Valentine's Day recipes
From pretty and romantic puds to passion-boosting oysters, try these Valentine's Day recipes for two.
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Red velvet cake

- Ready in 1 hr 40 mins
A beautiful chocolate sponge with buttercream icing - perfect for a romantic evening
Moderately Easy
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Buttery chilli prawns

- Ready in 23 mins
Spicy seafood is a really versatile dish for sharing - make sure there's plenty of bread for the juices
Easy
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Beef & beer pie

- Ready in 5 hrs
A steak and ale pie is a comforting classic - this version has suet pastry and a dark rich gravy
Moderately Easy
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Salted caramel choc pots

- Ready in 35 mins
Combining sweet and salty flavours really works when chocolate and toffee is involved - best served in individual portions
Easy
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Cherry shortbread hearts

- Ready in 30 mins
James Martin's easy biscuits taste as good as they look and make an ideal Valentine's Day gift
Easy
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Oysters Kilpatrick
By

- Ready in 10 mins
If your friends are oyster-wary then try them on this classic cooked recipe - bet they come round quick
Easy
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Rib-eye steaks with chilli butter & homemade chips

- Ready in 55 mins
James Martin shows how to make your loved one a Valentine's Day feast with fail-safe steak and homemade chunky chips
Easy
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Passion cake

- Ready in 1 hr 25 mins
Bake Sarah Cook's scrumptious triple-layer cake for someone you love this Valentine's Day
Moderately Easy
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Romantic rose cupcakes

- Ready in 30 mins
These decorative cupcakes make the perfect centrepiece for a wedding or christening, or a lovely gift
Easy
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Creamy linguine with prawns
By

- Ready in 20 mins
This delicious recipe is ready in a flash yet special enough to serve friends too. Add fresh crab and sliced red chilli for a treat
Easy
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Tia Maria & chocolate creams

- Ready in 22 mins
Just a few spoonfuls of this rich and creamy make-ahead dessert are all you need to end the meal with a flourish without overdoing it
Easy
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Tiramisu with honeycomb crunch

- Ready in 40 mins
The perfect Valentine's dessert, best made ahead to give the flavours time to mingle
Moderately Easy
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Pan-fried sea bass with citrus-dressed broccoli

- Ready in 30 mins
A restaurant-quality fish supper, ready in just half an hour
Moderately Easy
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Chocolate & almond puds with boozy hot chocolate sauce

- Ready in 35 mins
These make-ahead puds are easy, but look glamorous
Easy
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Mini pistachio & chocolate macaroons

- Ready in 25 mins
Re-create memories of romantic Paris with these melt-in-the-mouth macaroons
Moderately Easy
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Open spinach & ricotta ravioli
By

- Ready in 20 mins
Simple to make but looks stunning, and full of creamy textures
Easy
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Grilled crottin with pear & walnut salad
By

- Ready in 10 mins
Get your goat's cheese off the cheeseboard and into your cooking!
Easy
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Treacle tart hearts

- Ready in 45 mins
Make a sweet heart for your sweetheart - it doesn't matter if it's Valentine's Day or not
Moderately Easy
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Strawberry & vanilla cream sponge
By

- Ready in 50 mins
One of the sweetest cakes you're ever likely to bake - in every sense of the word
Easy
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Griddled langoustines with hazelnut butter
By

- Ready in 20 mins
Langoustines, or Dublin Bay prawns, make a great starter. You can make this ahead for a fuss-free seafood feast
Easy
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Tiffany diamond cupcakes
By

- Ready in 30 mins
Add a bit of bling to your cupcakes by decorating them with turquoise icing and a sugar crystal or jelly diamond
Easy
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Smoked salmon with prawns, horseradish cream & lime vinaigrette

- Ready in 20 mins
This stunning starter can be assembled ahead, then topped with dressed leaves just before serving
Easy
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Roquefort toasts with peppered pears

- Ready in 25 mins
Peppering the pears gives the whole thing a little bit of attitude without being overpowering
Easy
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Chocolate pecan fondants

- Ready in 40 mins
These indulgent puds are great to freeze so you'll always have something to whip out for unexpected guests
Easy
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Duck with oriental passion fruit & orange sauce
By

- Ready in 40 mins
A perfect treat for two
Moderately Easy
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Papillote of seafood

- Ready in 40 mins
For the ultimate dîner à deux, dip into Jean-Christophe Novelli's dramatic seafood dish
Easy
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Ginger champagne cocktail
By

- Ready in 10 mins
We know Champagne doesn't need any embellishments, but this cocktail is worth a try
Easy
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Mozzarella peppers with chunky Italian dressing
By

- Ready in 25 mins
Visit your deli counter and make a special plate to share
Easy
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Melting middle truffles

