The Aldi Freezer Find I Buy Every Year for New Year's Eve Dinner

Every New Year's Eve, I cook something special for my husband and son. When my son was little, we celebrated early because he went to bed before midnight. Now that he's a teenager, he stays up later than both his dad and me. We still always sit down to a special dinner together.

This year, my entrée came from the frozen seafood section at Aldi: Specially Selected Jumbo Sea Scallops.

Why I Love Aldi Specially Selected Jumbo Sea Scallops

Specially Selected Jumbo Sea Scallops are a seasonal Aldi find, and a 12-ounce air-sealed bag costs about $17, though prices vary by location. There are between 12 and 15 scallops per bag.

When my son was younger, one bag, plus a couple of sides and dessert, easily fed our family. Now my 15-year-old can polish off an entire bag on his own, so I buy two. It's a bit of a splurge, but it's totally worth it. They're as good as the flash-frozen scallops I buy at a seafood store, but they're so much less expensive. 

How To Cook Aldi Specially Selected Jumbo Sea Scallops

I usually thaw them overnight in the refrigerator, but you can speed things up by soaking the sealed bag in cold water. I heat a nonstick Aldi pan (though a cast-iron skillet works just as well) for a minute or two over high heat. Then I add a bit of ghee and sear the scallops for a minute or two per side. Scallops cook fast, and even a little overcooking makes them rubbery.

Some years, I serve them simply with garlic butter. Other years, I make a classic beurre blanc, equal parts white wine and white wine vinegar, with chopped shallots, reduced, then finished with butter, melted in one cube at a time. If I go fancier, I'll add a squeeze of citrus (blood orange juice gives it a gorgeous color) and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

The scallops are excellent over plain white rice or a fancier pilaf. They also pair beautifully with potatoes. I also serve them with a vegetable side. My son loves eating them with garlic bread or homemade biscuits. 

If you're doing a fancy brunch on New Year's Day, you can serve the scallops over a salad with a citrus vinaigrette, and that's really fun and easy. They're an affordable indulgence that my family loves.

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