The $5 Grocery Staple People Are Surprised to Learn I Buy at Aldi

When I sing the praises of Aldi to friends and family, they’re never surprised when I talk about the bakery aisles, the cheese display, or even the seafood section. But they’re often shocked when I tell them that one of my absolute favorites is the produce aisle. That’s right — the produce aisle.

Over the last several years, the grocer has seriously upped its produce game. And while I enjoy shopping at farmers markets and gardening and have been known to visit five different grocery stores in search of harder-to-find vegetables to make a dish, these days most of my produce comes from Aldi.

You can get some great tomatoes, stellar citrus, and cute baby carrots, but one of the best things you can pick up in aisle one is the Simply Nature Organic Spring Mix.

The mix of lettuces stands up to grocery greens anywhere and I would even say that they’re better than the ones I can get at my local co-op. They’re fresh, the box seldom has the wilted leaves on the bottom, and at $4.69 for a 16-ounce package, they leave more green in my wallet.

My family and I like salad, so I usually go for the whole pound of greens, even if it won’t fit in my refrigerator’s vegetable crisper. The big box is such a staple in our house that I reserve room on the fridge’s bottom shelf for it. It doesn’t last too long, so I’m not worried about it going bad in my refrigerator. (Aldi also sells a similar mix of greens in a 5-ounce package for $2.89. It’s the same mix of spring greens, minus the radicchio.)

If I’m hosting a fancy dinner party, the mix makes a perfect base for an elaborate salad — you know, the kind of Instagrammable plates you might find on a restaurant menu. But these babies are also really good for simple everyday salads. I usually just dress them with extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar and add on a few tomatoes, cukes, and red peppers.  

They’re also prefect for layering on sandwiches and they make a great “L” in a BLT. They also taste amazing with roasted chicken, avocado, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar or a little honey mustard on hearty sourdough. I also add them to wraps with hummus and cukes or turkey, goat cheese, and jam.

Once I serve someone these organic greens, they stop questioning me about why I love them. The proof is in the bowl.

Find it in stores: Simply Nature Organic Spring Mix, $4.69 for 16 ounces

Do you have a favorite produce item at Aldi? Tell us in the comments below.