Powermeals blog | Recipes and nutrition

Valentine's day menu: recipes to cook with your loved ones

Written by Isabel | Feb 6, 2024 2:54:28 PM
In this blog, we immerse ourselves in the warm and cosy atmosphere of the perfect Valentine's Day menu, a meal dedicated to celebrating the bonds of affection that fill our lives. Let's discover the origins of this festival and three recipes that will make your taste buds fall in love. 

The festival of love

There are many legends about the origins of Valentine's Day, the best known being that, similar to Halloween, it started with the ancient Romans, who loved a celebration. 

It all started with Saint Valentine, a Christian priest who lived in the 3rd century AD. According to legend, Valentine defied a ban imposed by the Roman emperor Claudius II, who had forbidden marriages between young soldiers on the grounds that single men made better fighters. Valentine is said to have continued to celebrate marriages in secret, in defiance of the emperor.

When his actions were discovered, Valentine was imprisoned and executed on 14 February. Since then, the day of his death has become a day to celebrate love and affection, and Valentine's Day as we know it today is said to have grown out of this ancient tradition. 

A Valentine's day menu

Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and what better way to celebrate love than by preparing a delicious meal for your loved one? Whether you're a seasoned chef or a novice in the kitchen, this specially designed menu is sure to delight your partner's taste buds and create unforgettable memories. So get ready to light the candles, put on some soft music and cook with love for a romantic evening to remember.

1. Starter: Sundried tomato and ricotta bruschetta

Dried tomato bruschetta are a delicious, romantic and above all easy choice for a Valentine's Day menu. With their vibrant colours and Mediterranean flavours, these little bites bring a touch of Italian love to your table. Plus if you need to serve a vegetarian meal these are a great option. 

Ingredients (for 2 of course)

- 4 slices of bread

- 16 cl of sundries tomatoes

- 150 gr of ricotta

- 6 sprigs of chives

Recipe

Step 1: prepare your base

Toast the slices of bread in a toaster.

Step 2: prepare your toppings

Drain the sun-dried tomatoes. Clean and blot dry the chives then chop them finely. In a bowl, beat the ricotta with salt and pepper.

Step 3: combine your ingredients

Spread the toasted bread slices with the ricotta. Divide the sun-dried tomatoes over the top. Sprinkle with the chopped chives.

Step 4: enjoy!

Serve and enjoy immediately while the slices of bread are still warm!

For something different, you can also make these bruschetta with other ingredients. For example, use fresh goat's cheese instead of ricotta. Or use peppers marinated in olive oil instead of tomatoes. Something for every gourmet!

Recipe source: cuisine AZ

2. Le plat : Pappardelle à la mousse de saumon

With their wide ribbons of pasta coated in a delicate salmon mousse, this dish combines elegance and exquisite flavours to seduce your loved one's taste buds. Served with a glass of sparkling white wine, these pappardelle with salmon mousse are the perfect choice for a memorable Valentine's Day evening.

Ingredients (for 2)

- 1 dl cream, stiffly whipped
 
- 70 g smoked salmon, finely chopped
 
- 1 tsp dill, chopped
 
- 200 g pappardelle-type pasta
 
- a squeeze of lemon, and grated zest
 
- salt and pepper to taste
 

Recette

Step 1: Cook the pasta

Bring a pan of water to the boil. Add a generous amount of salt and then add your pasta and boil until cooked (follow the timings on the packet)

Step 2: Create the mousse

Meanwhile, mix the cream with the smoked salmon, dill, lemon zest and juice, and add salt and pepper.

Step 3: Create quenelles

Use two tablespoons to create a neat, and smooth scoop of mousse ( a "quenelle"). Place your quenelles on a sheet of baking parchment and chill.

Step 4: Plate the pasta

Arrange the hot pasta on 2 plates. To prevent the pasta drying out, add 1 tablespoon of cooking water and toss.

Step 5: Serve

Finally, top the pasta with your salmon quenelles. Garnish with dill and serve with love!

Recipe : Fooby

 

Prefer to focus on a home made dessert? You can order our delicious smoked salmon and lemon tagliatelle to be delivered direct to your door, anywhere in Switzerland. Take a look at our meal delivery menu

3. Dessert: Soft chocolate with a fondant caramel heart

 

There's nothing better to round off your evening together than a soft and chocolate-y dessert. The best comfort food, this exquisite dessert combines the richness of dark chocolate with the bewitching sweetness of caramel, creating an explosion of flavours and textures in every bite. As you dip your spoon into this sweet delight, the melting core of warm caramel spreads deliciously, enveloping your palate in a sweet sensation.

Ingredients (for 2)

- 40 g caster sugar

- 25 g flour 

- 40 g soft salted butter caramel

- 50 g dark chocolate

- 2 eggs

- 60 g salted butter

- 20g almond powder 

- 1 pinch cinnamon or cayenne pepper

Recette

Step 1: Preheat the oven
 

Preheat the oven to 210°C. For a successful fondant it's important to make sure it reaches the target temperature.

Step 2: create your cake mix
 

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar, add 25 g sifted flour, then 40 g almond powder.

Step 3: Add melted chocolate
 

Melt the chocolate with 100 g of butter and stir in to your bowl.

Step 4: Add your flavours
 

Add the cinnamon (or chilli if you prefer something spicy) and the soft toffee, cut into 1 cm cubes.

Step 5: Prepare your ramekins
 

Butter 2 ramekins 8 to 10 cm in diameter, and sprinkle a small amount of flour across the butter to give your fondant a slightly crunchy outside. 

Step 6: Fill the ramkins
 

Divide the mixture between the ramekins, then place in the oven and cook for exactly 8 minutes.

Step 7: Serve
 
Remove the ramekins from the oven and leave to cool for 10 mins. Turn out onto plates and serve warm, sprinkled with icing sugar.
 

Recipe : marmiton 

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