If you’re keen to celebrate Scotland’s most famous Bard – and one of the highlights of the foodie calendar – then one shop may be selling something you’ll want to get your hands on. Invited to try the M&S range, we opted for a selection of their savoury treats, and their Haggis tower is what January 25 is all about.
Marks and Spencer are known for their food above all else, and their clothing range is also getting more and more praise each year. But if you’re wondering why bother going to M&S for your Burns dinner, this is why…
M&S Food Burns Night – what did we get?
Their new range features a number of great items ideal for celebrating. Even if you’re not fussed about anything else bar the food, it’s still going to look – and taste – great on any table.
M&S Food Burns Night – what did we get?
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NEW M&S Haggis Mac & Cheese, 750g – £7.50: Rich haggis-topped pasta in a cheesy sauce, topped with a cheese, parsley and paprika crumb. The ultimate mash-up for those looking for a warming, comforting dish.
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NEW M&S Haggis Samosas, 220g – £4: Aromatic Indian-style pastry triangles filled with a mix of haggis and spiced vegetables. A fantastic starter for any fans of fusion cuisine or who are keen to try something a bit different!
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NEW M&S Collection Haggis & Steak Pie, 500g – £10: A hearty all-butter pastry pie filled with beef and haggis in a rich beef gravy, topped with oats. The perfect winter warmer!
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M&S Haggis, Neeps & Tatties Tower, 1020g – £10: A showstopping layered centrepiece made of traditional Scottish haggis, mashed swede & creamed potatoes, topped with Scottish oats and herbs. Comes with a whisky cream sauce for serving.
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M&S Haggis Bonbons, 144g – £3.50: These bite-sized bonbons take top-quality Scottish haggis and pork sausagemeat and wrap them in sage & onion breadcrumbs to give these dinky appetisers that are perfect to start your Burns supper.
M&S Food Burns Night – Haggis tower
A stand out for us was the Haggis Tower and the Mac n Cheese (read more about the cheesy dish below). I don’t need to wait until Burns week to have haggis, neeps and tatties, and I don’t. But with the week of the Bard now here and a haggis tower on offer, how could you say no?
The quality of the tower is excellent and you can really tell versus your average store-bought options. I also find that at times I may not have time to boil potatoes and mash them if I am super busy – not to mention the dishes that are left after.
Having had a late finish at work, the last thing anyone wants to do is rush home to cook. This showstopper is a layered centre-piece is made of traditional Scottish haggis, mashed swede and creamed potatoes.
It’s topped with Scottish oats and herbs and comes with a whisky cream sauce for serving. The sauce was so creamy and smooth, paired with the smooth tatties, swede and flavourful haggis, you genuinely cannot go wrong.
Popping this in the oven for an hour, it allows you to get on with what ever you need to do or relax as your dinner cooks. Burns would be proud.
M&S Food Burns Night – Mac n Cheese
We recently had Mac n’ Cheese from Sainsbury’s the other week and having not had one in ages, I started to want it every night. So when I found out this was in their range, I ran. This cheesy dish is incredible.
Not only is it, well, cheesy. It’s rich and full of flavour and tastes like quality cheese. I am pretty fussy when it comes to these type of meals as I often find that even when eating out some Man n’ Cheese can taste like cheap, almost fake cheese. This is far from it.
And of course, no Mac n’ Cheese is complete without toppings. Whether it’s bacon, a toasted crumb on top, or in this case, haggis. It really goes well with one another.
We had this with a small side of broccoli – gotta add the veggies – and it was super filling and perfect for a week where it’s cold (not to mention during Storm Éowyn). It’s quite the portion and could easily feed three people or four if you add sides like garlic bread and some veggies.
M&S Food Burns Night – final verdict
Overall M&S really do delivery on quality. And if you are having people over, it’s worth taking a trip to ensure quality. The bon bons and the samosas made for a great snack and stops me from snacking on unhealthy sweets at night.
The steak pie had a slight kick to it – but nothing over the top or anything you’ll need to grab water for. The filling was full of flavour and filled to the brim. Overall there’s nothing we had that we wouldn’t buy ourselves or recommend. And how can you go wrong with a haggis and steak pie, a haggis tower or mac n’ cheese on a cold and windy day?