Trader Joe’s Roasted Vegetable Pizza

September 28, 2007 | Reviewer: Guest Reviewers

Trader Joe’s Roasted Vegetable Pizza Price: $4.99
Serving: 1/3 pizza, 4oz.
Calories: 260
Fat: 12%, 8g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 20%, 490mg
Protein: 6g
Carbs: 14%, 42g
Fiber: 10%, 2g
Weight Watchers Points: 5 per serving

Trader Joe says: This is a truly special pizza. It starts with a hand-stretched crust made with organic flour and extra virgin olive oil which is topped with organic sweet carmelized onions, shiitake mushrooms, red peppers and artichoke hearts, and ultimately baked to perfection. There is no cheese, so it’s dairy free.

Kelly says: I like shopping at Trader Joe’s because they so often have really terrific foods for unbelievably low prices. Good examples of this are vanilla, cheese, and meat. Not that those things go together, but they can all be really expensive if you buy them at a regular grocery store.

Oh, you haven’t been to Trader Joe’s? You don’t have one in your vicinity? Then I weep for you, dear people lacking the place that I consider shopping heaven. Well, except on weekends when it is filled with couples shopping. Sorry folks, but I don’t need to see you canoodling near the deli case. I’m at TJ’s to get hummus, not see a lot of unnecessary PDA.

So, about that pizza… It comes in a couple bucks cheaper than the equivalent Amy’s Kitchen pizza, while providing similarly superb quality. The same sweet onions, the rare bits of roasted pepper, the delightfully chewy crust, they’re all present in this knock-off pizza. Though really, all I want is something pizza-like that I can eat without feeling like a complete fat-ass. Something that’s better than one of those lame Lean Cuisine pizzas. On that count, Trader Joe’s Roasted Vegetable pizza delivers. While some people might say that this contains a surprising amount of fat, I say “It’s a freaking pizza. Eat an apple if you want something fat free.”

Not so shocking in the case of these gourmet pizzas, Trader Joe skimped on the toppings. Could we get some more artichoke hearts, please?* And some more peppers? And mushrooms? Sure, in the photo it looks as though there are a lot of toppings on that pizza. A closer look reveals enormous swathes of unadorned crust. Uh, I wanted some pizza, not some crazy-expensive crust. A doubling of the vegetable toppings is definitely in order before this pizza hits the 5 star level. Seriously, look at the box and then look at the pizza. They aren’t even in the same gene pool.

But for all of that whining, I have to admit that this is quite the frozen food. If you’re in the mood for something a bit different or if you’re entertaining a lactose intolerant friend, try this pizza! Conversely, if you’re at Trader Joe’s groping your boyfriend while simultaneously blocking the pizza section, please so kindly get the hell out of my way. Thanks.

*What happens to the rest of the artichoke when the heart is harvested?

comments

8 Responses to “Trader Joe’s Roasted Vegetable Pizza”

Rob on September 28th, 2007

Yet it does, in fact, have vegetables upon it.
Jessica on September 28th, 2007

If there’s no cheese — why all the fat?
Ace on September 29th, 2007

My guess would be the olive oil in the crust. I think it’s weird to eat a pizza with no sauce and cheese…but then again, I dip cheetos in cheese spread. My opinion is less than valid.
Christiane on September 29th, 2007

I’m one of those who doesn’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby, but I do make the hour trek twice a month to stock up on supplies to my nearest one. I’m such a TJ’s dork that it’s the first thing I look up in a phone book when I’m traveling to a new city.
Jill on September 29th, 2007

Man, you pose a great question with the whole artichoke heart thing. I’d imagine with the fat it would have sauce (olive oil in that as well) but no? That’s too bad, I love marinara sauce!
Marvo on October 1st, 2007

My nearest Trader Joe’s is about a few thousand miles. Every time I’ve stepped into one there were way too many things I wanted to buy. Someone needs to build a tunnel under the Pacific Ocean.
MaryAnne on October 1st, 2007

I am half of one of those couples seen canoodling on the weekend at Trader Joe’s. There’s something about going to TJ’s that very… I don’t know. It’s very domestic and cozy.

I love TJ pizzas. They have some refrigerated, not frozen nor cooked, pizzas near the deli case that are amazing as well.
Becca on October 8th, 2007

It’s not a knock-off; I believe they have a deal with Amy’s and it’s just the same one in a different box. If you don’t have TJ’s, they sell Amy’s almost everywhere these days.