What’s new?

In a UK supermarket first, budget chain Iceland has launched frozen Spanish-style omelette mix for the ultimate cheat’s dish.

The 650g packs (£2 each) come in four varieties – Cheddar Cheese & Caramelised Onion, Cheddar Cheese & Bacon, Chorizo & Red Pepper and Spinach & Mushroom.

Aimed at busy families who don’t

have time to whisk up a few eggs and add leftover veg, the ready to cook mix is just tipped into a frying pan with oil, stirred and popped under the grill to finish it off.

We tested the spinach and mushroom combo to see if the mix would rise to the occasion.

As we poured frozen, beige coloured cubes, chunks of spinach and sliced mushrooms into the frying pan, it was difficult to see how the ingredients would magic into a Spanish omelette.

After 10 minutes of stirring, the cubes turned out to be potatoes and while there was a fair smattering of veg, the minimal

amount of egg acted just as a binding. It looked better after being under the grill for eight minutes as the ‘omelette’ browned but it tasted stale and lacked depth. The potatoes had a last week’s veg flavour and the egg had an odd aftertaste.

It may be a lazy way of rustling up a classic but we’d be yolking if we said it was a cracking alternative to the real thing.