Save Money on Produce, Meats, Fish and Pantry Staples

Ethnic grocery stores or supermarkets can look intimidating because they have a lot of products you might be unfamiliar with, but don’t be afraid to explore. There are bargains galore on plenty of familiar products: coffee, fruit, ribs for a barbecue, even live lobsters. Asian stores offer a huge variety of bargain-priced yet tasty noodles and rice, often bulk sized, while Mexican and Indian stores stock every imaginable type of dried bean and split pea. Some of the best deals are in the spice aisle; sold in plastic bags rather than jars, they’re considerably cheaper. Even if your cooking style is purely American, you can still find plenty of pantry staples that you and your family eat every day.

Discover New Flavors

These stores are also a great place to discover something that you haven’t tried before. With lower prices, it’s easier to experiment with a new sauce or vegetable. For example, many Asian stores sell pea greens. They look like spinach, and can be cooked just like spinach, but have the sweet taste of peas. You could use them in any recipe that includes spinach, or you could try a new recipe specifically for pea greens. Sometimes buying a new ingredient may inspire you to try a new recipe that becomes a family favorite.

Here are a few of great finds from a Vietnamese grocery store:

Left to Right :

Café du Monde Coffee: The Vietnamese love this delicious coffee from New Orleans, and sell it for a third of price that it’s sold for at Whole Foods.

Hoisin Sauce: This is great added to barbecue sauce, as a marinade, or added to a stir fry.

Hot Chili Sauce: Super hot chili sauce with a touch of sesame flavor.

Soy Sauce: Much less expensive at Asian grocery stores.

Sriracha: This popular hot sauce is available in most mainstream stores now, but costs much less at an Asian supermarket.

Fish Sauce: Smells yucky, but is an essential ingredient in surprisingly easy to make Thai curries and soups.

Rice Vinegar: Great in salad dressings and marinades.

And from the Indian Store:

Ghee: Bought at an Indian store, this huge 56 ounce tub of clarified butter cost only $17.99 and lasts a year in the refrigerator. Clarified butter is great because it has the flavor of butter but the high burning point of oil. Great for sautéing and frying, or, if you’re more adventurous, try making biryani, the tasty Indian rice dish.

Spices: Keep bagged spices tidy and fresh: make your own spice jars using inexpensive jars (these are from Ikea)and office supply store labels.

Shan Brand Garam Masala Powder: Much better (and less expensive) than the generic curry powders sold in mainstream stores, this tasty spice mix is a great way to incorporate Indian flavors into your cooking.

A Great Housewares Section Too:

Chinois: This handy strainer was sold at the Vietnamese grocery store for $12; an identical one at the kitchen store cost $36.

These are just of a few of the great bargains you can find at ethnic grocery stores. Try exploring one near you-they’re a great way to save on groceries, and you may even discover some new favorites.