I’m always trying to get more vegetables into my family’s diet, and it can be a challenge finding veggie preparations that my pickier eaters like. Fresh produce, while delicious, has a limited shelf life. So I always try to have some frozen options around for those times when I’ve used up my supply of fresh vegetables and haven’t yet gone to the grocery store again.
Aldi seems to have added a few new options to its frozen vegetable section this past year, including some brussels sprouts with bacon and some green beans with cashews and miso sauce. I picked up a box of both to try. Today, I’m looking at the brussels sprouts.
Specially Selected Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glazed Bacon cost $3.99 for a 10-ounce package at the time of publication.
This is a Regular Buy or core range product, which means you should be able to buy it at Aldi all year.
Ingredients are brussels sprouts, balsamic glaze (balsamic vinegar [wine vinegar, concentrated grape must, cooked grape must, caramel color; contains sulfites], non-GMO expeller pressed canola oil, sugar, xanthan gum), and bacon (cured with water, salt, sugar, sodium phosphate, sodium erythorbate, and sodium nitrite).
Specially Selected Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glazed Bacon nutrition information, ingredients, and cooking directions. (Click to enlarge.)
There are about three servings per package, and one 3/4-cup serving has 110 calories, 4 grams of total fat (5% DV), 1 gram of saturated fat (5% DV), 5 mg of cholesterol (2% DV), 110 mg of sodium (5% DV), 12 grams of total carbohydrates (4% DV), 3 grams of dietary fiber (11% DV), 6 grams of total sugars, 2 grams of added sugars (4% DV), and 5 grams of protein.
The package has skillet and oven directions.
To heat in a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Remove the frozen product from the packaging and sauté for 10-12 minutes or until thoroughly cooked, stirring constantly to avoid burning and sticking. Let rest 1-2 minutes before serving.
To bake, preheat the oven to 450 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove frozen product from packaging and place onto a lined baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until thoroughly cooked, stirring occasionally to avoid burning and sticking Let rest for 1-2 minutes before serving.
I’ve made these twice now and have sautéed them in a skillet both times. You’ll want to make sure you stir the brussels sprouts frequently.
Brussels sprouts, ready to eat.
These might be a bit of an acquired taste. They have a definite vinegary tang that may surprise you if you are accustomed to eating brussels sprouts prepared in other ways. For instance, when I steam or roast brussels sprouts, I usually add olive oil or butter and some Parmesan cheese. These ones have a decidedly different, stronger flavor. Also, the bacon, while there in small bits, plays a secondary role in terms of flavor in this dish. If you really wanted to, I suppose you could add extra cooked bacon to up the flavor, but I’m fine with these the way they are. My family, who is pickier about veggies, does not care for these. So, whether you like them may depend on how big of a brussels sprouts fan you are to begin with.
The Verdict:
Specially Selected Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glazed Bacon are a quick and easy way to add veggies to any meal. They have a sharp vinegar tang from the balsamic glaze, so they may not suit all tastes. I find them to have an interesting flavor, and they’re a good way to get a serving of vegetables in.
