To ask about your hidden gems at the supermarket?

[CathTurnbull]

Just a bit of fun. I always end up buying similar food items in my weekly shop. Occasionally I’ll try something new and it’s really nice and I’ll continue to buy it. For example last week I bought some balsamic chutney from Morrison’s- it was so good I’ve added it to most sandwich fillings yum 😋

Have you bought anything new recently which you’ve been really impressed with?

@Grapesoda7

I've gone mad on cartons of peanut punch from the world food section in Sainsburys (Carribean).

Only 80p and so nice cold from the fridge.

I've been getting the Pineapple Soda, Grape Soda and Chilli and Lemon Grills (crisps) from the World Food isle too.

Also. I often find a lot of spices are cheaper in that isle as well.

Garlic and parsley bruschetta from Aldi, when they have them, were 99p a bag.
I hate the way in which places like Lidl and ALdi will stock something for a couple of months then suddenly stop, at the extreme I used to buy Texan Feurigebohnentopf from Aldi, 40 years ago but I've still not forgiven them for stopping doing it!

Morrisons did a mango and pink pepercorn salad dressing for about a month a few years back then stopped for no good reason!

I use Sainsbury's, search under NATCO for better priced spices. FUDCO for larger reasonably priced bags of seeds and nuts. And KTC brand for reasonably priced store cupboard ingredients and stuff like tomatoes, chick peas, oil, coconut milk etc.

Itsu gyoza in the Sainsbury's freezer section. I cane across them in lockdown and have now developed something of a habit. Also I notice they are doing itsu Raman broth as a base for soups/ stirfrys too.

The absolute best thing I’ve found in recent years is the Danish pastries, pain au chocolates & croissants in the frozen aisle. Pop them in the oven for 20 minutes for a little breakfast/brunch treat. They smell amazing as they cook and taste delicious 😋

The pastries I’ve bought are from Tesco.

Lidl do a filled pasta with tomato and black olives which I really like - tastes very olivey.

@FrankiesKnuckle

Yes the Serge one in the red carton, its gorgeous, I just wish they did a bigger carton, I take tiny sips to make it last longer!

I've been looking out for the peanut nourishment, as well but I haven't seen it any where for ages.

Aldi's 'posh' organic porridge oats beat our health food option hands down on taste and price.

@ Chetchet

I should have a go at making it, what sort of quantities do you use?

Preserved lemons. They go in salads, with roast veg, in couscous, in vegetable pies and curries and pretty much anything that needs a bit of zshuzshing up.

Lime pickle (from the indian section) - I use it pretty much as the preserved lemons but it has a much spicier kick.

Raspberry or other fruit vinegar (from a shop called Demijohn) - it's tasty enough to use all on its own as a salad dressing. I'm currently working my way through a bottle of elderflower vinegar and it's absolutely gorgeous. No oil required, honest.

Advocaat chocolate bars from the polish section in Asda. 50p

Oo frozen pastries be getting those.

The KA grape soda? That's really nice. I love grape flavour, especially all the grape American candy.

Co op truffle and salami pizza. A must when in the reduced section!!

• Frozen paratha and chapatis from the world food section. I know they're no good for my waistline, but a fresh, hot paratha dipped in curry is heavenly.
• Oatly chocolate milk and Alpro dark chocolate almond milk.
• Polish bread - I think it's The Village Bakery? Particularly the sourdough rye, makes great toast for eggs/avocado.
• Iceland ridiculously crispy skin on fries. THE BEST FRIES EVER.

Sainsbury's dark fruit and nut chocolate. Yum. Or any Tony's Chocolonely choc.

ASDA salt and vinegar posh crisps. Only 80p and my favourite.

Sainsbury's organic strawberry jam. The best organic jam I've tried.

Sauce Shop original BBQ sauce. So so good.

Tesco world food section at big Tesco has some great finds: lots of precooked curry-in-a-bag type things, awesome for DofE hikes and 10 Tors etc. DS2 loves the mango pulp when on offer, big bags of spices.

Raspberry or other fruit vinegar (from a shop called Demijohn) - it's tasty enough to use all on its own as a salad dressing. I'm currently working my way through a bottle of elderflower vinegar and it's absolutely gorgeous. No oil required, honest.

Those vinegars are super easy to make. I can recall Blackberry vinegar as a kid. Haven't used them as salad dressing, but I'll make some and have a go. I don't have a recipe of my own, I just google when I want to make some.

Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Cherry Garcia - amazing. and it's one of their moolicious reduced calorie range.

@LadyLovelyLockz
Those Tesco seed bites are so addictive!

Aldi sell/sold these medium-sized tubs of grain salad mixes in the veg chiller - we buy the chickpea one (has a minty dressing)... it’s gorgeous and we use it as a hot side for grilled fish/haloumi, or mix it into couscous with feta and tomatoes for packed lunch. It’s so versatile and you end up feeling like you’ve made a fancy Med meal. Unfortunately, as with all decent Aldi products, it comes and goes at our local branch!

Oh, just remembered Halloumi fries from Aldi. They were a hit last year with everyone, and Aldi kept selling out, but they still have them. Yum.

Aldi MAC & Cheese crispbakes (chilled). Sounds revolting I know, or like kids food but they're really, really nice. The pasta & cheese inside them is beautiful. They don't have that generic 'savoury' taste that some do. Aldi also did until recently, very very nice cheese & spring onion crispbakes (also chilled) which were beautiful! Real warming comfort food.

I also like their Tomato & Mascarpone stir in sauce in the little jars 🤤 Along with the Pesto Rosso.

Occasionally, maybe 3/4 times a year, they do big 250g tubs of grated Parmesan (ambient) in the middle aisle and it's only £2.49 and lasts you ages.

Tinned steak in MnS got me through lockdown

Delicious. Saw it recommended by Delia Smith.

I. Second, Pomegranate molasses, try it over roast lamb.

Morrisons strawberry and rhubarb jam. Don’t think I’ve seen it anywhere else

The large bottles of lemon juice On the World food isle, Cheaper than on the bakery section