Will you be cooking up a romantic dinner this Valentine’s Day? Make things easier by using one of our recipes – and we even recommend the best wines to pair with each dish…
Valentine’s Day recipes – Starters
For a really special Valentine’s Day meal, go for a classic ingredient like lobster. This lobster tortellini and medallions recipe from Michel Roux Jr looks the part, and he suggests pairing with a Bandol rosé – ideal for Valentine’s.
For those who shy away from shellfish, there’s always Roux Jr’s recipe for mushroom agnolotti – plus see the best wines to match with it from Master Sommelier Aristide Spies MS, so you can really impress your date.
Or, try this Great Italian Chefs recipe for agnolotti with burrata and mint, which Decanter recommends pairing with a crisp Italian white wine, like Verdicchio or Pinot Grigio.
Valentine’s Day Mains
For a simple main course that can mostly be prepared in advance, try Roux Jr’s recipe for tarte a la tomate, for which he recommends drinking a Provence rosé.
If it’s a heartier meal you’re after, try Rosi Hanson’s slow cooked leg of lamb recipe. Again, a lot of preparation can be done in advance. Inspired by meals enjoyed by grape pickers in the French wine harvests, this is the dish to try that robust Cabernet Sauvignon you’ve been waiting to open.
Valentine’s Day Desserts
Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to enjoy rosé Champagne, and a delicious dessert to pair with that is Roux Jr’s Gateau de Savoie; a light and airy French sponge that his recipe fills with chestnut purée and Chantilly cream.
Alternatively, finish your Valentine’s Day meal with this no-bake mozzarella cheesecake with berry sauce (pictured top) – an indulgent dessert that is simple to prepare. Decanter recommends something sweet to go with it, like a late harvest Riesling or Muscat.
For a chocolate dessert option, you can’t go wrong with this crêpe cake with bitter chocolate mousse (above)– served with passion fruit and berry purees that keep the dish fresh. Decanter recommends matching this with either a fruity Port or Recioto Valpolicella.
