BBC Good Meals Christmas Style Awards
Fish canapés and mains
Finest smoked salmon
WINNER: Cubicles Triple Smoked Salmon Aspect (£45), 1kg
This spectacular complete facet has festive wow-factor and a scrumptious candy and salty steadiness, with the right degree of smoke.
RUNNER-UP: ASDA Final Blackthorne Smoked Salmon (120g), £6
This had outstanding smoke and the thick slices had good agency texture. This might be loved alone or additionally as a canapé on blinis.
RUNNER-UP: Co-op Irresistible Outdated Pulteney Whisky Smoked Salmon (100g), £5
This had a superb degree of smoke and gentle contact of boozy flavour. It’s thinly sliced with a agency a texture and effectively seasoned, not overpoweringly salty.
Finest fish centrepiece
WINNER: Sainsbury’s Style the Distinction Scottish Salmon Aspect (750g), £16
This was very festive with a robust Christmassy glaze that had daring orange flavour, and smooth succulent salmon beneath.
Finest sizzling canapé
WINNER: M&S 10 Mini Steak Sandwiches (230g), £7.00
A straightforward one-bite mouthful, these moreish croutes had a profitable mixture of crisp toast, candy onion jam, meat and tacky topping.
RUNNER UP: Morrisons 6 Corn Canine with a Honey & Mustard Dipping Sauce (220g), £5
For a novelty canapé, these mini corn canines have been crisp and well-seasoned with a mustard sauce for dipping. Not tremendous prime quality, however one for teenagers to get pleasure from.
Finest chilly canapé
WINNER: Sainsbury’s Style the Distinction 2 King Prawn Mocktails (75g), £5
For a starter for 2 or beneficiant canapé, these Bloody Mary-inspired pots had flavourful plump prawns, creamy mayo and warmth from the tomato paprika sauce.
Mains and facet dishes
Finest turkey centrepiece
WINNER: ASDA Roast within the bag Pork sage and onion tempting Stuffed Turkey Crown (British) with beechwood smoked bacon (1.55kg), £19.95
This turkey crown was stored moist by the pleasant bacon on prime and welcome addition of stuffing inside. The meat had good texture and was effectively seasoned.
RUNNER UP: Morrisons Turkey Breast Joint with Stuffing Balls and Pigs in Blankets (1.4kg), £20.00
Good for a smaller Christmas meal, judges appreciated that this got here with the extras of moreish herby stuffing balls and pigs in blankets already included. The breast joint is extremely simple to carve and stayed moist and tender.
RUNNER UP: Cubicles Simple Carve British Turkey with British Pork, Apple & Cranberry Stuffing (£85)
For a complete turkey choice, this impressed with good flavour, nice stuffing and a powerful completed look.
Finest different Christmas mains
JOINT WINNER: Sainsbury’s Style the Distinction British Boneless Rib of beef with Mustard & Horseradish Glaze (1.7kg), £15
Serve beef for Christmas with this spectacular centrepiece – the meat was tender and prime quality with slight sweetness, and cooked completely to directions.
JOINT WINNER: Waitrose Gradual Cooked Final Crackling Pork Stomach Feast (1.77kg), £30
Described as ‘every thing pork stomach must be’ by judges, this had tremendous tender and juicy meat. The accompanying apple sauce has good spicing and is a welcome addition.
Finest gammon
WINNER: Sainsbury’s Style the Distinction Mulled Cider Glazed Gammon Joint (1.3kg), £15
This had a pretty glaze on prime and tender meat beneath. The spices have permeated the meat for loads of flavour.
RUNNER UP: Tesco Most interesting Cola Cured Gammon with a treacle spiced glaze (750g), £10
For a substitute for a standard gammon, we couldn’t resist this decadent cola-cured gammon. Virtually within the type of pulled pork, this shredded simply into chunks and had deep savoury flavour all through and powerful savoury glaze – our judges stored going again for extra.
