This post is sponsored by Aldi one of my favorite grocery stores! I only work with brands and products that I genuinely love, thank you for supporting the companies that support this blog!
It started about 4 years ago, my love affair with Aldi. I was trying to cut our grocery bill and a friend told me I should try shopping at Aldi. I remembered from when I was a kid that you needed your own shopping bags and you had to pay a quarter for your cart but I had not stepped foot into an Aldi as an adult. I was beyond impressed after my first visit and now I’m a religious and loyal Aldi shopper. In this post I’ll tell you a few reasons why I love Aldi and how to make this delicious spring dinner – Pea, Asparagus & Pancetta Pasta that you’ll have on the table in less than 30 minutes!!
The first reason I love Aldi is because I save so much money. The first time I shopped there I was literally shocked at the prices of things (1/3 to 1/2 as much as I was paying for the same item at my regular grocery store) and the total bill was just as surprising! I remember a week’s worth of my normal grocery shopping (when it was just Matt & I) which usually totaled around $100 was only $45 at checkout! Here are some prices to give you an idea of what I’m talking about- The items in the recipe are priced as follows: Refrigerated Tortellini- $1.99, Shredded Parmesan Cheese- $1.99, 1 bunch of Asparagus- $2.69, Frozen Peas- $.95, Pancetta- $2.99. If you are curious about why the prices are so low you can read about their amazing business model and cost saving methods HERE.
I also love that the store is small. It may be surprising that this is a reason I love Aldi, but hear me out. The store is so much smaller than a normal grocery store which means less time wandering aisles finding what I need. When I was pregnant this was especially a perk because it didn’t seem daunting to go grocery shopping. All Aldi stores are set up the exact same so even if you have to run to a store that’s not your “normal” one you will know where everything is and what they have. They only carry their own brands of items which means fewer items on shelves and all the items I have purchased have been on par with the taste and quality that I expect. They are always adding new items, recently they have added a lot of fresh and canned/packaged organic foods.
They also have seasonal items or specialty items that pop up for a little bit. This pancetta was one of those items that isn’t always there but when I saw it I grabbed it. If your store doesn’t currently have pancetta just replace it with thick cut bacon. Honestly I can’t say enough about this recipe, it’s so fast and easy and tastes just like spring should- fresh and light. If you need a quick weeknight meal you must add this to your grocery list, and head out to Aldi to pick up your ingredients. 😉
Pea, Asparagus & Pancetta Pasta
Ingredients (4 dinner servings)
- 1 package Priano spinach and cheese tortellini
- 1 package Priano Basil Pesto tortellini
- 1 4oz. package of diced pancetta, or a few slices of thick cut bacon- diced
- 1 1/2 cups frozen peas
- 1 lb of asparagus, ends trimmed and cut into smaller pieces
- 1 cup shredded parmesan
- 1/2 of a lemon
Instructions
- Set a large pot of water over high heat and bring to a boil. Meanwhile in a saute pan over medium-high heat cook your pancetta until crispy. You’ll want to stir it around every so often as it cooks, I cooked mine about 10 minutes. Remove from pan and let sit on a paper towel to remove some of the grease.
- Once the water is boiling add your cut asparagus and set a timer for 4 minutes, you can turn down the heat to a medium-high if it seems like it is going to boil over. After 4 minutes add your peas and tortellini to the pot. Set a timer for 2 minutes.
- After 2 minutes remove 1/2 cup of pasta water and then drain the pasta & veggies. Place in a large bowl and squeeze the lemon slice over then toss with the pancetta, pasta water & parmesan. Top with more parmesan for serving if you like.
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