With M&S and Morrisons having released their festive food ranges so far, it feels like the Christmas supermarket countdown is truly underway. This week, I was excited to see Tesco’s big reveal of seasonal treats, with a whopping 600 festive products starting to arrive in store from now up until Christmas Day. Of these, there are 200 new launches covering everything from impromptu drinks with friends to the main event itself. Expect hot honey, global flavours, indulgent desserts and plenty of clever twists on Christmas classics.
And, if you’re already thinking about the Christmas party food, this is where Tesco has, in my opinion, particularly excelled – from ‘nduja pigs in blankets to matcha and charcoal-coloured gyoza and sweet potato tikka baonuts, the range is full of imaginative flavours, textures and colours. Read on to discover my top picks…
Party food with pizzazz
First and foremost on my Christmas wish list: the ‘nduja pigs in blankets with hot honey sauce gives a festive staple a seriously fashionable upgrade. Spicy ‘nduja and honey pork sausages are wrapped in oak-smoked bacon and served with a hot honey accompaniment – the sort of sweet, spicy and savoury combination that I find pretty irresistible.
I am also intrigued by the dirty martini olives. Halkidiki olives are coated in a crisp gin and gherkin sauce, finished with lemon zest. It’s a playful nod to the cocktail trend and could be just the thing for a drinks party, especially served with salted nuts and crisps.
For something more substantial, the sweet potato tikka baonuts are a genius mashup of bao buns and doughnut-style bites filled with spiced sweet potato, pumpkin and cauliflower. Meanwhile, the pan-fried tri-coloured prawn gyoza with ponzu dip may be a mouthful to pronounce but these eye-catching striped dumplings are sure to bring a special festive flair to your party – I love how boldly they break up the classic beige buffet spread.
New centrepieces and festive sides
If you haven’t already filled yourself up with party bites, the mains also sound like an enticing blend of classic with innovation. Traditionalists can choose an East Anglian gold free-range turkey, while the more adventurous might prefer the salt-aged pork loin joint with pork, sage and Bramley apple stuffing.
I also like the sound of a slow-cooked King Arthur beef joint in red wine bourguignon sauce with black garlic and onion chutney – full of rich and punchy flavours fit for a festive banquet. If you’re looking for a meat-free centrepiece, the maple roasted winter vegetable wellington delivers a mouthwatering combination of roasted squash and haricot beans with a mushroom and shallot duxelles, hand-rolled in crisp pastry.
When it comes to Christmas dinner, I’m all about the sides. And Tesco doesn’t disappoint here either – their extra mature cheddar, leek & sprout gratin gives Brussels sprouts a rich, cheesy makeover. Red cabbage is also getting a festive lift with cranberry, apple, red wine, ginger and cinnamon-spiced butter. These would make a perfect pairing for any of the mains, along with some crisp roasties and gravy.
Desserts worth saving room for
As a self-confessed chocoholic, I am all in favour of Tesco’s indulgent, cocoa-heavy dessert offering. Two particular showstoppers on the menu are a Belgian chocolate & berry délice plus a Black Forest high wall cheesecake. The former encases a hidden centre of brown sugar, raspberry and cranberry sauce in thick, silky chocolate mousse, whilst the latter combines two popular trends in a decadent deep-filled dessert complete with cherry compote, vanilla cheesecake, chocolate ganache and a crumb topping.
Those with a serious sweet tooth will delight in the Belgian chocolate & caramel molten pudding, combining a gooey chocolate centre and caramel topping. For a more traditional treat, the amaretto mince pies and amaretto panettone give classic Christmas bakes a boozy, Italian-inspired twist.
And if all that indulgence isn’t enough, you can relax into the evening with a comforting mug of Tesco’s melted hot chocolate bombes, complete with marshmallows for that touch of luxury.
With so many new products already arriving, I can’t wait to head to the nearest store and try some of these out – they may not make it past September however!
Take a look at our collection of Christmas buffet recipes and festive party food for more entertaining inspiration. We’ve also got plenty of make-ahead Christmas recipes to aid your planning for the big day.
