Source: Olga, AdobeStockOn special days, you want to cook something original for your loved one – not necessarily complicated, but vibrant and delicious. Especially for Valentine's Day, we've gathered 20 excellent recipes that will leave no one indifferent and are sure to melt hearts!
1. Beef Tongue and Cucumber Salad
Source: mirtesen.ruWe recommend boiling the tongue in advance, as it takes a couple of hours.
You will need: 400 g beef tongue, 350 g cucumbers, 3 eggs, 20 g dill, 30 g green onions, mayonnaise.
Preparation: Boil the beef tongue, peel it, and let it cool. Separately, boil the eggs and cut all ingredients into julienne strips. Chop the dill and green onions, then dress the salad with mayonnaise.
2. Tiramisu
Source: mykaleidoscope.ruA beloved Italian dessert, perfect for Valentine's Day.
You will need: 500 g mascarpone, 300 ml fresh coffee, 50 ml brandy, 500 ml 33% cream, 8 egg yolks, 8 tbsp sugar, 200 g ladyfingers, 2 tbsp cocoa.
Preparation: Mix the cooled coffee and brandy. Place the egg yolks with sugar over a double boiler and heat, stirring with a whisk, until the mixture is smooth and pale. Remove the yolks from the double boiler and continue whisking for about 1 minute, then let them cool.
Whip the cold cream until stiff peaks form. Gently combine the mascarpone and yolks with a spatula, then add the whipped cream and mix carefully. Spread a quarter of the cream on the bottom of a dish. Dip the ladyfingers in coffee and arrange them in an even layer.
Top with another quarter of the cream, and repeat the layers until all ingredients are used. The last layer should be cream. Refrigerate the tiramisu for 3-4 hours and dust with cocoa before serving.
3. Baked Pink Salmon Fillet
Source: stroiteh-msk.ruThis main course can delight even the most discerning gourmets.
You will need: 400 g pink salmon fillet, 1 onion, 1 carrot, 3 tbsp lemon juice, spices.
Preparation: Sprinkle the pink salmon fillet with lemon juice, rub with spices, and let marinate for half an hour. Finely chop the onion and carrot, sauté until soft, and spread them on foil. Place the salmon on top of the vegetables, wrap the foil into an envelope, and bake the fish for 20 minutes in the oven at 200 degrees Celsius. Then unwrap the foil and bake for another 10 minutes.
4. Chicken and Cucumber Salad
Source: mykaleidoscope.ruThis light and fresh salad can be made quite diet-friendly if dressed with yogurt.
You will need: 300 g chicken fillet, 120 g hard cheese, 1 cucumber, 2 eggs, 10 g dill, mayonnaise.
Preparation: Boil chicken and eggs, let them cool, and dice or julienne all ingredients. Add chopped dill and dress the salad with mayonnaise.
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5. Cauliflower Gratin with Cheese
Source: lobsterhouse.ruTo make Valentine's Day as pleasant as possible, choose light dishes.
You will need: 400 g cauliflower, 100 g sour cream, 1 egg, 80 g hard cheese, spices.
Preparation: Break the cauliflower into florets, blanch for 5 minutes in boiling water, drain, and place in a baking dish. Whisk the sour cream with the egg and spices. Pour this mixture over the cauliflower, sprinkle with grated cheese, and bake for half an hour in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius.
6. Classic Panna Cotta
Source: mykaleidoscope.ruAn unparalleled creamy taste!
You will need: 250 ml 33% cream, 125 ml milk, 50 g sugar, 8 g gelatin, 1 tbsp vanilla sugar.
Preparation: Dissolve gelatin in 50 ml of water according to package instructions. Heat cream, milk, and both types of sugar until boiling. Remove from heat, and if using vanilla bean, strain the mixture. Mix the cream mixture and gelatin until the gelatin dissolves. Pour the panna cotta into molds and refrigerate until set.
7. Spaghetti with Shrimp
Source: muske.ruShrimp of any size will work for this recipe.
You will need: 500 g spaghetti, 300 g shrimp, 3 cloves garlic, 200 ml 30-35% cream, 50 g Parmesan, spices, parsley.
