BBC Good Meals Christmas Style Awards
Fish canapés and mains
Finest smoked salmon
WINNER: Cubicles Triple Smoked Salmon Facet (£45), 1kg
This spectacular complete aspect has festive wow-factor and a scrumptious candy and salty steadiness, with the proper degree of smoke.
RUNNER-UP: ASDA Final Blackthorne Smoked Salmon (120g), £6
This had distinguished 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 Previous Pulteney Whisky Smoked Salmon (100g), £5
This had degree of smoke and gentle contact of boozy flavour. It’s thinly sliced with a agency a texture and properly seasoned, not overpoweringly salty.
Finest fish centrepiece
WINNER: Sainsbury’s Style the Distinction Scottish Salmon Facet (750g), £16
This was very festive with a powerful Christmassy glaze that had daring orange flavour, and gentle succulent salmon beneath.
Finest scorching canapé
WINNER: M&S 10 Mini Steak Sandwiches (230g), £7.00
A simple one-bite mouthful, these moreish croutes had a successful mixture of crisp toast, candy onion jam, meat and tacky topping.
RUNNER UP: Morrisons 6 Corn Canines 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 top quality, however one for youths to take pleasure in.
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 aspect 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 pleasing bacon on high and welcome addition of stuffing inside. The meat had good texture and was properly 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 straightforward to carve and stayed moist and tender.
RUNNER UP: Cubicles Straightforward Carve British Turkey with British Pork, Apple & Cranberry Stuffing (£85)
For a complete turkey choice, this impressed with good flavour, nice stuffing and a formidable completed look.
Finest various 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 top quality with slight sweetness, and cooked completely to directions.
JOINT WINNER: Waitrose Gradual Cooked Final Crackling Pork Stomach Feast (1.77kg), £30
Described as ‘all the pieces pork stomach needs to 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 lovely glaze on high and tender meat beneath. The spices have permeated the meat for loads of flavour.
RUNNER UP: Tesco Best Cola Cured Gammon with a treacle spiced glaze (750g), £10
For a substitute for a conventional gammon, we couldn’t resist this decadent cola-cured gammon. Nearly within the type of pulled pork, this shredded simply into chunks and had deep savoury flavour all through and robust 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 excellent 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 might be simply pretty much as good spooned over ice cream as it could 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 probably the most flavour, this was candy and herby with degree of salt.
Vegetarian & vegan mains
Finest vegetarian most important
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 most important
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 & muffins
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 gentle candy icing.
Finest Yuletide log
WINNER: M&S Assortment Crackling Chocolate Logs (1.33kg), £20
Judges liked the enjoyable design and popping sweet high – children would find it irresistible and with three xmas logs in a single, this could feed simply a crowd.
RUNNER UP: ASDA Further Particular Yuletide Log (750g), £9
This had a lightweight and cakey sponge that nearly tasted home made. It was a beneficiant measurement and had good deep chocolate flavour and light-weight, 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 gentle and had good crunch from nuts.
RUNNER-UP: Morrisons the Finest Christmas Pudding (800g), £8
For a extra traditional choice, this gentle 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 liked this as a easy and light-weight approach to end a giant Christmas meal.
JOINT WINNER: Sainsbury’s Style the Distinction Festive Belgian Chocolate and Salted Caramel Wreath (650g), £12
Straightforward to serve and spectacular to share, judges loved the creamy salted caramel filling and fairly design of this choux pastry dessert.
RUNNER UP: Tesco Best Caramel Cascade Cake (850g), £12.50
A wealthy winter hotter, this indulgent cake was undeniably wealthy. The dense cake was nearly pudding like and reminded judges of college 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 funds dessert
WINNER: Co-op Irresistible Nuts About Chocolate Star (571g), £6
Extremely spectacular for the worth, this appears actually fairly and opulent. The layers inside are candy with good distinction – thick chocolate, creamy mousse and complete peanuts.
RUNNER-UP: Tesco Best Frozen Salted Caramel Millionaire Choux wreath (472g), £6.50
This appears very enticing with pretty decadent ornament. The salted caramel cream inside was good, the chocolate provides sweetness and the pastry had texture, if a little bit dense slightly 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, value TBC
These look and style home made with crisp pastry and easy caster sugar sprinkle on high. The mincemeat inside was plump and jammy.
RUNNER UP: Asda ISB mince pies (countrystyle) (340g), £2.50
These felt luxurious: a deep form full of a wealthy and fruity mincemeat. There was a pleasant little bit of booze and many currants. The pastry had snap and the star-topped design is easy.
Finest flavoured mince pies
WINNER: Aldi Specifically Chosen Rum & Salted Caramel Mince Pies, value TBC
An expensive 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
An awesome various to a conventional mince pie, these have been messy to eat however an indulgent candy deal with, with a number of 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 normal filling was properly spiced with 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 gentle 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 ratio of marzipan and slices neatly for serving.
Finest panettone
WINNER: Tesco Best tiramisu panettone (750g), £10
Chocolate followers will love this twist on a traditional panettone – this was generously full of chocolate chips and was gentle 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 quantity of juicy bitter cherries and the panettone dough itself supplied buttery flavour and trace of vanilla.
The judging course of
We invited 13 supermarkets to enter their finest Christmas merchandise for consideration throughout 23 classes. All meals was ready and cooked following pack directions, then offered to our panel by two unbiased residence economists. Packaging was eliminated and judges tasted all objects blind. Judges submitted their feedback and a rating out of 10 for every product within the class through nameless on-line varieties.
Along with the successful merchandise right here, the judging workforce additionally awarded ‘runners-up’ to high-scoring favourites that they felt additionally deserved recognition.
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