The shops offer plenty of handy meal kits in jars that could be perfect for a winter warmer
As the weather gets cooler, and after a long day at work, it can be a chore to find the energy to cook a tasty meal. Instead of resorting to a takeaway, we usually pull out a handy jar from the kitchen cupboard that can become a meal in minutes.
When we have a curry at home, we usually use one of the Specially Selected jars from Aldi (£1.69), which has added spices on top. These have always been a crowd pleaser in our house and tend to be very tasty—but could something cheaper really be better?
Both Aldi and Lidl are in constant competition to be crowned the cheapest supermarket in Britain, and more Brits than ever are seeing the benefit of own-label products as the price of food often puts stress on a tight family budget. So, I wanted to see if cheap really meant cheerful or if you get exactly what you pay for.
For this test, I used the same pouch of rice divided between each bowl and didn’t add any extras (other than cooked chicken breast) to let the curry sauces speak for themselves. Each jar offered some tasty suggestions to spice up your meal, such as adding peas, mango, peppers, and more – ideal for reaching your NHS-recommended five-a-day.
If you’re cooking on a budget, then simply having the meal with some meat and sauce is more than enough. I was pleasantly surprised by both dishes. However, one convinced me to seriously consider never buying a takeaway again.
Aldi
Both jars looked slightly different when standing side-by-side on my kitchen counter, with the 99p Aldi sauce (which claims to make enough to serve four) looking a lot more orange than the Lidl version. The smell was instantly recognisable once opening the jar, and within minutes on the hob, it became an evenly cooked curry.
I added my cooked chicken and dished it up over some white basmati rice, but overall, the taste was nothing that took me by surprise. As someone who usually ventures higher on the spice scale than a korma, this felt just as expected – but it wasn’t so sensational that I’d switch from the more premium version.
The meal was quite affordable and did, as promised, spread out to make four generous portions. It was a little bit more runny than Lidl’s sauce, meaning I almost had to go and get a spoon at one point to grab the dregs of curry and rice left in the bowl.
Lidl
At first, the yellow look of the sauce put me off, and I half-expected to hate it when tucking in. However, Lidl pleasantly surprised me with this, and I was keen for seconds after finishing this bowl. Unlike Aldi’s sauce, this sauce tasted very coconutty, which offered a nice change from the other version. I really enjoyed this dish. It also seemed a little thicker than Aldi’s sauce, meaning it clung to the rice and chicken without dribbling away.
For a fuss-free and minimum effort meal, I really do think I’ll be making a stop at Lidl to stock up on some of these jars – and maybe try a few more too. It was just as affordable as Aldi, also costing me 99p, but there were some more premium-looking versions with spice pots attached too.
Overall, I’d say the winner for me is pretty clear. Despite being a regular Aldi shopper, I have to hand this one to Lidl. Whether it was simply because it tasted so different from our normal, it proved that there’s never any harm in shopping around or even going for a cheaper option, as you might just find a new favourite.
