Aldi Parmesan Crusted Flounder Review
Author’s Note: These are my own weird little opinions. I have no affiliation with Aldi, and this is not a sponsored review.
Fish for folks who don’t love fish.
Do you love fish? Are you hungry? Maybe this product isn’t for you. The filets aren’t very filling. And I got 6 filets instead of the 8 suggested by the product label. I brutally dragged Costco for selling tiny chunks of their Gluten Free Breaded Cod. But this is worse.
A serving only has 6 grams of protein. Yes, you heard me. Six! I’ve seen slices of bread with more protein. C’mon, Aldi!
Anyway. Aside from the portion size, I really like these frozen Parmesan Crusted Flounder Fillets. In fact, this might be my favorite item from Aldi’s Fremont Fish Market store-brand. So far.
Fresh and flavorful
The fish is super fresh-tasting (much less “fishy” than these frozen flounder fillets without breading from the same Fremont brand). I think even wicked fish-haters might be wooed.
The meat is tender and moist. It has a fairly neutral flavor (especially for flounder, which can sometimes taste strong), and is seasoned enough that I didn’t want any extra salt or sauce.
Unfortunately, the filet is so thin, I definitely felt that there was a high ratio of breading to meat. It’s not even a particularly thick breading; it’s the super-thinness of the fish filet that makes it seem like “a lot.”
Not very cheesy?
Fortunately, said breading is crisp and securely attached to the fillets (unlike this breading from Aldi’s Macadamia Nut Crusted Flounder; review here). It has a light, pleasant flavor that doesn’t scream “cheese,” but doesn’t make me mad, either.
Unfortunately, “parmesan and romano” cheese is pretty far down the ingredients list, somewhere after “salt.” Hmmph!
I served mine with a side of Main St Bistro Scalloped Potatoes (review here), and some fresh, buttered brussels sprouts from Publix. (As much as I loooove Aldi produce, I have not had good luck with their brussels sprouts. It’s worth the extra money to buy from Publix. And you know it pains me to say that.)
Ingredients in Aldi Parmesan Crusted Flounder Filets
Here is my best attempt at typing out the ingredients, from the label:
- Flounder (Limanda aspera)
- Water
- Wheat Flour
- Canola Oil
- Yellow Corn Flour
- Corn Starch
- Salt
- Parmesan & Romano Cheese (Pasteurized Part-Skim Cow’s Milk, Cultures, Enzymes, Salt)
- Spices
- Garlic
- Onion
- Sugar
- Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate)
- Parsely
- Yeast
- Unsalted Butter (Pasteurized Cream, Natural Flavor)
- Natural Flavor
More information from the label:
- Wild Caught
- MSC: Sustainable
- Catch Area: FAO 67
- Catch Method: Trawl
Nutrition Facts
A 59 gram serving of fish contains 100 calories. You get 4 grams of fat (0 grams saturated fat) and 6 grams protein. There are 10 grams total carbohydrates, of which there are 0 grams fiber and 0 grams sugar. You get 12% your daily value of sodium, and 3% your daily value of cholesterol per serving. There’s also 8% your daily value vitamin D per serving.
Price and Servings
The 16 ounce bag cost $6.99 at my local Aldi. Assuming you truly received 8 servings, each filet would cost only 88 cents! A super bargain. But, IF you only get 6 pieces of fish (like I did), each filet is $1.17. And, if you eat TWO little filets per meal (like I did!), it will cost $2.33 per meal. This still isn’t a terrible price. But it’s not as eye-popping a bargain, either.
Cooking the Flounder Filets
Mine cooked up easily in my conventional oven. I baked at 400 for 20 minutes on a parchment-lined pan. The breading didn’t stick at all to the parchment, and there was no oil ooze. I didn’t need to flip the fish. The filets are surprisingly sturdy and easy to serve. I don’t think you can screw this up. But you can try.
Here are the simplified cooking options, from the label:
- Oven: 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes.
- Deep Fry: 360 degrees for 4-5 minutes.
- Air Fry: 390 degrees for 8-10 minutes.
Dramatic Conclusion
I think this is an easy, crowd-pleasing option for people who don’t need much protein. It’s inoffensive enough to serve to folks who are aren’t die-hard fish fans. Kid-friendly, easy to pick up and tidy to eat. The price is staggeringly good for an entree, although embarrassingly small. And shockingly low on protein.
Even the official “Awesome-o-Meter” is scratching its head. And thus, the needle wobbles between “Maybe” and “Yaaas.”
The End.
More Reviews You Might Like (or Hate)
Check out these other fishy reviews I’ve written. Or don’t. That’s fine, too:
