6 Gut-Healthy Trader Joe's Finds to Pick Up This Spring

The brassica family includes many vegetables you may already eat on the regular—and some that you’ll want to add to your lineup.

Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD

If you’re not sure if Brassica refers to a family of musical instruments or vegetables, you’re not alone (it’s the latter).

Brassica is a genus of plants that includes fiber- and antioxidant-packed cruciferous veggies like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale and cauliflower. It also includes mustard plants, turnips and bok choy, plus other vegetables you might not be as familiar with, like kohlrabi.

We’ve put together a few of TJ’s top brassica finds with ideas for how to use them, so you can focus on eating them instead of wondering what in the world to do with them.

Kohlrabi Vegetable Pasta

Kohlrabi is a beautiful light-green or purple globe-shaped vegetable that grows on top of the soil. The bulb is tender-crisp and has a subtle sweetness similar to broccoli stem, with a hint of peppery sass comparable to radish. One serving of kohlrabi provides a day’s worth of vitamin C. Peeling kohlrabi can be a chore, but with TJ’s Kohlrabi Vegetable Pasta, they’ve done the hard work for you and not only peeled the kohlrabi but also spiralized it into “noodles.” But how do you use it? To keep it super simple, sauté or steam the kohlrabi noodles and toss them with pesto. You could also use this Kohlrabi Vegetable Pasta in our creamy Kohlrabi, Potato & Leek Soup. Or if you want to use it raw, toss it into Sesame Kohlrabi & Chicken Salad or Kohlrabi Slaw with Fennel & Apple. Grab a 10-ounce package of these spiralized veggie “noodles” for just $3.29.

Stir-Fried Garlicky Cabbage

While the original Thai dish Trader Joe’s drew their inspiration from—Galam Plee Pad Nam Pla—is typically made with fish sauce, TJ’s wanted to keep this vegan, so they replaced the fish sauce with yeast extract and kombu for a similar umami flavor. But umami isn’t the only thing this cabbage dish is full of. It’s also loaded with nutrition, since cabbage is full of fiber and vitamins C and K. Even better, this dish will be on the table in just 10 minutes. It’s worth noting that it is fairly high in sodium, so if you're watching your intake, it may be better to enjoy in moderation as a special-occasion dish rather than regularly. This Stir-Fried Garlicky Cabbage would go great with our Grilled Tofu with Korean BBQ Glaze & Stir-Fried Napa Cabbage (just replace the stir-fried cabbage in the recipe with TJ’s version). Or if you’re not trying to keep the meal vegan, serve the garlicky cabbage with pork tenderloin—or, as TJ’s suggests, top it with an egg. Pick up this done-for-you dish in the frozen food section for $3.49.

Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts

These next-level roasted Brussels sprouts are tossed in a spicy sauce made with hoisin, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, garlic and chile peppers. And talk about a super-quick side—they’re ready in three minutes in the microwave (or 20 minutes in the oven). Serve these zesty crown jewels with your favorite protein—like chicken, beef, pork or crispy tofu. Beyond being delicious, eating Brussels sprouts has all kinds of health benefits, from reducing inflammation to improving bone health. Grab your Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts in the refrigerated section for $5.99.

Unexpected Cheddar Broccoli Soup

This fan-favorite soup is called “unexpected” because when the Cheddar cheese used to make this soup was introduced a decade ago, its popularity was unexpected. So when TJ’s created their recipe for this soup, they couldn’t resist using the cheese that has ranked near the top of their Customer Choice Awards for nearly 10 years. And while other broccoli soups skimp on the co-stars of the show, this one includes big chunks of broccoli and so much cheese (and milk) that one serving will give you 20% of your calcium needs for the day. Like many store-bought soups, this one has its fair share of sodium, so enjoy it in moderation, especially if you’re watching your sodium intake. Eat this creamy soup on its own, in a bread bowl or with your favorite sandwich or salad. Grab a 20-ounce container (about two servings) for $4.99.

Reduced Guilt Spinach & Kale Greek Yogurt Dip

Unlike typical spinach dips made with sour cream, TJ’s Reduced Guilt Spinach & Kale Greek Yogurt Dip uses low-fat Greek yogurt, which bumps up the protein and nutrition while dialing down the fat content. That said, no food should spark feelings of guilt, regardless of its nutrition, so we would have opted for a different name. A 2-tablespoon serving has just 2 grams of total fat and no saturated fat. Greek yogurt is the first ingredient, followed by spinach, water chestnuts and kale. This means that this is a veggie-packed dip is flavorful and versatile—whether it’s for your party crudités, crackers or as a sandwich spread. Grab a 16-ounce container of this dip for just $4.49.

Cruciferous Crunch Collection

Besides being a fun name to say, TJ’s Cruciferous Crunch Collection is loaded with nutrition and crunch. And talk about a brassica bounty! This bag of shredded cruciferous vegetables includes kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and red and green cabbage. And there are so many ways to use it. If you’re going the raw route, use it for a slaw. You could also use this crunchy collection of cruciferous veggies in a stir-fry or soup. Or try quick-pickling it for a tasty, snappy surprise on a burger or sandwich. Grab a 10-ounce bag for just $2.79.

Read the original article on Eating Well.