator, so maybe I'll make extra and have the leftovers from each to try this on my own. It looks really appetizing; I am starving at the moment!
Virtual hugs,
Judie
becomebetty says
Hey Judie! Gratin is a nice way of pulling together leftovers. Thanks as always for stopping by!
Joni says
I loved it! I gave it 5 stars but it shows 2 stars. Thanks for all your reviews--the first thing I read when I turn on my computer!!!
becomebetty says
Hey Joni! I just went into my end to look. I think it went in correctly even though it did not show up correct on your end. You are covered. Thanks so much for adding your feedback!
Alek says
I notice TJ's is really using cauliflower much they can in new dishes. They are always coming up with new stuff.
Anne says
This is such a cold weather comfort food and "almost" healthy to boot! A simple substitution of glucomannan/konjac as thickener instead of wheat flour would have made this Keto, Paleo, and (potentially) Celiac friendly. I don't see any stars to rate this but would give it 4 out of 5 - liked it enough to try for a knock off version using konjac for my wheat-free family members.
becomebetty says
Hey Anne! Such valuable feedback for everyone. I know TJs has been thoughtful about the Vegan, Gluten Free communities, I'm wondering when they'll get on board with the Keto and Paleo options. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Andrea says
Great side dish! I agree that it’s worth taking the time to prepare it in the oven to minimize a watery consistency and to give a nice browned topping. The cheese sauce is flavorful and a lower calorie alternative to the usual sliced potatoes in a side dish like this. I sure hope that it’s not seasonal!
becomebetty says
Hey Andrea! Unfortunately, this item is seasonal and I haven't seen it at my local store in a couple of weeks. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your insight on this!
George Baran says
Wife and I saw and thought we'd give it a try. Had apricot pork chops baked to accompany. Will definitely buy again.
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing George!