Yahoo Lifestyle The $1.79 ALDI Find I'm Buying All Summer Long
There are tons of flavor options to keep things interesting.
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Summertime for my family means easy dinners, impromptu potlucks, post-work park picnics, and low-key barbecues, where all the classic salads start to make an appearance. When I want to keep things manageable, though, there's nothing more low-key than ALDI's Reggano Pasta Salad Kits.
As someone who loves entertaining but hates being stuck in the kitchen, this surprising find was a must-try. Ranging in price from just $1.79 to $2.49 a package, the flavorful pasta kits are a fun and easy way to beef up your summer entertaining menu.
Why I Love ALDI's Reggano Pasta Salad Kits
Each pasta kit has a distinct flavor theme, with options like elote, dill pickle, chipotle, bacon and ranch, and classic. Each variety features a different type of pasta (like gemelli, mafalda, and cavatappi) and a flavor-packed seasoning packet to suit the theme. All you have to do is boil the noodles, whisk the seasoning packet with water and another simple ingredient, like mayo or oil, and mix everything together. Voilà—your tasty pasta salad is ready to go.
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How I Jazz Up ALDI's Pasta Salad Kits
While they're delicious right out of the box, these pasta salad kits provide the perfect canvas for creativity. I like to think of them as a blank slate, ready to be tweaked, adjusted, and adorned with whatever fresh veggies, proteins, or herbs I have on hand.
Depending on the theme, they partner well with a range of vegetables, like diced bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, or sliced green or red onion, as well as different chopped deli meats, grilled veggies, chicken, shrimp, or steak, and cubes or crumbles of cheese.
Don't forget the power of a good garnish—a sprinkle of fresh herbs takes them to the next level. One thing to note is that the packages are only seven ounces, so they're suited to feed two to three people as a side. If you want something for the whole family, you'll probably need two packs, but for the convenience and variety, the price is worth it.
My Favorite Pasta Salad Kits (So Far)
So far, I've bought the elote and dill pickle varieties, and they definitely add a fun twist to dinner. The elote kit features cavatappi pasta with a seasoning of corn, Parmesan, and a guajillo chile-lime mix that packs a lot of flavor.
The amount of mayonnaise called for seemed like a lot, so I adjusted and used a quarter of the amount, added a bit of Greek yogurt (two to three tablespoons), and loosened it up with some pasta water. It turned out great and was easy to riff on. To make it a fuller meal next time, I’ll add grilled chicken, fresh corn, cherry tomatoes, cotija cheese, cilantro, red onion, fresh lime juice, and ground pepper.
The dill pickle pasta salad kit has a base of mafalda pasta (like mini lasagna noodles) that gets tossed with a garlic, dill, and vinegar seasoning that you mix with water and oil. I'm excited to try this one with chopped dill pickles, finely diced red onion, fresh dill, and some salami or chickpeas.
The flavor base of each of the kits is a nice starting point that can be easily adapted to suit your tastes. So whether you’re hosting a small barbecue or just whipping up a quick lunch or dinner, leaning into these flavor-ready pasta salad kits is an easy win. They're an affordable, customizable, and foolproof way to add something fun to your summer meals.
Read the original article on Simply Recipes.
