If you’re planning on staying in this Valentine’s Day, avoiding the rush to restaurants with over-inflated prices, then read on. We’ve come up with some great recipes, starter and afters ideas for the perfect, easy to make Valentine’s Day recipes.
Through a combination of the great local produce we offer from our Deli Cymreig and Hugh Phillips Gower Butcher’s shops in Swansea Market, we can help you make you and your loved one’s romantic evening very special and with minimum effort too.
Valentine’s Day Starters
Easy to prepare well in advance is to serve up a classic deli board containing a mixture of cold and continental meats, along with accompaniments like olives, sun dried tomatoes and tasty chutneys, all accompanied by speciality breads topped with Welsh butter. Perfect served with a chilled bottle of Champagne or Prosecco.
All you need is a large plate or a chopping board. Lay the cuts of meat on the board (rolled up if possible to make more room) along with a few small ramekin dishes for the olives and other accompaniments. Pre-butter the bread and either lay it at the end of the platter (not too much or you’ll spoil your main course) or in a separate bread basket.
This starter can be prepared well in advance, covered and left to chill in the fridge. We do recommend removing the dish around half an hour before serving.
Valentine’s Day Main Courses
You don’t want to be spending ages in the kitchen on Valentine’s Day, leaving your loved one to his or her own devices (especially if it’s the first time you’ve cooked for them). So these two recipes are quick and easy to make whilst still being delicious to eat.
- Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken for Two: this dish is gluten free and is served over Risotto Primavera (which sounds very impressive on the night). You can purchase the chicken breasts you will need from our butcher’s stall in Swansea Market or you can order these online at bestonlinebutcher.co.uk (order by Tuesday for delivery on Thursday). And you get the slices of prosciutto from Deli Cymreig (again available in the market for from out online shop). What’s also great about this recipe is that if you do pop into the market, you will be able to get all the fresh ingredients you need including herbs and veg, whilst everything else is pretty much a staple in most people’s kitchen cupboards! This dish is perfect with an Australian Chardonnay or if you prefer a red a light Pinot Noir is ideal.
- Faster Steak Frites: for a really quick and easy Valentine’s Day dish, this classic streak frites recipe will take half the normal time without an ounce of flavour by using quality French fries and whichever cut of steak you and your loved one may prefer. At Hugh Phillips Gower Butcher we have a range of cuts including fillet, sirloin, rib eye and T-bone to suit all palates. These two can be ordered online from our You’ll need a rich, red wine for this dish so we recommend Red Bordeaux or a Californian Merlot.
And Afterwards !!!
By the time you’ve eaten all that you won’t want much more. But if your Valentine has a sweet tooth, and doesn’t like they’re going to share that expensive box of chocolates you’ve just given them, why not try a simple dessert such as raspberries and strawberries with cream. They need little preparation and will help to cleanse the palate after a heavy meal. And you can buy the berries from one of the fruit and veg stalls in the market too.
Alternatively, why not put together a delicious cheese board instead. This can sit on the table between you both allowing you to graze as you romantically gaze into each other’s eyes! Again, a cheese board can be prepared in advance and will look very impressive too (read our blog on how to create the perfect cheese board here).
At Deli Cymreig we not only offer a large range of Welsh cheeses but we can provide locally made butter along with a selection of sophisticated crackers or specialist breads to accompany your cheese. Just add a few olives or cornichons, and you have the perfect end-of-meal treat.
Happy Valentine’s Day
