Introducing Christmas created by M&S, made special by you – easy ideas that will help bring the personal touch to your main event
With all the excitement of the main course, starters can sometimes fall by the wayside. Make sure you begin with a bang with something special like our delicate Scottish smoked salmon souffles with triangles of brown toast. Upgrade the toast by spreading it with herby butter made in advance – beat chopped fresh dill into softened unsalted butter, roll up in greaseproof paper and chill before use.
Three ways with smoked salmon:
On rye bread: Mix a small pot of soft cheese with ½ deseeded and finely chopped cucumber, one tbsp grated lemon zest and a handful of finely chopped dill, to taste. Spread the cream cheese mixture onto slices of rye or rustic bread, and top with the salmon. Garnish with long, thin strips of cucumber and lemon zest.
In a salad:
Peel and slice two clementines, and finely slice ½ fennel bulb. For the dressing, juice two more clementines and whisk together with two tbsp olive oil, and salt and pepper. Combine the sliced clementines, fennel, and two large handfuls watercress or other salad leaves, and toss with the dressing. Arrange on a plate with slices of smoked salmon.
On a skewer:
Thread slices of Scottish oak and applewood smoked salmon and cooked new or salad potatoes onto skewers. In a small bowl, mix one tbsp each Dijon mustard, wholegrain mustard, white wine vinegar and caster sugar. Add six tbsp olive oil and whisk together, then stir through chopped dill. Season the skewers with black pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve with the dipping sauce.
There’s something comforting about a classic Christmas feast, but a traditional dinner can still be unique to you with a little experimentation. Reinvent your sides by having a go at our simple ideas below...
The turkey:
Our exclusive British Oakham turkey with pork and cranberry stuffing, has a maple-cured bacon garnish and spiced maple glaze, which helps crisp and caramelise the bacon. Complement it with sweet root veg tossed with grassy sage.
The gravy:
It can be stressful making gravy minutes before serving dinner, so take the pressure off and go for our posh turkey gravy, instead. Made with the stock from roast turkey and a splash of Marsala wine, it could easily pass for home-made – we won’t tell.
The stuffing:
Make every part of your Christmas meal memorable. M&S's British pigs in blankets, pork, sage and onion stuffing wreath is shaped by hand and comes with a sweet cranberry glaze to brush over the sausages.
The taste twist:
For a fresh take on Brussels sprouts, trim, boil or steam them as usual, then crush gently with a fork. Keep over a low heat and stir through a little cream, grated nutmeg and chopped chestnuts.
The perfect pair:
Chardonnay fans won’t want to miss our Château de Santenay Hautes-Côtes de Beaune – a rich, traditional-style white burgundy, full of ripe citrus and baked apple flavours that'll make your roast turkey sing.
Catering for guests who aren't keen on traditional turkey? Or perhaps you want to try something a little different this year. We've got an array of impressive fish centrepieces that are sure to satisfy the pescatarians in the family, such as our three-fish roast with Scottish Lochmuir salmon, cod and king prawns wrapped in crispy pancetta.
Discover the full range in Christmas Food to Order.
Hosting for vegetarian guests this year? We have a selection of dishes that are so tasty, you won't even realise they're meat free.
Three veggie stars
1. Nut-laden dishes make for a hearty main with plenty of texture. Our roasted butternut, almond and pecan nut roast comes with a red wine and thyme gravy. Serve it with a fresh and colourful mix of buttery, sautéed green beans and chunky slices of carrot, drizzled with a little honey and sprinkled with lemon zest.
2. Complement the sweet and savoury flavours of honey-roast parsnips, shallots and thyme in parsnip, camembert and chestnut pithivier, with vibrant steamed greens tossed in butter and balsamic vinegar.
3. For a traditional-looking vegetarian centrepiece with the wow factor, try mushroom wellington. Golden pastry is wrapped around portobello and white-cap mushrooms in a creamy sherry and spinach sauce. Pair it with diced squash, roasted with garlic, seasoning, sage leaves and a pinch of chilli, if you like.
No one needs to miss out on dessert with The Collection gluten-free extremely fruity Christmas pudding. Made with rice flour, vine fruits and almonds enriched with brandy, port and cognac, it’s fed with extra brandy after baking for a moist, rich pudding that’s worthy of The Collection label. Serve it with your favourite gluten-free sauce, light pouring cream or vanilla custard.