To expect beef encroute

[rabbitheadlights]

To actually contain a piece of beef and not be some weird burger like patty which actually contains more pork than beef?

I bought this from Aldi it was nasty don't know what I expected tbh but not that!

Looks vile.
Salmon Wellington on the list next time I go to Aldi.

I've had the salmon Wellington it's delicious the one with prawns and white wine. I didn't like the one with cheese and dill.

A choice of salmon wellingtons!?
Prawns and whit wine definitely sounds the better option

Lamb shank and dauphinoise potatoes this evening.

Honestly, buy from your local organic / farm shop if you can

Or just from a high street independent butcher? (Sorry if someone's said that already). But butchers aren't always as expensive as some seem to think. Mine does amazing pieces of pork fillet cheaper than my nearest mainstream supermarket. At £4.50 for a whole fillet, all trimmed for me, I can use it to feed a family of 4 adults along with veg, potatoes and a sauce. That's just over a £1.10 a head, and I know the pork has come from a farm that has built up a relationship with the butcher. Admittedly, I don't have an Aldi or a Lidl near me, but even if that's more expensive than their pork fillet, I'm willing to bet the quality is ten times better from the butcher!

A good butcher will be happy to offer advice, eg guidance towards the cheaper cuts that might need a bit more cooking time, but are full of flavour and good value for money. As someone else said upthread, definitely better to buy/eat meat less often (for many reasons, not just economic ones), and even though it does take more work, trying a wider range of cuts and options from a butcher is definitely better than opening a pack of pre-prepared mush in pastry!

I do cook properly 99% of the time DP is a chef, I know about the butcher's etc ... It was a one off, I was being lazy. Lesson learned.

A lot of people agree with you - see the reviews!

www.aldi.co.uk/oven-ready-beef-en-croute/p/707211433692200

The name includes three ingredients starting with tomato, chorizo and ending beef. That tells you right off, not to expect the main ingredient to be beef.

For the same price, 2.99, I'd have bought a pack of (ALDI) Ashfield Farm 21 Day Matured Beef Medallion Steaks 340g (2 medallions); all beef, more protein, better quality.

I guess you get what you paid for. Two individual beef wellingtons from my London butcher which sells only free range/organic cost £29, made with beef fillets. Aldi's cost £2.99 each. I can't see an ingredients list for Aldi but guessing somewhat different. I wouldn't touch one from Aldi or a supermarket. It does mean it's a treat rather than an everyday meal but I enjoy it all the more for that.

Looking at the Aldi reviews tells you all you need to know.

another one here who found out the hard way (on my dinner plate) that these were definitely not up to scratch they were vile and i wont buy them again a lot of Aldis ready meals are very good and like others i didnt look at the ingredients