Party food at M&S
It’s not just Christmas Day that calls for easy catering solutions. What about all those festive gatherings before – and after – the main event? Whether it’s a casual get-together with close friends or a full-on celebration for the whole family, we have all sorts of party food inspiration to suit the mood. Most of our party food launches in the Foodhall and on Ocado in late October, giving you plenty of time to try everything at least a couple of times before getting into the Christmas season.
Bring the party
You can’t go wrong with a spread of M&S party food. There’s so much to choose from in our Foodhall, but you’d better grab them while you can as these are sure fly off the shelves. Meaty options include our Collection Korean-style chicken lollipops, €10 (12 pieces, 320g), made from chicken with a caramel gochujang glaze and crispy onions, and Collection pulled beef and potato rosti towers, €10 (10 pieces, 325g), a delicious combo of slow-cooked pulled beef, cheddar cheese sauce and a red wine and port jus. Seafood lovers won’t feel left out: Our Best Ever prawn toast combines black tiger prawns, spring onions and ginger on a crunchy toast with a tangy ponzu dip. They really are the best ever and are guaranteed to be everyone’s favourites this Christmas.
We’ve got amazing vegan options, too. No-one can resist our handmade Collection snowmen steamed bao buns, €10 (8 pieces, 320g), filled with vegetables in a hoisin sauce; netted vegetable spring rolls, €8.25 (12 pieces, 240g), rice spring rolls with Asian-inspired vegetable fillings; or our tempura battered vegetables, €10 (270g), made with carrot, green bean and broccoli with sweet chilli sauce.
Bite-sized beauties
Our showstopping canapés are big on flavour and a fuss-free way to entertain. Serve up a selection of these delicious mini bites to effortlessly impress your guests. Hot, crispy and totally irresistible, our fried fondue bites, €8.25 (12 pieces, 240g) are a rich blend of four cheeses encased in a crispy coating. Texan-style spicy dirty fries with pulled smoky beef, €10 (8 pieces, 232g) are finished with a cheesy jalapeño sauce, while Collection Middle Eastern-style chicken flatbreads, €10 (205g, 10 pieces) are made with pulled Chicken, Middle Eastern-style spices, chilli sauce and drizzled with yogurt.
Easy sharing board ideas
Charcuterie sharing board
On trend, fuss-free and so versatile, you can have lots of fun creating your own sharing board, whether it’s for a big bash or a Christmas Eve selection of picky bits for two. Here are some ideas to start you off. Feed a crowd with an Italian-themed charcuterie and cheese board. Make your platter a feast for the eyes with a selection of meats, cheese and crunchy accompaniments.
Combine our Italian meats antipasti selection and Collection Wagyu beef bresaola with truffle gouda, Cambozola cheese and Italian pesto mozzarella so there’s plenty to choose from. Serve with a selection of olives, crackers, breadsticks and flatbreads, plus Italian tomato, chilli and garlic tapenade for dipping.
Scandi-chic sharing board
Make Christmas Eve even more special this year with a Scandi-style platter that makes for a tasty light supper for two. Arrange Collection Scottish maple and peppercorn smoked salmon, €8.25 (100g), and Collection dill and mustard sauce, €4.50 (190g), 16 cocktail blinis, €3.50 (112g) and spiced pickled red cabbage, €3 (280g) on a board, then serve with fresh cucumber, olives, caperberries and herbs.
Chef Tom Kerridge's party hosting tips
How does a top chef juggle serving fabulous food and mingling with the guests? Tom Kerridge shares his tips for stress-free entertaining.
• You don’t have to make everything yourself. Stock up on ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook bites or finger food to take the pressure off cooking. It saves on the washing up, too.
• Juggling too many different cooking times can be stressful, so offer a mix of hot and cold dishes to avoid the pressure of having to cook or reheat multiple dishes at once. Fortunately, M&S party food can now all be cooked at the same temperature and more than a third of our options have air fryer instructions. We really have thought of everything.
• Carve up a showstopper joint like the M&S Collection signature dry-cured sugar pit ham, or save time with a pre-sliced Wiltshire ham, €33 (1kg) for an easy crowd pleaser. Serve with zingy chutneys.
• If you need a no-fuss option for vegans and vegetarians, try tomato bruschetta. Rub slices of crusty bread with garlic and top with cherry tomatoes, basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
