It has already been two and a half ago that Mercadona presented its food to carry.They were prepaidmic times and we talked about how the offer of ready to eat, very economical, could put the hospitality businesses in check.

Today the restaurants have much greater problems, but Mercadona has continued to expand (and improve) its offer.With the arrival of these strange Christmas it has presented a series of special dishes, which can be ordered in the supermarket chain during this month of December.And, of course, we had to try them.

Unlike other elaborations of the section ready to eat, most Christmas dishes are pre -cooked and we must finish them at home, to present them ready for our food.

Specifically we talk about six dishes:

All dishes, except canapés, are accompanied by a garrison of roasted potatoes and chives.

Plates on request

Last year the dishes were available on Christmas days in all the Mercadona that have the section ready to eat, but this year it is necessary to commission them: from November 22 to December 21 if you want to enjoy Christmas Eve and November 22As of December 28 for New Year's Eve.

As was the case last year, orders can only be made in the store itself - not by telephone or online -, which is a bit cumbersome in the times that run.In addition, as happened to us, even four days in advance you cannot ask for all the dishes you want.As explained to us in our nearest mercadona, only a certain number of dishes can be commissioned, depending on the stocks of each store.

For the rest, the process is very simple: in the same section ready to eat, you commission the dishes you want, fix the day and time of collection, and you have them at the agreed time.In our case, we even had it ready one day before the four margin: we asked for it on Saturday and we could collect it on Monday.

To heat

The dishes are conveniently delivered in cardboard boxes, also presented on Christmas motifs.These trays are suitable for the oven, although we have preferred to transfer food to larger trays and that are better when presenting at table.

Except the canapés, which eat cold, each dish has preparation instructions, which can be consulted through a brochure available in store (or on the Mercadona website).We tested the carilla in red wine sauce, which must be cooked in microwave for 5 minutes at maximum power, and the milk lamb palette that, it is explained, you have to prepare in the oven to 200º, without grill, for 25 minutes.

We are very applied, and we follow the instructions on the heart, but not all the ovens are the same, and it must be taken into account when preparing the dishes.The cheek, after five minutes in the microwave, was perfect, but the pallet was not cooked enough, and we had to leave it almost 10 more minutes.

The pallet must be cooking in a vacuum (because the bags of the bag are seen) and it is missing, in our opinion, a little sauce.That is why we recommend around half of the cooking and throw a little water (two or three tablespoons are enough), so that the little one there is more and does not burn.Thus it is more juicy.

To eat

Solved the theme of preparation, the time of the tasting comes, which is after all the most important.Are the dishes good?

Canapés tray

We start, of course, for the Canapés, which is the only thing that has changed slightly last year (when we did the test) to this.They include seven flavors:

We are faced with the typical catheing snacks, solvents, but not surprising.There are quite achieved - the last year we especially like that of Mousse de Piquillo (which has been eliminated this year), that of nephew or the truffle - and others that pass without penalty or glory.Tartlets, in addition, suffer a little preparation in advance, and are a bit wet.

Taking into account that the snacks are what gives the least work at a Christmas dinner - you can put a sausage, a smoked table or simple canapés - this is perhaps the least interesting of Mercadona's proposal.

The key is in the main dishes, which can be saved by the ballot in a year when, given the restrictions of capacity, there will be many new hosts.And here Mercadona gives the bell.

Carrillada in red wine sauce

The stewed veal wardrobe in red wine sauce, is accompanied, like all the main dishes, with baker and chives confit.

There is no failure.It heats up in the microwave and we find a tender and melossa meat, with a very successful sauce.It is not the best cheek we have tried, but it is very rich, and it is also a generous ration: they can eat two people from it perfectly.

Potatoes and chives are a good garnish - especially the second -.It is true that when cooking the potatoes in the microwave are something worse than in the oven (it is more a cooked potato than roasted), but they are not bad.

Lambal Lamb Paletilla

As they explain from Mercadona, the pallet is prepared with a marinade with salt, rosemary, thyme and lemon and is designed so that, after passing through the oven, the skin is golden and crispy.The garnish is the same as that of the cheeks: roasted potatoes and chives.

Although it seems that the pallet is cooked in a vacuum, it must be clarified that we are not facing a low temperature recipe: the meat does not completely get rid of, it is somewhat more smooth, in a more traditional style.Which does not mean that it is bad.The lamb is soft (it is clear that it is a lethal, both for flavor and by size) and very tasty.

As we mentioned earlier, we miss a little more salsa, but the lamb is not at all dry.And baked garrisons are richer than microwave.

Final price and assessment

Mercadona's Christmas dishes are not as rich as in many restaurants (or if we have caught the trick at home), but they are a more than worthy solution if we do not know or do not want to cook for Christmas.And they have an excellent value for money.

The prices are maintained with respect to last year, except the canapés that have risen three euros and the stuffed chicken, which has risen five:

The three dishes we try cost a total of 42 euros, and with them they eat perfectly (without more added than a dessert nougat) four people.We are talking about a decent Christmas meal for just over 10 euros per beard.It is simply unbeatable.And, as regards the main dishes, if they don't tell you that it is from Mercadona, you think that is homemade food.

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