Preparation: Cook spaghetti according to package instructions. Lightly sauté peeled shrimp with minced garlic – just 2-3 minutes. Season to taste, pour in the cream, and add half of the grated Parmesan. Simmer the sauce until the cheese melts, then add the spaghetti and mix. Serve the pasta on plates, sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan and chopped parsley.
8. Niçoise Salad
Source: AdobeStockThis salad is very filling and can even replace a main course.
You will need: 2 eggs, 6 cherry tomatoes, 10 olives, 1/2 red onion, 1/2 bunch lettuce, 1 cucumber, 2 tbsp canned beans, 8 anchovies, 3 tbsp olive oil, spices.
Preparation: Chop the lettuce leaves, slice the tomatoes into wedges, and the onion into thin strips. Roughly chop the cucumber, arrange everything on plates, and add beans, anchovies, and olives. Drizzle the salad with olive oil and season.
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9. Caprese
Source: mykaleidoscope.ruA vibrant Italian appetizer, especially suitable for Valentine's Day and similar celebrations.
You will need: 3 tomatoes, 360 g mozzarella, 1 bunch basil, olive oil, balsamic glaze, ground black pepper.
Preparation: Slice tomatoes and mozzarella into rounds. Arrange them overlapping, alternating with basil leaves. Sprinkle with ground pepper and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze.
10. Red Velvet Cake for Valentine's Day
Source: balabolkina.ruEspecially for Valentine's Day, we suggest cutting the cake layers into heart shapes.
You will need: 180 ml kefir, 2 eggs, 80 ml vegetable oil, 200 g butter, 150 g sugar, 1 tbsp cocoa, 220 g flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 0.5 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp red food coloring, 2 pinches salt, 300 g cream cheese, 70 g powdered sugar, 2 tsp vanilla sugar.
Preparation: For the cream, whip the cream cheese with a mixer. Separately, whip 120 g soft butter with powdered sugar and vanilla sugar. Combine both mixtures with a spatula.
For the cake layers, mix sifted flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Whip the remaining butter and sugar with a mixer. While continuing to whip, add eggs one by one, then the vegetable oil. Pour in room temperature kefir, mix, and add red food coloring. Gradually fold in the dry mixture and whip the batter again with a mixer on low speed.
Bake three identical cake layers in the oven for 25 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. Let them cool and trim the edges or cut out heart shapes. Using a piping bag, spread cream between the layers, assemble the cake, and cover it with cream on the outside.
11. Spinach Risotto
Source: pinterest.comMaking risotto will take a little time, but it's definitely worth it.
You will need: 200 g risotto rice, 200 g spinach, 60 g butter, 1 L vegetable broth, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, spices, 30 g Parmesan.
Preparation: Sauté chopped spinach with garlic in butter for about 5 minutes. Add a couple of spoons of broth and blend everything until smooth. Separately, chop and sauté the onion until golden. Add the rinsed rice, fry for a few more minutes, and pour in a ladle of broth.
As the rice absorbs the broth, gradually add more. Cook the risotto this way for about 15 minutes until the rice is done. Finally, add spices, spinach, and grated Parmesan, and mix the risotto.
12. Salmon and Cucumber Salad
Source: ideireceptov.ruIt looks much more elegant if you arrange the salad on plates using a culinary ring.
You will need: 100 g lightly salted salmon, 2 cucumbers, 3 eggs, dill, mayonnaise.
Preparation: Hard-boil the eggs, separate the yolks, and mash them with 1-2 spoons of mayonnaise. Dice the whites, salmon, and cucumbers, chop the dill, mix the salad, and dress it with mayonnaise.
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13. Fruit Salad with Brie Cheese
Source: shashlik54.ruUnlike most fruit salads, this is not a dessert at all.
You will need: 1 apple, 2 mandarins, 150 g iceberg lettuce, 3-4 handfuls grapes, 5 sprigs cilantro, 120 g Brie cheese, 3 tbsp olive oil, 20 ml lemon juice, 20 ml soy sauce, 1 tsp Dijon mustard.
Preparation: Slice the apple into thin wedges, separate the mandarins into segments, add halved seedless grapes, and arrange everything on lettuce leaves. Add cilantro leaves and cheese pieces. Mix the remaining ingredients for the dressing and pour it over the salad.
14. Julienne with Red Fish and Mushrooms
Source: postila.ruAny red fish will do – salmon, sockeye, pink salmon, or trout.
