Easy Valentine Day Recipes

It's fun to celebrate Valentine's Day, which comes as a welcome late winter oasis in the usual round of busy day-to-day life. Try one of these easy Valentine Day recipes yourself this year.

EASY VALENTINE DAY RECIPES

MUSSELS IN WHITE WINE
Fresh mussels are available right through the winter, and although they’re not expensive, they always seem special. You can buy them ready prepared, or if you don’t mind a labour of love, do it yourself, by scrubbing them thoroughly and removing the tough fibres.

Ingredients
750g/1.5lb mussels
1/2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 medium onion
1 leek
1 clove garlic
300ml/1.25 cups dry white wine
chopped parsley

Serves 2

Method

• Prepare mussels, discarding any that refuse to close when tapped, or that have cracked shells.
• Heat olive oil in a pan, and add the finely chopped onion, finely sliced leek andcrushed garlic. Cook, stirring for 5 mins.
• Pour in the wine, bring to the boil, then throw in the mussels, cover and leave to steam for around 7 minutes, until all the mussels have opened. Remove the mussels with a draining spoon, throw away any that haven’t opened, and pile into warmed bowls.
• Boil the cooking liquid for a couple of minutes to reduce, stir a handful of chopped parsley, pour over the mussels and serve with a green salad and a warmed wholemeal baguette.

SWEET GINGER PRAWNS
Another easy dish that’s incredibly quick and simple to make and very low in fat, ideal for a healthy Valentine's Day. The tang of the ginger is lightened with a touch of sweetness.

Ingredients
2.5cm (1/2 inch) piece of fresh root ginger
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
3 tbsp rice vinegar or white wine vinegar
1 tsp sugar
1 spring onion (scallion)
250g/1.5 cups raw, peeled tiger prawns

Serves 2

Method

• Peel and grate ginger. Whisk together soy sauce, vinegar and sugar.
• Stir in 1 finely shredded spring onion (scallion) and the ginger.
• Steam 250g (1 ½ cups) raw, peeled tiger prawns until opaque, then stir through the dressing.
• Serve with steamed, mixed fresh vegetables such as fine green beans, baby corn and carrot batons, and steamed or boiled fine noodles.

STIR-FRIED BEEF
We don’t eat red meat very often, so when we do it’s good to buy the best and tenderest I can afford, and cook it in a light recipe, with lots of flavour.

Ingredients
egg noodles
1 tbsp hoi sin sauce
1.5 tbsp oyster sauce
0.5 tbsp soy sauce
0.5 tbsp oil
1 clove garlic
200g/8 oz sirloin steak
100g/3.5 oz sugarsnap peas
half red chilli
75g/2 oz beansprouts

Method

• Cook and drain enough egg noodles for 2.
• Mix hoi sin sauce, oyster sauce and soy sauce.
• Add sugarsnap peas, and the deseeded and sliced chilli, and stir fry for another couple of minutes.
• Add the cooked noodles along with the beansprouts and the dressing, stir fry for 2 more mins and serve.

Now choose an easy Valentine’s Day Dessert, to accompany your main course.
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