Trader Joe's and their new products keep us all on our toes, don't they? So many items rolling out seasonally, and though some seasons are less thematic, that doesn't make the products any less intriguing. A new-ish product they've come out with are the Trader Joe's plantain croutons.
These crunchy little squares are made of plantains, and flavored with sea salt and garlic. You can absolutely taste the salty, garlicky-ness to them, which elevates them to the same level of other garlic toast flavored croutons.
One big difference is the size. While most croutons are about a one inch square, these are much smaller, about the size of a fingernail. This, along with the fact they are made of plantains and not fluffy bread, make them much crunchier and denser. It's not a drawback unless you put them in your mouth expecting an airy, crouton-y texture and get a snappier bite.
A big benefit of these plantain croutons is that they are gluten free and vegan, which most commercial croutons with flour and butter are not.
What are Plantains?
You've probably seen plantains in the grocery store, by the bananas. They look like regular bananas that have seen better days. Plantains are a "cooking banana" and are very starchy. There's a lot more to know about them if you're that interested in the difference between plantains and bananas. They do have a lot of potassium and fiber, which is good.
Final Thoughts on Plantain Croutons
Once I adjusted my expectations, I really enjoyed these in a salad. It's much more like eating nuts or seeds in a salad than it is like eating croutons. These actually are almost more enjoyable as a snack. These are pretty good road trip food, because the fiber fills you up, and the density gives you more crunching time than something like chips, so they last longer. And they are probably way healthier than chips, while giving you that savory flavor.
The best part about the Trader Joe's plantain croutons, other than the fact that I think they are really good, is if you don't think so, you can return them! Trader Joe's has a very liberal return policy, where you can take anything you didn't like back for a no questions asked refund. Although sometimes the friendly TJ's folks might ask you what about it you didn't like, but more as casual conversation. If you actually do like to chat with the cashiers there, you can learn a lot about what's really good and what maybe isn't so much.
Try these on a few of my favorite salads!
