Hidden gems at the supermarkets...

[00100001]

... I'm going to tell you about all the secret and amazing foods you just (most likely) ignore when you wander down the aisles....

Alibi Max
Location: world food, Polish section
What is it? A polish version of Lion, but bigger and nicer and cheaper. 50p normally. Currently 3 for £1 at Tesco.

Wedel - Jaffa cakes
Location: polish food
What are they? The only Jaffa cakes you will ever eat ever again. Also come in cherry flavour and raspberry.

Chilli and Lemon grills
Location: world foods, asian food section
What are they? Then is delicious potato snack you'll ever have. Lemony and spicy and delicious little crisps

quorn southern fried nuggets
Where? Freezers vegetarian section

What are they? A Good, spicy, cheap (especially as they're £1 a bag right now)
L alternative to chicken nuggets.

frozen garlic/ginger cubes
Where? Freezer, Asian section
What are they? About 30 cubes if crushed garlic, ginger (or both mixed together) around £1-£1.50. saves peeling and chopping fresh, and way cheaper than any 'lazy garlic'

Want to share yours?

@tshirtsuntan - the problem with the jars ( i find) is they're more expsenive and you have to use them up quickly. :/

@00100001
I always also use the smaller jars (get them when they’re on offer) as I find the frozen cubes although great can make everything else in the freezer also smell like ginger and/or garlic.
As long as you use a clean spoon everytime (strictly) i find it lasts in the fridge.

Love this thread.
I also recommend Shan masala packets to make really authentic Pakistani dishes
Shin cup noodles
Spice bags and bags of different lentils
My best find is a massive bag of panko breadcrumbs from the world food aisle for maybe 2.50£
So so good and fresh and crispy and 100x better than the small tub you can buy in the “normal” aisle

Also this stuff is amazing

Frozen parathas. The best things ever, though possibly 90% ghee.

Extra fiery ginger beer from the Caribbean section.

Massive packets of scotch bonnets for under a pound, hidden round the corner from piddley little packets with three chillis in for the same price.

Toiletries too... my ( blonde) hair is dry and curly, and Afro products are amazing for it.

Lidl do some gorgeous cherry Jaffa cakes when they have a Polish week. They're even more addictive than regular ones.

@thenewaveragebear1983

Where did you get that?! I neeeeed one!

From tesco. It's literally amazing. They do a spicy one too.

It's pretty much pure MSG, but hey. Tastes good!

Great thread! I love the koka noodles - tom yam flavour. Mainly in Tesco or Morrison’s. writing all of your suggestions down too!

My Home Bargains also does koka noodles. They remind me of my teenage years, they are the most popular dried noodles in Ireland for some reason. So much better than crappy Pot Noodle.

Bitterly disappointed. Just been to my reasonably large Asda and they had none of the stuff mentioned in the OP.

Will have to try my nearest tesco

our Asda has Kulfi in the same section as the frozen ginger etc. The pistachio is outrageous. Sadly have to avoid as lactose intolerant...

Pawel’s garlic mayonnaise (Polish) from Sainsburys is really tasty.

Chinese Curry Paste
I used to have to buy this in bulk in Chinatown but then our local supermarket stocked it as its made in the local area. I make curry paste with this and a ton of condensed chicken soup made up with milk.
There's also a hot and spicy and a Thai sauce as well.

ton tin whoops!! 🤣 🤣

@thenewaveragebear1983 You beat me to it!!

For example, you could pay £1.65 for a 24 g jar of Schwartz spices such as curry powder, coriander, turmeric etc, or about 70-80 pence for a 100 g packet in the world food aisle, so massively cheaper.

Black peppercorns are waaaaay cheaper in all the independent grocers near us. I rarely buy spicesfrom the supermarket these days, although it has taken me nearly 8 years to get through my giant container of garam masala. 😩

^ that shoukd have said Asian grocers

im also going to add a cosco shout out.for their huge! tubs of mango chutney and marmite.

@tshirtsuntan I have sent you a DM.....

Morrison's world food section is fab too. I always check it out. These are some of my favourite buys:

And these:

I agree about the chilli and lemon...most cofresh things are brilliant but avoid anything that's volcanic red in colour 😂

I prefer nissin demae ramen though, lots of different flavours all good with a bit of spring onion and peppers chopped into them to make them seem a bit healthier! 3 mins so they are a staple food when we go camping!

I much prefer these to super noodles, in fact I can't eat batchelors super noodles anymore as I just find they taste wrong. I get them from sainsburys, don't know about other supermarkets

@mrwalkensor oh I love kulfi!! Will have a look

Also another thumbs up for Humza samosas/spring rolls, they are fantastic

I looove the chili and lemon crisps! So much so I rarely buy them as I can't trust myself not to scoff the whole bag in one sitting.
Ginger and garlic cubes are a big favourite - really good in stir fries and curries and so convenient.

I always buy chopped tomatoes, kidney beans and chickpeas in the world food aisle - literally half the price of the Tesco version and just as good.