I'm a Food Writer & These Are the 10 Groceries I Always Buy at Walmart
With fantastic finds like Oaxacan quesillo and lamb belly, this ubiquitous grocery store has a world of gourmet items at low prices.
Confession: I used to be a Whole Foods shopper. Before that, I bought my groceries at the gourmet-leaning, high-end Healthy Living Market in South Burlington, Vermont. For most of my adult life, I never would have dreamed that I would one day be buying my food at Walmart.
The transformation happened slowly. Amid a bout of jet lag after a trip to Southeast Asia five years ago, I started making bleary-eyed 4 a.m. visits to the 24-hour Walmart in my Houston neighborhood. Alone in the aisles, I realized that it was a wonderland of global fare. And the prices? That wasn't sleep deprivation—it was discounts on par with or better than the international markets that I frequented, but all in one place.
Now that I've moved to the suburbs, where Whole Foods and H-Mart are destinations for which I have to plan my visits, the conversion is complete. I am a Walmart shopper. Here are the 10 things that are always on my list.
1. Lamb Breast
Stumbling across this hard-to-find cut was what started my Walmart obsession. I love to braise or roast this adipose piece of meat (also known as lamb belly) until the fat has rendered almost to the point of disappearing. I topped it with homemade blueberry-tarragon sauce for one of my favorite home-cooked meals ever. Not bad for $3.94 a pound.
2. Quesillo
Oaxaca and its complex flavors are among my biggest culinary influences. While this mass-produced version of the milky string cheese can't compete with what you'd find in a mercado in Mexico, it sustains me between trips. I use a $4.14 12-ounce ball of Olé Mexican Foods Oaxaca cheese to melt in tacos and omelets with delight.
3. Japanese Curry
Ask me to name my favorite food and I'll give you a different answer each day. That said, katsu kare, or panko-breaded pork in curry sauce, is a frequent contender. I always keep a few cubes of curry roux in my pantry for Japanese curry emergencies, which are more frequent than one might guess. Medium-hot S&B Golden Curry retails for just $2.92 for a 3.2-ounce package at Walmart.
4. La Banderita Corn Tortillas
Like the true Texan that I quickly became when I lived in Houston, I still eat breakfast tacos a few times a week. I scramble two eggs with whatever leafy greens are handy (usually spinach or homegrown rainbow chard), then toss them in these tortillas with some hot sauce. When I'm feeling indulgent, I melt in quesillo or Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar, also purchased at Walmart. Even though I eat two tortillas at a meal, it takes me a while to get through the $2.24 30-pack.
5. King Arthur Flour
I try to maintain a high-protein diet when I'm not dining out for work, but my husband and I love to make pizza in our Ooni Karu oven. For New York-style pies, we use King Arthur Baking Company bread flour ($5.58 for 5 pounds) for a dough that we cold-ferment for 72 hours. But we're in favor of variety—sometimes we make Neapolitan pizza using the brand's $6.68 3-pound bags of 00 flour.
6. Mike's Hot Honey
Speaking of pizza, for the past few years, I've felt like my slice is incomplete without a drizzle of this chile-infused nectar. The $9.47 price tag might seem high, but my latest 12-ounce bottle has lasted me almost a year. That's despite the fact that I love it so much, I'm always devising new ways to use it. It's surprisingly tempting mixed into plain yogurt with fresh berries.
7. Deep Indian Kitchen Butter Chicken
I used to buy the brand's $5.12 frozen spinach paneer meals in multiples each time I visited Walmart. The store recently stopped carrying them, however, which spurred my love affair with Deep's butter chicken. Though it's not as vegetable-laden, I love the marinated chicken in creamy sauce almost as much as the squeaky fresh cheese dish. It's served with cumin-dotted rice, and it's one of my dietary staples. On busy workdays, it's so easy to microwave for four minutes and enjoy.
8. Ayo Jollof Rice
The newest addition to my Walmart must-have list is the only way I can get West African food without driving close to an hour. Is the fragrant jollof rice ($5.76 per single-serving bowl) as blazingly hot as I would find at a restaurant? Of course not, but the spice-inflected, tomato-based dish is perfectly al dente, ready in less than four minutes in the microwave and flavorful enough to satisfy my cravings until I can make it to my favorite suya spot.
9. Topo Chico
I grew up being served soda at every meal, but as an adult, I've been a staunch water-only person. This excellent Mexican sparkling mineral water splits the difference for me. I don't drink alcohol, so when I was dating and was invited to a bar, I always ordered a cold Topo Chico. Now that I'm happily married, an $11.98 case of 12 still makes me feel in-demand.
10. Fun Fruit
My husband and I are fruit people. Our favorite part of any trip to Walmart is the aisle that we refer to as "the fun fruit." Filled with seasonal treats, this aisle surprises me every time. This summer, I never quite got my fill of my beloved doughnut peaches and pluots. Most recently, I decided to not decide between rambutans, dragon fruit and guava and purchased them all. Yum!
Originally appeared: EatingWell.com, September 2023
Read the original article on Eating Well.