You will need: 300 g red fish fillet, 1 onion, 300 g champignons, 350 ml 10% cream, 100 g hard cheese, 1 tbsp flour, spices.
Preparation: Roughly chop and sauté the onion with mushrooms. Add diced red fish, fry for a couple more minutes, and add a spoon of flour. Season to taste, mix, pour in the cream, and simmer until thickened. Divide the julienne into ramekins, sprinkle with grated cheese, and bake for 10 minutes in the oven at 200 degrees Celsius.
15. Cheese Balls with Mint and Nuts
Source: lisa.ruThe interesting taste of these balls also comes from mixing several types of cheese.
You will need: 200 g hard cheese, 150 g feta, 150 g cottage cheese, 100 g walnuts, 1 bunch mint, spices.
Preparation: Grate the hard cheese, mash the feta and cottage cheese with a fork, chop the mint, mix everything together, and season. Form into balls, roll them in chopped nuts, and refrigerate.
16. Chocolate Pudding for Valentine's Day
Source: klublady.ruAn exquisite dessert with a magical chocolate flavor.
You will need: 3/4 cup sugar, 1/3 cup cocoa, 3 tbsp cornstarch, 2 pinches salt, 2 cups cream, 85 g dark chocolate, 1.5 tsp vanilla extract.
Preparation: Mix all dry ingredients, gradually pour in the cream, and cook, stirring, over medium heat until thickened. Add vanilla and chopped chocolate, and continue stirring until smooth. Pour the pudding into molds, let cool, and refrigerate until set.
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17. Seafood Salad
Source: pinterest.comIf you want to make it more vibrant, add a little paprika to the mayonnaise for dressing.
You will need: 100 g peeled shrimp, 1 squid, 200 g crab sticks, 2 eggs, 2 cucumbers, mayonnaise.
Preparation: Boil shrimp until cooked. Boil squid for one minute in boiling water, and separately boil eggs. Cut all ingredients to your liking and dress the salad with mayonnaise.
18. Classic "Anna Pavlova" Dessert
Source: pinterest.comIt's hard to find a more romantic dessert for Valentine's Day!
You will need: 4 egg whites, 1 pinch citric acid, 280 g powdered sugar, 2.5 tsp cornstarch, 0.5 tsp white wine vinegar, 50 g cream cheese, 250 ml 33-35% cream, fruits, jam, berries.
Preparation: Whip egg whites with citric acid until stiff peaks form on low speed. Gradually add 230 g powdered sugar, continue whipping, then increase speed. Whip whites until a dense, smooth texture is achieved, add cornstarch with white wine vinegar, and mix thoroughly.
Using a piping bag, pipe meringue into basket shapes – first the base, then the sides. Gently smooth them out. Place the meringue in an oven preheated to 200 degrees Celsius and reduce the temperature to 90-100 degrees Celsius. Dry the baskets for 1.5-2 hours until done.
Whip cold cream with the remaining powdered sugar until stiff peaks form, add cream cheese, and whip a little more. Fill the cooled baskets with cream and garnish the dessert with jam, fruits, and berries.
19. Pork Chops with Tomatoes and Cheese
Source: ramsaygordon.ruJuicy, golden, hearty – just what you need for dinner.
You will need: 600 g pork, 2 eggs, 2 tbsp flour, 3 tomatoes, 100 g hard cheese, 3 tbsp sour cream, spices.
Preparation: Slice the pork, pound it thin, and season. Whisk eggs with flour, dip the chops, and lightly fry them on both sides. Place on parchment paper, spread with sour cream, and top with tomato slices. Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake the chops in the oven for 20 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.
20. Tuna and Tomato Salad
Source: dzen.ruThanks to its bright red color, this salad looks especially appropriate for Valentine's Day.
You will need: 240 g canned tuna, 125 g mozzarella, 2 tomatoes, 40 g basil, 1 clove garlic, 1 tbsp each olive oil and lemon juice, spices.
Preparation: Halve the tomatoes and remove the watery pulp and seeds – they are not needed. Dice the tomatoes, flake the tuna, and slice the mozzarella thinly. Mix oil, lemon juice, minced basil, garlic, and spices to taste. Using a culinary ring, layer half of the tomatoes, tuna, half of the basil, mozzarella, the remaining basil, and tomatoes.