Does the lockdown threaten to transform Valentine’s Day recipes into a dull meal at home? You don’t have to dine out to make this day special. Get inspired with these lockdown Valentine’s Day recipes and show some love through your food.
1. VALENTINE’S EGG IN A HOLE WITH BACON AND AVOCADO
Lockdown Valentine’s seems daunting, but it could be a blessing in disguise. The best thing about it is that you can surprise your loved one with special meals throughout the day. Start from the dawn with this Valentine’s egg in a hole idea that is perfect for breakfast. All you need is a couple of slices of bread, eggs, salt, pepper, and a cast iron pan to cook your creation. Add some crispy bacon and avocado mix to the game, and you’ve got a hearty breakfast that says ‘I love you’ more than words will ever say.
2. ASPARAGUS AND PROSCIUTTO BUNDLES
Delicious and easy to make, asparagus and prosciutto bundles make for an excellent starter. Wrap the asparagus in Italian prosciutto slices, sprinkle with abundant olive oil and Gruyere cheese, and bake for around 15 minutes in the preheated oven until the cheese melts. These bundles are ideally served warm but are equally tasty when they get cold.
3. PRAWN COCKTAIL
Want to make a meal look fancy? Throw some seafood in the mix – the fancy effect is guaranteed even if you use the simplest recipe. The classic prawn cocktail is not just for Christmas!
The secret to a finger-licking prawn cocktail is the dressing. Many people only mix mayo with ketchup, but that won’t get you anywhere. The real dressing consists of mayo, tomato chutney, a dash of Worcestershire sauce, a few Tabasco drops, and some horseradish. Mix everything, add cooked prawns, and pour your cocktail over some shredded lettuce arranged in martini glasses.
4. DELICIOUS PEA DIP
Served with crackers or nachos, a pea dip can satisfy most palates. It is an excellent choice for a meat-free dinner or if you plan to make a hearty main course and want to keep the starters light. The best part? It takes about 5 minutes to prepare and has only four ingredients you likely have in your kitchen already, namely, frozen peas, garlic, olive oil, and salt. Thaw the peas in a colander, throw all ingredients in a blender, and mix until you obtain a smooth dip. That’s it!
5. BEEF WELLINGTON
One of our favourite Valentine’s Day recipes, Beef Wellington looks and sounds more complicated than it is, making it a perfect choice for an easy lockdown Valentine’s Day dinner. The only thing to pay attention to is searing the meat properly in a cast iron or copper stone pan (you can also sear it in the preheated oven, but the beef could lose some juices) before wrapping it in mushrooms, prosciutto, and puff pastry. Searing keeps the meat juices trapped inside whilst baking, preventing them from soaking the pastry. For a perfect dinner, serve with the perfect roast potatoes.
6. HOMEMADE FISH AND CHIPS
Classic British fish and chips are a lovely choice if you both miss dining out at the pub. The best thing about making your own fish and chips is that you can make the batter just as you like it. Whether you prefer it thin and crispy or thicker and chewier, you have free rein.
7. CRISPY ROAST CHICKEN AND VEGGIES
Another main dish that looks impressive but takes under 20 minutes to put together is roast chicken. There are endless variations of this recipe, but to us, the best roast chicken is seasoned with salt flakes, pepper, some garlic, and chopped rosemary, brushed with melted butter, and cooked in the oven for around 95 minutes. For a burst of flavour, stuff the chicken with lemon chunks, celery, and some rosemary.
8. SPAGHETTI CACIO E PEPE
A hearty vegetarian recipe, spaghetti cacio e pepe is perfect for an Italian-themed Valentine’s dinner. It is effortless to make – basically a variation of mac-n-cheese – but way tastier thanks to the pecorino cheese and fresh pepper sprinkled before serving. In authentic Italian style, this dish is best paired with red wine, preferably Sangiovese or Montepulciano, both from the Tuscany region.
9. WILD MUSHROOM POLENTA WITH SAGE
Perfect for the colder days, wild mushroom polenta is more than a bowl of comfort food. It is a great choice for a one-of-a-kind Valentine’s dinner. It contains no meat and is perfect for vegetarians, or you could skip the cheese if you want to keep it vegan. There are two ways to make it, but to keep it festive, you should prepare a creamy Italian polenta in a pot and sauté the mushrooms with olive oil and garlic in a separate pot or skillet. To serve, pour the polenta into plates, arrange the mushrooms on top of it, and then decorate with a dash of olive oil. Alternatively, you can mix the mushrooms with the polenta before serving; this method enhances all flavours, but looks less spectacular.
10. FUDGY CHOCOLATE BROWNIE CAKE
Dessert is a must after every festive meal, and what better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with a fudgy chocolate brownie cake? The main difference between this cake and traditional brownies is that you bake it in a heart-shaped tray. If you don’t care too much about the shape but would rather impress your loved one with the perfect brownie edge crust, you can’t go wrong swapping the heart tray for a red copper brownie bonanza.
11. VALENTINE’S DAY RED VELVET CAKE
Soft, fluffy, buttery, and red, red velvet cake is one of the best ways to show your love. Like the chocolate brownie cake, it is very easy to make at home from scratch. You can prepare and bake it in around an hour and use any leftovers to make delicious red velvet cake pops.
12. LOVE MARTINI COCKTAIL
No Valentine’s Day dinner is complete without a delicious cocktail, and no cocktail serves the purpose better than the Love Martini. This delightful cocktail has a sweet yet crisp tropical feel and is a good choice instead of a wine for your dessert.
With so many lockdown Valentine’s Day recipes, you have plenty of options to turn a stay-at-home meal into a festive dinner. And if you don’t feel like cooking, you can always support a local business and order in a restaurant Valentine’s meal. What will it be? Cooking or delivery?