Move over cauliflower—California Pizza Kitchen announced the launch of its new chickpea pizza crust today.
The new crust option is made with chickpeas, chia seeds and a touch of honey, creating a pizza base that is lower in carbs, higher in protein and fiber, gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly. Customers in select restaurants in the Southern California and Florida markets can order the chickpea crust as the base for any CPK pizza.
“Chickpea crust represents the very best of CPK culinary—first to market, creative, and most importantly, the product brings new health benefits while maintaining the incredible California inspired pizza taste our guests love,” CEO Jim Hyatt said in a statement.
The chickpea crust is available along with the chain’s two other gluten-free choices: The cauliflower crust, introduced in 2018, and the chain’s traditional crust made with gluten-free flour, which debuted in 2013.
While smaller chains, including Oath Pizza based in the Eastern U.S., are also menuing a chickpea crust, CPK stated that it is the first national restaurant brand to offer the option.
With the addition of the chickpea crust, the casual-dining chain continues to tap into the demand for plant-based alternatives. Last November, CPK gave its iconic BBQ Chicken Pizza a veggie spin with the debut of the BBQ “Don’t Call Me Chicken” Pizza, topped with plant-based chicken.
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