Christmas starters and main courses at M&S
When it comes to planning the main event, we have everything you need, from sumptuous starters to succulent turkeys, alternative mains and all the trimmings. Here are our top picks from across the Foodhall – but don’t forget, there will be plenty more to choose from in store.Star starters
Whether it’s a showstopping seafood platter, a gooey hot cheese to share or a restaurant-style parfait, we have starters for all tastes. Bring a touch of luxury to the table with our Collection seafood rockpool platter. This sumptuous array of responsibly sourced easy-peel prawns, king prawns and scallops is topped with a rich garlic and herb butter.
Perfect for sharing, our dreamy camembert with chorizo crumb just needs slices of crusty bread or crudités (if Rudolph hasn’t munched all the carrots) for dipping into the hot melted cheese. Parfait makes an easy prep starter when you’re busy cooking the feast. Just plate up slices with a watercress garnish and add toasted Collection sourdough for a stylish first course. Choose from duck parfait with truffle cream, partridge, duck and pear terrine with a pear infused jelly, or chicken, cranberry and truffle slice. Vegans are catered for, too, with our indulgently creamy mushroom parfait made with shiitake and open cap mushrooms.
Talking turkey
Hosting a ‘Friendsmas’ ahead of the big day? Or holding your celebrations early because you need to work? Don’t miss out on a festive feast! Totally fool proof, it serves four and includes a turkey joint that has been brined with buttermilk and slow cooked for hours to make the meat irresistibly succulent. On the side, there’s our ultimate turkey gravy, plus our perfectly crisp roast potatoes, braised red cabbage and baby carrots.
Fresh turkeys are in store from 20 December and there are plenty of crowns and easy-carve joints to choose, which serves 6-8. It’s stuffed with pork and cranberry, topped with dry-cured bacon, brined in buttermilk and slow cooked for hours.
Something a little different
If you’re looking for an alternative to turkey this year, we have plenty of options to choose from. Our Collection surf and turf beef tomahawk with garlic butter is a gourmet showstopper. Serving four, it has been matured for 21 days on the bone to give unbeatable flavour and tenderness. Plus, it’s topped with responsibly sourced Canadian lobster tails, succulent king prawns and a decadent smoked bone marrow and garlic butter. Wow.
Lamb-lovers will appreciate the Collection slow-cooked lamb crown which has been French-trimmed and matured for superb succulence and depth of flavour. It’s served with a slow-cooked lamb, caramelised shallot and herb stuffing and a meaty herb butter.
Fancy pork instead? Collection outdoor-bred slow-cooked porchetta is scored and seasoned with garlic, fennel, lemon and herbs to deliver the perfect crackling. It’s also slow cooked for perfect tenderness and served with a pork and apple jus.
Game is always a special treat. Rich, tender and flavoursome Collection slow-cooked daube of venison is delicious with creamy mash and seasonal green vegetables.
Fabulous fish and seafood
We’ve got some really gorgeous options this year for fish lovers. Developed by our top chefs to guarantee incredible flavour, these responsibly sourced fish centrepieces will give your festive table the wow factor. Try Collection lightly smoked salmon en croute – we’ve topped lightly smoked Scottish salmon with a layer of spinach and lemon sole mousse, and Champagne and prawn sauce, then wrapped it in all-butter pastry.
Or there’s Collection halibut fillets with lemon and tarragon butter, topped with prawns and scallops and served on a bed of spinach and samphire. Serving eight people, Collection lightly smoked salmon wreath with honey, pomegranate and orange glaze is plaited into a festive wreath with candied orange, pomegranate seeds and parsley, then finished with a sticky honey, pomegranate and orange glaze.
Vegetarian and vegan options
Whether it’s a centrepiece joint or a showstopping nut roast, we’ve got everything you need for a meat-free or plant-based Christmas that’s full of flavour. Brie, butternut and mushroom wellington contains a decadent filling of brie, butternut squash, carrots and pearl barley with a rich mushroom duxelles, encased in all-butter puff pastry and beautifully hand-finished with a decorative lattice pastry topping.
Our Plant Kitchen no turkey joint contains a cranberry, onion and chestnut stuffing and is coated in a crispy breadcrumb topping, or how about this nut roast with a difference? Plant Kitchen butternut, almond and pecan nut roast combines roasted butternut squash, mixed nuts, bulgur wheat, cannellini beans, cranberries and a red wine and thyme gravy.
Super sides
For some people, the sides are the best part of Christmas dinner. We couldn’t possibly say, but from roasties and sprouts to pigs in blankets galore, you won’t be disappointed. For starters we have all the roastie options: choose from goose fat roast potatoes, beef dripping roast potatoes or Plant Kitchen triple cooked roasties. If you prefer to cook them from scratch, pop a jar of Iberico fat for roasties in your basket – it’s a Tom Kerridge favourite.
Sprout lovers won’t be able to resist our brussels sprouts with chestnuts, bacon and sage butter, and vegans can dive into Plant Kitchen vegan cauli and leek bake.
Of course, you can’t forget the piggies and stuffing. Our Plant Kitchen vegan pigs in blankets for non-meat eaters. Add a spoonful of Collection pork, chestnut and thyme, or Collection pork and cranberry stuffing for the perfect plateful. All you need now is plenty of Collection turkey gravy as the final flourish.
