Is Iceland the new Aldi? We test six of its best dishes…including luxury surf and turf and a herb-crusted rack of lamb
The budget supermarket has spent £2.5 million on a new range of gourmet food
BARGAIN supermarket Iceland is trying to get upmarket customers to warm to them by launching a range of posh grub.
Iceland has splashed £2.5million on introducing a range of gourmet food, devised in a newly-built test kitchen where expert chefs have been working alongside supermarket bosses.
The budget brand has already beaten luxury Harrods on its mince pies and thrashed pricey rivals in an annual test test.
Iceland also won the top gongs for both turkey and stuffing in Good Housekeeping’s annual festive food tests.
They are hoping to heat up their sales against budget rival Aldi, who have started selling high quality goods - including Wagyu beef - in a bid to become more upmarket.
But what about normal Iceland shoppers who are content with a prawn ring and Arctic roll?
Our Sun Online reporters have only been in Harrods to use the loo and didn't realise prawns are grey until you cook them, so we asked them to taste test some of the luxury options available.
They also had to cook the dishes too, but don't hold that against them. This is what happened when the Sun went to Iceland...
Arctic Royal Extra Large Roeless Scallops - £12
"If you're entertaining, it makes for a good starter"
While frozen seafood can never match that freshly pulled from the sea, Iceland's scallops were a very good substitute. Well sized and flavoursome, it made for a delicious starter.
After spending a night defrosting, they were pan seared for a few minutes each side then served with fresh parsley and lemon butter sauce.
Preferring to eat them as a starter instead of in a main, I also made two dishes of garlic sauteed spinach to have on the side.
The pack contained plenty of scallops for two people - but could be split between three or four people depending on what dishes you are cooking.
Cheap scallops are rare, so at £12 a pack Iceland's offer is expected, but if you're entertaining it makes for a good starter for roughly only £3 a head.
Verdict: 3/5
Iceland Luxury Surf & Turf - £10
"I chucked the prawns in the pan with a little bit of butter for five minutes. It's easy to tell when they're cooked because the turn that familiar pink colour"
The steak was easy to cook, needing around four minutes on each side to come out medium. The meat carried hardly any fat and was really tender. I ate with some peppercorn sauce, but you could just as easily eat it without any sauce.
While the steak was settling, I chucked the prawns in the pan with a little bit of butter for five minutes. It's easy to tell when they're cooked because the turn that familiar pink colour. I was surprised by how large they were and they came out really fresh.
The prawns were meaty and fell apart easily.
The meal is great value and looked - and tasted - like something you would eat at a restaurant for a quarter of the price.
Verdict: 4/5
Iceland Luxury Norfolk 2 Chicken Supreme - £4
"All in all it was a pleasant surprise and a frozen ready meal I would probably recommend, although I might try a different seasoning next time"
The chicken supreme couldn't have been simpler to cook, although it does require you to grease a tray or line a tray with something so the meat doesn't stick - something which people who don't cook from scratch very often might not be prepared for.
But, once it is in the oven there is little to no effort needed apart from taking out the tray when the timer goes off and whacking it on a plate.
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It looked appetising, and smelt good. At £4 you get quite a lot for your money, as the portions are generous and gives a lot of meat on each joint. It cooked perfectly within the time instructed and had crispy skin without the meat being dry.
The only downside was it produced quite a lot of oil and the lemon seasoning was a little bit strong for my liking.
I could taste that the flavour had been modified for the freezing slightly, and I missed fresher tasting lemon juice. But all in all it was a pleasant surprise and a frozen ready meal I would probably recommend, although I might try a different seasoning next time...
Verdict: 3.5/5
Iceland Frutti Di Mare Mussels, Squid, Clams & Shrimp in a Tomato & Herb Sauce - £3.50
"ONLY 3.50? THAT'S F***ING CHEAP!"
There were plenty of mussels and the seafood was really good. I liked the tomato levels too because it complimented the seafood without drowning it out.
The prawns were slightly dodgy but everything else was generally pretty nice.
I think adding the onion and garlic was a nice addition and plenty of seafood in there for two as well.
Verdict: 4/5
Iceland Luxury Rack Of Lamb - £8
"It could well be from the butchers if you close your eyes and forget it's frozen"
The rack of lamb is a budget feast with a high end flavour.
The generous rack feeds between two and three people and could well be from the butchers if you close your eyes and forget it's frozen.
The lamb comes with a ready-made herb crust which is both delicious and means you can have a no-fuss dinner in less than an hour.
Serve with some roasted veg and chips and you've got a hearty meal for three for less than a tenner.
The lamb costs £8, takes half an hour to cook and tastes no different from other high end competitors.
Just remember to defrost in the fridge at least 12 hours before cooking.
Verdict: 4/5
Iceland Luxury 2 Chocolate & Hazelnut Marquise - £2.50
"Basically, it's an unholy chocolate open sandwich with layers of mousse, sauce and brownie placed atop a slightly crunchy base"
Its name sounds like an aristocratic title and there's definitely something a bit posh about the "luxury" Chocolate & Hazelnut Marquise.
Like many sinful things, it's not the sort of pleasure you'd want to enjoy every day.
But this rich, luxurious and slightly naughty tasting dessert is just the thing if you're looking for an indulgent treat.
Its reassuring cooking instructions also pleased this clumsy cook.
The only challenging part of preparing the Marquise is resisting its moussey allure for the hour and a half it needs to defrost.
Verdict: 4/5
So there you have it - the verdict is officially in, yum's gone to Iceland with their cracking range of luxury goods.
The treats will leave you more stuffed than a Christmas turkey and you won't break the bank.
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