Aldi and Lidl underwent a test to determine whose Christmas menu reigns supreme. Delectable dishes for the holiday table with minimal effort in the kitchen – that's the promise these discounters make with their ready-made meals.
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On the SWR Marktcheck program, two testers and a chef carefully examined their menus, leading to a clear conclusion.
Aldi and Lidl in the test: Comparing Christmas menus at the discounters
In Germany, traditional Christmas dishes such as roast meat, potato salad with sausages, or venison goulash grace the festive tables. For those who prefer not to spend much time in the kitchen and want to save, ready-made holiday menus from the stores are a convenient option.
According to their advertising slogans, Aldi offers its customers "premium-class delicacies" under its own Gourmet brand for the holidays. Lidl, within its range, also presents a variety of Christmas "delights for every taste."
At first glance, this sounds promising for customers, but what's the reality?
Testers selected an identical menu consisting of three dishes:
- Vitello Tonnato as an appetizer;
- Venison goulash with spaetzle as the main course;
- Classic tiramisu for dessert.
At the supermarket checkout, one thing stands out:
- Aldi's festive menu costs €17.06;
- Lidl customers pay €15.66, which is €1.40 less.
In terms of price, it's clear that Lidl is cheaper, but which one tastes better?
Finely sliced veal from Aldi's Vitello Tonnato made a greater impression on the testers. Despite minor taste differences, both appetizers were quite satisfactory.
Now, onto the main course – venison goulash with spaetzle. Despite being different brands, both are produced by the same manufacturer, and testers couldn't discern any difference.
The tiramisu from both discounters also satisfied the three tested experts. Lidl's dessert is packaged in a larger plastic bowl, while Aldi's is individually portioned.
Despite minimal visual or taste differences, as well as variations in packaging, the chef and two other testers consider both menus worthy options for the festive table.
Related topics:
In the SWR Marktcheck test, both Aldi and Lidl Christmas menus were declared satisfactory by the tester and chef, with the Veneto Tonnato from Aldi receiving a slight edge in taste. Interestingly, despite being produced by the same manufacturer, the testers couldn't distinguish differences between the venison goulash dishes from both discounters. The tiramisu from both stores also received praise, with Lidl's option being presented in a larger bowl.