Finest pigs in blankets
WINNER: Lidl Deluxe Pigs in Blankets
Crisp smoky bacon, a peppery well-seasoned sausage and ideally suited measurement made these Christmas dinner staples a transparent winner.
Finest cranberry sauce
WINNER: Waitrose Cranberry Sauce (300g), £2.25
This punchy sauce had robust spicing levelled out by tart cranberry and loads of fruit.
RUNNER UP: M&S Cranberry Sauce, £4
For a non-traditional cranberry sauce, judges loved this shiny sweeter and milder sauce. It could be simply nearly as good spooned over ice cream as it will be served alongside Christmas dinner, with a unfastened saucy texture and massive juicy cranberries.
Finest gravy
WINNER: Iceland Luxurious Turkey Gravy (350g),£1.50
Standing out for having essentially the most flavour, this was candy and herby with a superb degree of salt.
Vegetarian & vegan mains
Finest vegetarian foremost
WINNER: M&S Rustic Potato, Caramelised Onion and Brie Pie (500g), £8
This wealthy crowd-pleasing pie had a crisp flaky crust and ‘stunningly tacky’ filling with completely tender potatoes and candy onions.
Finest vegan foremost
WINNER: ASDA Further Particular Vegan Wellington (500g), £5
Reminding judges of a vegan sausage roll, this had crisp pastry and a herby, moist filling with good total flavour and texture.
Puddings & truffles
Finest Christmas cake
WINNER: Waitrose No. 1 Wealthy Fruit Cake (1.5kg), £18.50
Completely balanced, this had a chic design, skinny marzipan and agency icing. The moist cake has cinnamon and citrus notes and loads of juicy fruit.
RUNNER UP: LIDL Deluxe Luxurious All Over Iced Christmas Cake
If you happen to like your Christmas cake generously soaked with festive alcohol, that is the selection for you. The cake had good depth of flavour (undeniably boozy!) and was very moist, surrounded by smooth candy icing.
Finest Yuletide log
WINNER: M&S Assortment Crackling Chocolate Logs (1.33kg), £20
Judges beloved the enjoyable design and popping sweet prime – children would find it irresistible and with three xmas logs in a single, this might feed simply a crowd.
RUNNER UP: ASDA Further Particular Yuletide Log (750g), £9
This had a lightweight and cakey sponge that just about tasted do-it-yourself. It was a beneficiant measurement and had good deep chocolate flavour and lightweight, moussey filling.
Finest Christmas pudding
WINNER: M&S Assortment Completely Matured Cherry & Orange Wreath (907g), £12
Daring citrus flavour added to the standout fruitiness of this particular pudding, which was impressively mild and had good crunch from nuts.
RUNNER-UP: Morrisons the Finest Christmas Pudding (800g), £8
For a extra traditional choice, this smooth textured pudding was balanced by good crunch from complete nuts and was not too boozy.
Finest showstopper desserts
JOINT WINNER: Morrisons the Finest Ardour Fruit Panna Cotta Star (651g), £7
Mild and delicate with a kick of pure tropical flavour, judges beloved this as a easy and lightweight solution to end an enormous Christmas meal.
JOINT WINNER: Sainsbury’s Style the Distinction Festive Belgian Chocolate and Salted Caramel Wreath (650g), £12
Simple to serve and spectacular to share, judges loved the creamy salted caramel filling and fairly design of this choux pastry dessert.
RUNNER UP: Tesco Most interesting Caramel Cascade Cake (850g), £12.50
A wealthy winter hotter, this indulgent cake was undeniably wealthy. The dense cake was virtually pudding like and reminded judges of faculty dinner cake (in a great way!) and sticky toffee pudding. The 2 sauces get a bit misplaced when blended collectively as instructed, however can be good served individually.
Finest finances dessert
WINNER: Co-op Irresistible Nuts About Chocolate Star (571g), £6
Extremely spectacular for the worth, this seems actually fairly and splendid. The layers inside are candy with good distinction – thick chocolate, creamy mousse and complete peanuts.
