Easy-ish Valentine's Day Dinner Ideas

It’s that time of the year again. Love it or loathe it, Valentine’s Day is upon us once more. And let’s face it, whether you’re married with three kids or navigating the waves of a rocky situationship, the 14th of February can bring its own set of challenges. Obviously, the biggest challenge is finding a date in the first place. Beyond that, however, the question of what to do on the big day can be pretty important.

Do you keep it respectable and go for a candle-lit dinner or will it be a last-minute trek to the off-license for a £6 bottle of Pinot, a flattened bunch of tulips and an Aero? While the former is definitely better than the latter, a romantic dinner for two can be pretty hard to come by this side of Feb, and has the potential to bleed your pockets dry.

So, if you’d like to strike the perfect balance between romantic/thoughtful/thrifty, you’re in the right place. Picture this: the love of your life has devoured a three-course meal lovingly prepared by yours truly. You’re still within budget for the month. You didn’t have to roll onto the tube to get home. And best of all, you used recipes from Mob that are almost guaranteed to increase your partner’s attraction to you. Hopefully.

Cooking your own Valentine’s Day dinner can seem pretty overwhelming. We’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be. With enough preparation and access to some of the tastiest recipes in the world (our words), Valentine’s Day can run as smoothly as possible.

The key to cooking any successful three-course meal often lies in the preparation. That being said, Valentine's Day falls on a Wednesday this year, so you might not have time to prepare much during the day unless you manage to wrangle a work-from-home situation. Either way, some things can be prepared before your kitchen looks like a bomb site.

For example, if you want to push the boat out and impress with a Chocolate Mousse, make it earlier in the day and keep it safe in the fridge to set. The same can be done with loads of puddings, from these Baklava Cheesecake Pots to this luxurious Tiramisu.

Similarly, a handy way to minimise stress on the night is by choosing a slow-cooked recipe. Not only will your meat be so tender that it slides off the bone, but it means that it can be virtually out of mind until the crucial moment. This leaves you free to rustle up a sexy starter, assemble some respectable sides, and run to the shop to buy a reasonably-priced bottle of wine.

Of course, this doesn’t have to be the direction you take. If you fancy yourself a bit of a whizz in the kitchen and won’t mind wrestling with a few different pans while your loved one waits patiently, that’s fine as well. Just don’t blame us.

Believe it or not, starters are important. A good – or bad – starter can set the tone of the entire meal, so you’d better get it right. I always think a starter should be light, fresh and flavoursome. Don’t be afraid to keep it simple, as bold flavours like garlic, raw onion, anchovy and blue cheese can be a slight turn-off, especially if your date is fairly new on the scene.

This Honey Harissa Camembert might be a good place to start, as it’s absolutely delicious and you can whack it in the oven for just 20 minutes. Pair it with the fried pita mentioned in the recipe or buy a nice loaf of husky bread and dunk to your heart’s content. Alternatively, this Chicken Caesar Toast would make a tasty starter, and it’s a great way to use up some leftover roast chicken. This Fresh Sesame Prawn Toast could be another hit, with fresh flavours combining to put a grown-up spin on the takeaway classic. Essentially: anything involving bread is a winner.

Now, onto the main event. It’s a well-known fact that it’s illegal to dislike lasagne. So if your date tastes this One Pot Beef Shin Lasagne and doesn’t declare that it’s the best thing they’ve ever tasted, feel free to show them the door. The beef is slow-cooked for upwards of three hours, making it superbly soft and tender, as well as ideal for assembling at the right moment. Marmite gives this one a deep, rich flavour, and we can almost guarantee that it’ll be a hit.

Similarly, this Slow Cooked Chicken Thigh Ragu is as good as it looks. Either chuck it in the slow cooker if you’ve got one or let it simmer for an hour on medium-low. The chicken will be tender and juicy, and spaghetti never misses.

For the veggies out there, this Butter Halloumi Curry is an absolute show-stopper. An animal-friendly take on the classic Butter Chicken Curry, this one combines squeaky halloumi with cream and fragrant spices to make something absolutely mouth-watering. Pair it with warm roti, naan, or rice. You could even serve it with this Spiced Tomato Salad with Bhaji-ish Onions.

Arguably the most important part of Valentine’s Day dinner, the perfect pudding is a great note to end on. Prepare dinky little ramekins of mousse, cheesecake and similar in advance and leave to set in the fridge, or do some baking throughout the day to make your house smell better than a Gregg’s.

This Espresso & Chocolate Mousse could be a winner. It only takes 15 minutes to make and will set in the fridge in just 30 minutes. You could even make it the day before and chuck it in the fridge overnight. Adding a homemade pudding into the mix is one of the best ways to transform your Valentine’s Day dinner into a restaurant-standard three-course meal.

So, there you have it. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there’s no need to stress. Simply open up your laptop, choose three (or more) Mob recipes that will have your date salivating, and voilà. We’re not saying that you’ll be guaranteed a second date, but it’s worth a shot.