ALDI Foods for your Mediterranean Summertime Spread

by Michelle Dudash, Chef and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

June 29, 2021 • 0 comments

This post is sponsored by ALDI. Written by me.

Outdoor summertime fun is back! I am all about enjoying delicious summertime menus that are easy but impressive and delicious. I love my local ALDI for fun, wholesome and high-quality food that saves me money.

ALDI can help us eat well this summer with their offerings that make it faster and easier to save money on all our grocery needs. Whether you’re hosting a cookout with neighbors or entertaining family, ALDI has everything we need to serve it up right at home!

I am really into delicious Mediterranean cuisine (I just wrote a book on it!) and I love the DIY snack boards. I combined my two loves in this memorable mezze board that has something for everyone and gets the whole family involved.

Here is my formula for an awesome mezze board:

I included lots of my faves from ALDI that won’t break the bank.

A variety of proteins, like hummus, cheeses, grilled chicken bites and charcuterie

• Never Any! Fresh Antibiotic Free Chicken Tenderloins, grilled on skewers with herbs
• Earth Grown Classic Meatless Meatballs: if you’re looking to switch up your diet this summer, try this meat alternative. The ALDI-exclusive Earth Grown line has a variety of vegan, vegetarian and plant-based options, including kale veggie burgers and vegan shredded cheese
• Park Street Deli Greek Feta Salad with Pitted Olives
• Emporium Selection Fresh Mozzarella in Marinade
• Park Street Deli Roasted Garlic Hummus
• Park Street Deli Chickpea Salad
• Southern Grove Hickory Smoke Flavored Almonds
• Friendly Farms Plain Whole Milk Greek Yogurt, drizzled with olive oil

Veggies and fruits: from fresh and juicy to pickled, ALDI has all the fresh and organic produce you need for your outdoor feasts.

• Mini cucumbers sliced into spears
• Snacking Tomatoes on the Vine
• Organic bell peppers – pop them on the grill to help bring out new flavors
• Great Gherkins Kosher Baby Dill Pickles
• Tuscan Garden Quarter Artichoke Hearts in Water
• Park Street Deli Kalamata Pitted Olives

Breads and crackers

• Specially Selected Mini Naan
• liveGfree Rosemary and Olive oil Gluten Free Crackers

Is your mouth watering yet? One of my favorite things about the mezze board is that it’s mostly prepared with simple assembly and keeps your kitchen cool and clean.

If you want to whip up a simple make-ahead recipe or two, try these from my new book The Low-Carb Mediterranean Cookbook, out July 6.

Deviled Eggs with Basil and Pine Nuts

My guests always go crazy for my deviled eggs, and this is my newest rendition. To make them even easier, add Priano Pesto alla Genovese from ALDI into the yolk filing.

Shirazi Salad

This salad originates from Iran and is used like a condiment since it complements meat dishes nicely, with crisp, fresh vegetables and a big hit of lemon. You can also use limes instead. Toss this salad right before mealtime if you prefer things extra crunchy, which is how my Iranian neighbor Sarah prefers it. Or mix it a few hours in advance if you like a more marinated salad.

Celebrate the kickoff to summer with refreshing adult beverages

ALDI has their own award-winning wines and world-class beers and seltzers, many of which are under $10.

• Espritza Rosé 4pk Cans: I love these on-the-go cans
• Zarita Lime or Strawberry Margarita
• Moiselle White Sangria

Finally, for your sweet tooth, try my Berry Tart with Ricotta and Almond Flour Crust. I love the simple ingredients in this fresh dessert that is made with almond flour and high-quality berries, and contains very little added sugar, yet is totally satisfying.

Hurry to your local ALDI. Or try delivery!

Whether shopping in-store or enjoying the convenience of curbside grocery pickup or delivery, customers can safely shop at ALDI for all their essentials. ALDI recently announced it will add curbside grocery pickup service to 500 additional stores by the end of the summer, bringing the total number of curbside locations to more than 1,200.

Here in Indianapolis, ALDI is reopening a remodeled store on Michigan Road and opening a new store in Speedway this week. Use the store locator tool on ALDI.us to find the store nearest you. ALDI operates more than 2,000 stores in 37 states, and it’s still growing. As one of America’s fastest-growing retailers, ALDI is on track to be the third-largest U.S. grocery retailer by store count by the end of 2022.

ALDI Online

For more fun information and tips, visit ALDI.us, “Like” ALDI USA on Facebook and follow @ALDIUSA on Instagram and @ALDIUSA on Twitter. Join in the fun and tag ALDI using the hashtag #ALDILove.