Skip to content

Classic vegetarian Valentine's menu

Celebrate your partner to the max with a bowl of homemade sweet potato gnocchi served with griddled asparagus and a vibrant Romesco sauce. Follow with a creamy chocolate mousse ­and make the occasion extra romantic with a bubbly French kiss cocktail!

drinkware RFO

  1. Main: Sweet potato gnocchi

    Main: Sweet potato gnocchi

    Serves 4

    1 large sweet potato (about 400g), peeled and cut into 3cm chunks
    1 large white potato (about 400g), peeled and cut into 4cm chunks
    200g strong bread or plain flour, plus extra for dusting
    1 egg yolk
    ½ tsp salt
    50g unsalted butter
    3 garlic cloves, crushed
    10g fresh parsley, finely chopped
    20g vegetarian hard cheese or Parmesan, to serve

    1. Steam the potatoes for 20 mins or until soft. If you don't have a steamer, boil for 12-14 mins or until soft.

    2. Transfer to a bowl to cool slightly, then mash well. Steam dry for 1-2 mins, then sift the flour over the surface of the potato; mix to combine. Add the egg yolk, salt and a pinch of black pepper and mix until you have a soft dough, being careful not to overwork it. Add a little more flour if necessary, but stop when the mixture comes together.

    3. Dust a work surface with flour. Divide the dough into 3 pieces and roll each into a 40cm long sausage shape; cut into 1.5cm pieces. Put the gnocchi on a flour-dusted plate, then indent one side of each with a fork, if you like.

    4. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, then turn down to a simmer and tip in half the gnocchi. Stir briefly, then wait for them to rise to the surface, about 1-2 mins. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside before repeating with the second batch.

    5. Heat the butter in a large frying pan over a medium heat and add the garlic. Fry for 1 min until the butter is starting to turn a nutty brown colour, then add the gnocchi. Cook for 3 mins until starting to brown, then stir in the parsley and cook for 1 min more. Grate over the cheese to serve.

    Tip: To make this recipe serve 2, simply halve the ingredients.

  2. Griddled asparagus with romesco sauce

    Griddled asparagus with romesco sauce

    Serves 6

    1 tbsp olive oil
    2 x 250g packs asparagus, trimmed

    For the sauce
    1 x 285g jar roasted peppers, drained
    1/2 x 100g pack blanched almonds, toasted
    1 garlic clove, crushed
    1 tbsp sherry vinegar
    1 tsp crushed red chilli flakes
    25g (3/4oz) rustic white bread, crusts removed, torn into pieces
    ½ tsp smoked paprika
    1 tbsp tomato purée
    60ml (2fl oz) extra-virgin olive oil

    1. Put all the sauce ingredients (except the oil) in a food processor with a little salt. Blitz, adding the oil gradually, until a coarse paste forms. Tip into a bowl.

    2. Toss the asparagus in oil and cook in a hot griddle pan, in batches, for 3-4 minutes each side, turning with tongs, until charred. Serve with the sauce

    Tip: To make this recipe serve 2, simply divide the ingredient quantities by 3.

  3. Dessert: Creamy chocolate mousse

    Creamy chocolate mousse recipe

    Serves 2

    85g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
    6 strawberries
    100ml whole milk
    90g full-fat Greek yogurt
    1 tbsp maple syrup
    40g pomegranate seeds

    1. Break the chocolate into a heatproof bowl and melt over a small pan of barely simmering water, stirring constantly.

    2. Dip each of the strawberries into the melted chocolate and put on a plate or baking sheet lined with nonstick baking paper.

    3. Add the milk to the remaining melted chocolate and stir over the simmering water until combined. Remove from the heat and stir in the yogurt and maple syrup until smooth. Pour into 2 dessert glasses or bowls.

    4. Put the chocolate mousses and chocolate-covered strawberries in the fridge for at least 2 hours to set. When ready to serve, remove from the fridge and garnish the mousses with the pomegranate seeds and the chocolate-dipped strawberries.

  4. Drink: French kiss cocktail

    French kiss cocktail recipe

    Serves 2

    50g granulated sugar
    100g raspberries
    50ml lemon juice, plus
    strips of zest to garnish
    50ml London dry gin
    8 ice cubes
    200ml prosecco, chilled

    1. Add the sugar to a saucepan with 50ml water and heat over a low heat for 2-3 mins until the sugar has dissolved. Turn the heat up to medium-high and simmer for 1 min until thickened slightly. Set aside 2 raspberries to garnish, then add the remainder to the pan. Cook over a medium heat, while squashing them with the back of a wooden spoon, for 5-6 mins until they have broken down completely. Place a fine sieve over a bowl, then pour the raspberry mixture into it and push through with the wooden spoon until you have a smooth syrup. Set the syrup aside to cool.

    2. Once the syrup has cooled, add it to a cocktail shaker with the lemon juice, gin and ice cubes. Shake vigorously for 30 secs. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, use an empty jam jar but make sure the lid is firmly on before you start shaking.

    3. Pour the mixture into 2 Champagne flutes, then top up with the prosecco and garnish with the reserved raspberries and strips of lemon zest.