whole grains | Trader Joe’s Rants & Raves (mostly raves, a few rants)

Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat LAVASH FLATBREAD

“Trader Joe’s authentic Lavash Flatbread is a delicious and versatile alternative to sliced bread for sandwiches. Use for wrap sandwiches, burritos, soft tacos or flatbread pizza”

What’s Lavash? Its a traditional Armenian / Middle Eastern flatbread. In 2014, lavash was added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, highlighting its cultural significance

https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/lavash-the-preparation-meaning-and-appearance-of-traditional-bread-as-an-expression-of-culture-in-armenia-00985

I’ve been wanting to try TJ’s Lavash for awhile and finally got around to it. In short, I really liked Trader Joe’s LAVASH. This bread is a great Trader Joe’s product. I give this a big thumbs up.

As you can see in the picture, it’s a thin flatbread. It comes in a large square and is soft and flexible, especially after warming. Its good for many things, like making sandwich wraps or roll-ups, thin sandwiches, tacos, burrito type dishes or just using it to scoop up hummus or any kind of dip or pieces of food for that matter. Grilled meat or chicken? Great as a base for little cheese bites. Wrap some grilled halloumi cheese up in this. You could use it to make a Club Sandwich as they suggest on the package. This bread can even used as the base for making a thin pizza. (someone left a Comment here that they make pizza in the Air Fryer with this lavash) Again, this stuff is really versatile.

https://foodaciously.com/recipe/lavash-wrap

The Lavash becomes better warmed up a little bit. It will get more flexible and softer, so easier to roll. To warm it, I usually just put it right on the burner for about 10 seconds moving it around and flipping it. Or sometimes I warm in a pan or griddle, covered.

Once warm eat right away or keep the lavash warm as you would tortillas when you serve.

The sheets are large but are scored in the middle so they can be torn in half easily. To store it more than a day or two I keep the Lavash in the freezer, tightly sealed. It’s so thin it can defrost in just a few minutes and I am usually tossing it on a burner or into a pan to warm it.

It you baked it it would get crispy enough that it could be like a pita chip.

I like the Egg Burrito suggestion they have on the package: warm the lavash, add scrambled eggs and grated cheese and roll up like a burrito.

Its made with Whole Wheat so healthy. It’s low fat as it is so thin and low cal. A 1/2 flatbread has only 90 calories, yet has 5 gr of Protein and is a good source of fiber. It is also LOW CARB as its so thin.

Lavash is quite versatile, and as you explore using it, you will find many ways to use this interesting tasty flatbread. Again,perfect for scooping up hummus and middle eastern mezze or other dishes. Use it like Naan with Indian foods.

TIP: The lavash paired perfectly with Trader Joe’s Middle Eastern BEEF KEBABS. I cooked the kebabs, and put them in warm lavash with a garlic yogurt sauce with arugula; Or use the Tzaziki. Yum!! Basically a 2 ingredient meal….

lavash pizza (mozz, goat cheese, tomatos, red onion, olive oil, herbs)

The Best Lavash Pizza (Ready in 15 Minutes)

Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Lavash Flatbread, $2.99 (10.5 oz, 295g)

4 large squares per package (or 8 half squares)

I would buy it again

Trader Joe’s SLICED CRACKED WHEAT SOURDOUGH BREAD, reviewed plus recipe ideas

“FLAVORFUL AND HEARTY, GREAT FOR MAKING LARGE SANDWICHES”

For years, I’ve been buying the very good sourdough bread at Trader Joe’s they call “San Francisco Style Sourdough” . I’ve found it’s just a great all around sliced bread to have on hand. I learned they came out with a new version , this new sourdough sliced loaf they call “CRACKED WHEAT SOURDOUGH” which is like a slightly heartier version of that original SF style bread.

Here’s my honest review.

I really liked this new sourdough bread too! This cracked wheat one is quite good. The cracked wheat version is a nice variation on the original SF style loaf . Of course with the cracked wheat here this has a bit of a heartier taste and texture, plus it has thicker slices. As the name states, this Cracked Wheat Sourdough Bread contains some whole wheat and cracked whole wheat, which you can see as little light brown flecks of cracked wheat.

Like the other original SF sourdough loaf, this is a round, sliced 24 oz (1 1/2 lb) loaf. However here the bread is sliced a bit thicker. This bread is cut into about 13 slices, compared to the “SF style” loaf which has about 16 slices. So slightly thicker slices here, which might be good for building hearty sandwiches for one thing.

(Tip: Great Toasted)

This bread makes a nice slice of toast. Which brings me to say for me, this bread is made to be toasted, even if just lightly. I just find it reaches its full potential toasted or grilled, even a little bit. Which is true for a lot of breads.

BREAKFAST TOAST: I toasted this up till golden brown and it made a great slice of toast. I spread it simply with some good butter and a little jam, and really enjoyed this toasted. It makes fabulous toast.

Now just as is, un-toasted, this bread is fine. But to me, nothing like what it tastes like after being toasted even a little. Toasting or grilling this even a wee bit, really brings out the flavor as well as texture. The cracked wheat in the recipe makes a hearty slice with a nice soft chewy interior and a nicely chewy crust.

Of course the thicker slices here will make great sandwiches as it will be a bit sturdier than the slightly thinner slices of the SF Style Sourdough (also great toasted). Sturdy enough to even make a Dagwood sandwich. These thicker slices would certainly, as TJ’s sign says, just be perfect “for making large sandwiches” not to mention Open Faced sandwiches. Think of this for some Avocado Toast as it will be perfect, for one just idea. Grilled cheese is a No Brainer. How about a Tuna Melt? Yes again.

I made a closed up TUNA MELT with the bread, which turned out great.

Also an open faced sardine sandwich on a slice of this, lightly toasted. Toast bread, spread a little butter then load it with my favorite smoked sardines from TJ’s mashed up with a little mayo and lemon juice.Very yummy on this bread.

Grilled Cheese? Yes this is perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches of any kind. I made a yummy grilled cheese and kimchi sandwich (no really, that can work!) I used cheddar and mozz with a little bit of TJ’s KIMCHI.

Kimchi Grilled Cheese

Its good simply too, just lightly toasted for breakfast, spread with some good butter. With or without jam. For my next endeavor using this bread, I am thinking of doing an “egg in the hole” for next Sunday’s breakfast, which I expect would be great using this hearty bread grilled up.

So my review is that TJ’s sliced cracked wheat sourdough bread is and well worth checking out if you like your slices bread a little bit thicker.

(PS – sometimes they do seem to sell out of this, but it usually comes back in a day; Ask the store Captain if you don’t see, it when they expect it back in stock)

Ingredients include: bread flour, malted barley flour, whole wheat flour, sourdough starter, cracked whole wheat…

STORAGE – A day or so after we buy bread, generally I put it in the freezer.s Since it’s sliced, its pretty easy to take out a slice or two as needed. Bread gets revived taste wise with heat (toasting, baking, etc). In the freezer its good for a month or two, but can get freezer burn if you are not carefully wrapping it. Wrap it tightly. Double bagging isnt a bad idea. Many people I know will always keep bread out on the counter at room temp (it will develop mold after maybe a week if no preservatives) Your call.

https://www.allrecipes.com/article/freeze-bread-for-freshness/

Cracked Wheat Sourdough $3.49 (24 oz)

I would buy this again.

Here is the “SF Style” sourdough bread I mention, also quite good, that one sliced thinner….