RUNNER-UP: Tesco Most interesting Frozen Salted Caramel Millionaire Choux wreath (472g), £6.50
This seems very enticing with pretty decadent ornament. The salted caramel cream inside was good, the chocolate provides sweetness and the pastry had a superb texture, if a little bit dense reasonably than crisp.
Finest vegan dessert
WINNER: Sainsbury’s Style the Distinction Quadruple Chocolate Cookie No-Cheesecake (500g), £6
Indulge with this vegan cheesecake: it impressed with a thick crunchy base, good chocolate flavour and creamy filling that was not too candy.
Festive bakes
Finest traditional mince pies
WINNER: M&S 6 Assortment Mince Pies (334g), £3
Judges appreciated the buttery pastry, fairly design and good pastry to filling ratio of those pies. The mincemeat was plump and juicy with robust clementine flavour.
RUNNER UP: Waitrose No. 1 6 Brown Butter Mince Pies, worth TBC
These look and style do-it-yourself with crisp pastry and easy caster sugar sprinkle on prime. The mincemeat inside was plump and jammy.
RUNNER UP: Asda ISB mince pies (countrystyle) (340g), £2.50
These felt luxurious: a deep form stuffed with a wealthy and fruity mincemeat. There was a pleasant little bit of booze and many currants. The pastry had a superb snap and the star-topped design is straightforward.
Finest flavoured mince pies
WINNER: Aldi Specifically Chosen Rum & Salted Caramel Mince Pies, worth TBC
An opulent salted caramel filling made these pies stand out – plus skinny pastry, a nutty topping for crunch and loads of traditional juicy fruit.
RUNNER UP: Morrisons the Finest Billionaires Mince Pies (4 pack), £2.25
A terrific different to a standard mince pie, these have been messy to eat however an indulgent candy deal with, with numerous chocolate and caramel.
Finest gluten-free mince pies
WINNER: M&S 4 Made With out Wheat Gluten Free Mince Pies (205g), £2.50
Buttery and tender pastry is spectacular in a gluten-free mince pie, while the standard filling was effectively spiced with a superb kick.
RUNNER UP: ASDA Free From Further Particular Mini Mince Pies (pack of six), £2
These fairly mini mince pies had good mincemeat with a boozy kick. The pastry is nice to start with however left a slight powdery aftertaste.
Finest stollen
WINNER: M&S Collections Stollen Loaf, £7
A beneficiant swirl of marzipan runs all through this loaf giving robust almond flavour and smooth texture, balanced by crunchy flaked almonds on the skin.
RUNNER UP: No.1 Waitrose Cherry & Amaretto Stollen (585g), £10
This had a satisfying open bready texture studded with loads of bitter purple cherries to steadiness the sweetness – a Bakewell fan’s dream. It had a superb ratio of marzipan and slices neatly for serving.
Finest panettone
WINNER: Tesco Most interesting tiramisu panettone (750g), £10
Chocolate followers will love this twist on a traditional panettone – this was generously stuffed with chocolate chips and was smooth and moreish.
RUNNER-UP: Sainsbury’s Style The Distinction Cherry & Almond Panettone (750g), £10
This had a beautiful crunchy topping with complete almonds. Inside have been a superb quantity of juicy bitter cherries and the panettone dough itself provided a superb buttery flavour and trace of vanilla.
The judging course of
We invited 13 supermarkets to enter their greatest Christmas merchandise for consideration throughout 23 classes. All meals was ready and cooked following pack directions, then offered to our panel by two impartial dwelling economists. Packaging was eliminated and judges tasted all gadgets blind. Judges submitted their feedback and a rating out of 10 for every product within the class by way of nameless on-line types.
Along with the profitable merchandise right here, the judging workforce additionally awarded ‘runners-up’ to high-scoring favourites that they felt additionally deserved recognition.
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