Marks and Spencer (M&S) has added 13 new products to its slow-cooked range and I could taste test some of them.
The retailer shares that the new products offer “maximum flavour and minimum effort from you” and are the perfect alternative to dining out.
The slow-cooked range can be served in 60 minutes or less and includes family-sized meal options and smaller, making it perfect for all household sizes.
The new meals include one-pot favourites, classic meat main dishes and items inspired by nine different international cuisines.
The range is currently in M&S Foodhalls and I got to taste test some of the products in the slow-cooked range, here’s what I thought.
I tried M&S’s new slow-cooked range, and it made cooking so easy
The three slow-cooked range items I got to try out were the Lamb Massman Shanks, the Glazed BBQ Pork Ribs and the Korean Thighs.
Lamb Massman Shanks
Starting with the Lamb Massman Shanks serves two and costs £14, described as “Two tender British shanks with an aromatic spiced coconut sauce, finished with crispy onions.”
I will say, that I’ve never been the biggest fan of lamb shanks, so I was slightly hesitant at first, but I quickly found that was a thought of the past.
The box came with cooking instructions and a foil tray to use; however I was met with one issue, the instructions said foil was needed and I was all out.
So, I improvised and used a lidded casserole dish, and after cooking for 50 minutes, then added the coconut sauce and for another 10 minutes, the lamb shanks were cooked to perfection.
The meat fell off the bone, and it tasted amazing, the spicey coconut added a nice sweet but warm flavour to the meal and the onions added the perfect crips.
I’ve never had lamb shanks like M&S’s before and I plan on trying them like this a lot more often.
Glazed BBQ Pork Ribs
Next on my M&S taste test was the Glazed BBQ Pork Ribs, now I’m a big fan of ribs when they’re done right, so I had high hopes.
Cooking the ribs could not have been any simpler, popping them onto a lined tray, the ribs cooked for around 25 minutes and when the timer was up, they looked very tasty.
Popping the ribs into a dish, I had no trouble eating them with the meat cooked so well, it fell off the bone, just as perfect as you could wish for.
The BBQ sauce added a nice, sweet but not overbearing flavour to the meat and the pork itself was not fatty or chewy.
Spicy Korean Chicken Thighs
Finally on my slow-cooked range taste test, was the Spicy Korean Chicken Thighs, described by M&S as “succulent, slow-cooked British bone-in chicken thighs with a spicy, sticky gochujang chilli glaze.”
This item said it could be cooked in the air fryer, so I tested that out and popped the thighs into my air fryer.
After around 20 minutes, I opened the air fryer's drawers to discover, crispy and saucy chicken thighs that looked very tasty.
I shredded the meat off the bone, as I prefer it that way, with a side of rice and salad, and it was fabulous.
The flavours added to the chicken and it wasn’t too spicy, plus the chicken didn’t taste dry either.
Recommended Reading
- I tried cheap and pricey chocolate digestives and a 77p one rivalled McVitie's
- Which? crowns M&S as UK's best supermarket - see the full list
- Which supermarket steak is the best? I tested them all and one blew me away
Discussing the new range, Matthew Dawson, lead product developer for meat and poultry at M&S Food, said: “This newly revamped Slow Cooked range has been a real labour of love over the two decades.
“I am very lucky that in my career I have cooked for royalty, worked in Michelin Star restaurants and under Anton Eidelman at The Savoy, and my aim was to bring the types of food, cuisines and quality meat that I have served over that time to the masses – in a convenient, quick and cost-effective way.”
M&S’s new slow-cooked range is available in Foodhalls now.
