Valentine’s Day – the day of love and appreciation. As they say, “The way to a person’s heart is through their stomach”. This Valentine’s Day, ensure that your bae is properly appreciated with this 3-course meal that you can cook at home.
1. Seared Tuna Tataki
What better way to start your special dinner than with a seafood dish that is sure to have your tastebuds singing?
Ingredients:
- 1 long, 300-400g tuna loin
- 1 tsp groundnut oil
- 2 tbsp black and white sesame seeds
- English mustard for brushing
- Micro leaves, baby salad leaves or chives to serve
For The Tatami Sauce
- 1 tsp, grated ginger
- 1 finely sliced spring onion
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1½ tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp lime juice
Instructions:
1. Rub the groundnut oil on the tuna and season it with salt and black pepper (Ensure that you add more pepper than salt)
2. On another plate, add the sesame seeds
3. Brush a little oil on a non-stick pan and sear the tuna for 20 seconds on each side
4. Remove the tuna from the pan and brush lightly with some mustard sauce
5. Coat the tuna in the sesame seeds
6. Wrap the tuna in cling film and leave in the fridge to chill
7. In a bowl, mix all the ingredients for the tatami sauce together
8. To serve, cut the tuna into 1/2 cm pieces. Garnish with micro leaves or chives and serve with a side of tatami sauce
2. Spaghetti Carbonara
Can you think of anything more romantic than a trip to Italy during the season of love? This season, get a little bit of Italy to your plate with this recipe.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 150g rindless unsmoked fatty pancetta or guanciale, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, bashed
- 200g spaghetti or fettuccine
- 4 good quality egg yolks, (2 of them are optional)
- 50g parmesan, finely grated
- A few drops of truffle oil (optional)
Instructions:
1. Warm your serving dishes in an oven (You’ll want them hot in time to serve your food)
2. In a large, shallow frying pan, heat some oil
3. Fry the pancetta and garlic for 10 minutes or until the fat has rendered off and the meat has taken on a golden hue and is crisp
4. Discard the garlic clove and remove the meat from the stove
5. Over medium heat, bring some salted water to a simmer and cook the pasta until it is al dente
6. In another bowl, whisk together two eggs with a pinch of salt
7. With a pair of kitchen tongs, place all the pasta into the bowl containing the pancetta
8. With a wooden spoon, stir in the rendered fat and if the pan looks dry, stir in some of the pasta water
9. Quickly stir in the beaten egg yolks and the parmesan. Mix until a smooth consistency is achieved
10. Season with black pepper and serve hot
3. Champagne And Raspberry Possets
Finish your dinner on a high note with this brilliant dish.
Ingredients:
- 140g frozen raspberries, defrosted
- 2 tbsp champagne
- 200ml double cream
- 4 tbsp golden caster sugar
- 2 tsp freeze-dried raspberry pieces
- Shortbread biscuits, to serve
Instructions:
1. In a food processor, blend the champagne and the strawberries until you achieve a smooth consistency
2. Sieve the mixture and discard the seeds that are left behind
3. In a saucepan, add the cream and sugar and mix over a flame until the sugar dissolves
4. Increase the heat until the mixture is boiling and then stir the boiling mixture continuously and vigorously for 2 1/2 minutes
5. Let the mixture cool for 15 minutes before adding it to two different glasses
6. Leave the glasses in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes before sprinkling with freeze-dried raspberry pieces
7. Chill for two more hours
8. Serve with some shortbread biscuits
What are you waiting for? Head over to Nature’s Basket and get all your ingredients in one place now.
