There aren’t many better ways to enjoy the summer than soaking up the warmth of the sun with a plate of tapas and an Aperol Spritz in hand. That’s easy to achieve if you’re on the Costas, but in the back gardens of Britain, it’s not so simple. Or is it? DeNada has recently launched a range of Spanish dishes that bring the tapas vibe to your table with minimal fuss and virtually zero prep. What’s not to love? 

The DeNada ready meals range includes 12 dishes, from meats and cheeses to sauces and dips, with cooking methods varying — some are microwave-friendly, others need a traditional oven. They’re currently available in Tesco stores, ranging in price from £2.25 to £5 per dish. 

DeNada ready meals in packaging

Curious to see if they lived up to their sun-soaked promise, we tried out a few dishes. While it wasn’t quite the same as sitting on the terrace of a Spanish restaurant, the unseasonably warm weather, mingled with the spicy aroma of chorizo and the garlic aioli, made for a pleasant experience. 

My favourite was the Pollo Al Mojo Verde – a dish comprising marinated chicken with cannellini beans and a herby sauce. It was full of flavour, with juicy chicken and tender, tasty beans. The portion size was decent, making it a nice meal option for a single diner or suitable for serving several as part of a sharing meal. 

DeNada ready meal Pollo Al Mojo Verde

The dish of pork and beef meatballs in almond and white sauce — Albondigos — was tasty, but the sauce could have been a little thicker to add to the richness. No tapas meal is complete without Patatas Bravas, and these were pretty good, too. 

Chorizo Al Diablo was a little disappointing. The name — Chorizo of the Devil — would imply that the dish would be packed with spice enough to blow your socks off, but that wasn’t the case. It had a nice flavour, but the Devil would, if any conscience were to be involved, be hard pressed to put his name to it. 

One to avoid would be the cheese selection. Made up of six small slices of cheese (three different types, although you’d be hard pressed to tell), totalling 100g, it was a rather sorry sight on the plate. The price tag of £4 made that dish even harder to swallow. 

DeNada ready meals chesse selection

For a range of easy meals that take the strain out of cooking and keep the holiday feeling alive for just a little longer, they more or less hit the spot. Where DeNada ready meals would really come alive is as nibbles and small plates to share with friends. No slaving in the kitchen, just a selection of tasty foods to serve with chilled spritzes, sangria and Spanish beer, surrounded by great company. Perfect. 

Reviewed: DeNada Spanish ready meals
Prices from: £2.25
Average Joes Rating: ★★★☆☆

Sam Huff
Latest posts by Sam Huff (see all)
Published On