Kitchen Staple: Trader Joe’s Middle Eastern Flatbread
I’m seldom without a package or two of Trader Joe’s Middle Eastern Flatbread in my freezer. These chewy, tasty little breads resemble a thick tortilla, come in white or whole wheat and have dozens of uses. Read on for a few ideas and my favorite way to toast them up that makes them even tastier!
I usually store my flatbreads in the freezer to keep them fresh; it’s easy to just pry off an individual bread as needed. You can pop them into a toaster oven where they’ll thaw and begin to puff up or if you have a gas stove, try using my favorite method. Simply place the frozen bread directly on the burner over a very low flame. Every 10 or 15 seconds, flip the bread until it is slightly charred and completely thawed out. (Use a tongs if your fingers are sensitive to heat.) This should take about 2 minutes. The bread will be crisp and smoky from the char on the outside and soft and chewy in the middle.
From here you can cut them into triangles and use them to scoop up any kind of dip such as hummus or salads. You can roll them or fold them into all sorts of sandwiches. Favorites for kids are pb&j or hot dog roll ups. You can also skip the stovetop char and pan fry the breads either singularly or with some delicious sharp cheddar cheese layered between two breads. Cut into thick triangles and serve with tomato chutney.
• Find them: Available in the bread section of most Trader Joe’s stores, $1.99 for a pack of six. (You can also find similar breads in the frozen section of any Indian or Mediterranean grocery.)
How do you use these delicious, versatile breads?
(Images: Dana Velden)