Forget the fancy restaurants: How to master Valentine's Day with a simple home-cooked feast
Choosing to stay in on this Valentine’s Day is undoubtedly the right decision.
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Choosing to stay in on this Valentine’s Day is undoubtedly the right decision, as it allows you to skip the frantic crowds and overpriced set menus in favour of a relaxed, intimate evening.
The secret to a successful home-cooked date night is choosing dishes that feel premium but require minimal effort, ensuring you spend your time sharing a glass of wine rather than scrubbing pans.
Starters to spark the evening
A great starter should be light enough to leave room for the rest of the meal while feeling like a special treat.
Caprese skewers: Thread cherry tomatoes, baby mozzarella balls, and fresh basil onto small sticks. A quick drizzle of balsamic glaze and a pinch of sea salt transform these into a vibrant, gourmet bite.
Caprese skewers are easy to make.
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Fig and goat cheese tartlets: If you're feeling a touch more ambitious, store-bought puff pastry can be cut into small circles, topped with a dab of goat cheese and a slice of fig, then baked until golden. A drizzle of honey after baking adds the perfect touch.
Smoked salmon crostini: Use store-bought toasted baguette rounds or crackers. Spread a thick layer of cream cheese, top with a ribbon of smoked salmon, and add a squeeze of lemon. It’s elegant, classic, and takes five minutes to assemble.
Smoked salmon crostini is elegant, classic, and takes five minutes to assemble.
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Simple and sophisticated mains
These main courses focus on high-quality ingredients that do the heavy lifting for you, so you aren't stuck standing over a stove for an hour.
Pan-seared steak with garlic butter baby potatoes: Instead of fiddly greens, serve a perfectly seared steak alongside halved baby potatoes. You can boil the potatoes ahead of time and quickly toss them in the steak pan with garlic and butter at the very end for a crispy, golden finish.
Serve a perfectly seared steak alongside halved baby potatoes.
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Creamy mushroom pasta: This vegetarian-friendly option is rich and comforting. Use a good quality pasta, and a sauce made with sautéed mushrooms, garlic, a splash of white wine, and a touch of cream. A sprinkle of fresh parsley and Parmesan finishes it beautifully.
Lemon-garlic butter prawns: Prawns cook in under five minutes. Sauté them with plenty of garlic, lemon juice, and parsley. Serve simply with a loaf of crusty bread to soak up the sauce.
Prawns in under five minutes.
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Decadent and easy desserts
You want a dessert that feels "naughty" and indulgent without the stress of temperamental batters.
Chocolate fondue for two: This is as easy as melting your favourite high-quality dark or milk chocolate with a little bit of cream in the microwave. Serve it with a platter of marshmallows, pretzels, and fresh fruit for a playful, indulgent ending.
Chocolate fondue is the simplest dessert.
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Affogato with a twist: Place two generous scoops of vanilla ice cream into elegant glasses. Pour a shot of hot espresso (or very strong coffee) over the top. To make it "naughty," add a splash of coffee liqueur or hazelnut syrup and top with shaved chocolate.
You can add coffee liqueur as well.
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Berry and mascarpone parfait: Beat some mascarpone cheese with a little sugar and vanilla until light. Layer it in wine glasses with crushed ginger biscuits and fresh raspberries. It looks like a professional pastry chef made it, but it requires zero actual cooking.