- Ready in 50 mins
Get these made and in the freezer up to a month ahead, then simply pull them out when you’re ready
Easy
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Sautéed scallops with mushrooms & spinach sauce

- Ready in 15 mins
A quick, impressive dish that's easy to prepare and cook, creating stacks of flavour within minutes
Moderately Easy
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Pan-fried duck breast with creamed cabbage, chestnuts & caramelised pear

- Ready in 1 hr 10 mins
A restaurant-quality dish by Gordon Ramsay made using easily found ingredients
Moderately Easy
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Feta-crusted lamb with rich tomato sauce

- Ready in 50 mins
As the lamb roasts, little nuggets of feta from the crust melt into the gutsy, tomatoey, garlicky sauce
Easy
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Chocolate sorbet

- Ready in 3 hrs
Choose really dark chocolate and cocoa for this unusual low-fat sorbet
Moderately Easy
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Linguine with prawns, spring greens & chilli
By

- Ready in 20 mins
Fire up your seafood linguine with some garlic and red chilli - it's low in fat and has a low Gi too!
Easy
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Warm honey cup puddings

- Ready in 25 mins
Serve these classic make-ahead Greek desserts with a scoop of quick homemade pistachio ice cream
Easy
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Crab & citrus salad with Chardonnay dressing

- Ready in 20 mins
You can prepare all the elements of this stylish starter a few hours ahead, so you can be cool and collected on the night
Easy
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Chocolate marble meringues
By

- Ready in 1 hr 30 mins
These sweet treats taste as gorgeous as they look
Easy
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Roasted duck breast with plum sauce

- Ready in 35 mins
This easy yet impressive recipe makes a stylish main course for a special occasion
Easy
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Double chocolate cardamom pots

- Ready in 20 mins
A little pot that's as light as a feather but with a taste of chocolate heaven
Easy
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Hazelnut meringues with hazelnut praline & chocolate sauce
By

- Ready in 2 hrs 40 mins
A rich, decadent dessert with guaranteed wow-factor
For The Keen Cook
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Chocolate soufflé
By

- Ready in 30 mins
A light chocolatey treat - serve it up in coffee cups for a change
Easy
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Hot shellfish with a lemon, parsley & chilli dressing

- Ready in 1 hr 10 mins
A starter with wow-factor from Rick Stein, sure to impress and delight seafood fans
For The Keen Cook
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Salmon with tarragon Hollandaise
By

- Ready in 10 mins
Impress your other half with this 20 minute supper that takes little effort (but don't tell them that!)
Easy
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Pan-fried scallops with cauliflower vanilla purée

- Ready in 40 mins
Vanilla pairs beautifully with the creamy mellow flavour of cauliflower and the sweetness of caramelised scallops
Moderately Easy
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Venison with quince

- Ready in 2 hrs 20 mins
Quinces are a perfect balance to rich venison, and spiked with rosemary they offer a heady depth to this prepare-ahead main
Moderately Easy
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Double chocolate almond biscotti
By

- Ready in 50 mins
Try these sophisticated Italian-style biscuits, perfect as a gift or an after dinner treat
Moderately Easy
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Iced hazelnut zabagliones

- Ready in 30 mins
An indulgent but refreshing Italian-style dessert
Moderately Easy
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Ray with buttery parsley & capers

- Ready in 15 mins
This classic way of treating meaty white fish, sometimes called meunière, is so simple - everything's cooked in one pan
Easy
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Baileys & white chocolate fudge
By

- Ready in 45 mins
This deliciously creamy fudge makes a lovely gift, just wrap it in cellophane, then finish with a stylish ribbon
Moderately Easy
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Spaghetti with seafood velouté

- Ready in 1 hr 20 mins
Treat someone special to this elegant meal for two, with gently poached oysters and other delicious seafood
Moderately Easy
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Rack of lamb with warm salad of mixed beans & slow-roast tomatoes

- Ready in 1 hr 10 mins
Tender, lean lamb and a selection of the finest vegetables makes this a romantic dish you won't forget
Moderately Easy
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Lemony prawn bruschettas
By

- Ready in 20 mins
A light, zingy supper dish for two - or serve as a smart starter
Easy
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Champagne cocktail
By

- Ready in 5 mins
Ring in the New Year with a high-impact cocktail that leaves you plenty of time to celebrate
Easy
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Chocolate truffles
By

- Ready in 4 hrs 35 mins
Chocolate truffles, beautifully wrapped in boxes, will put a smile on anyone's face
Easy
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Whole roast bream with potatoes & olives

- Ready in 50 mins
Roasting the fish along with the potatoes means all the lovely flavours mingle
Easy
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Steamed mussels with leeks, thyme & bacon

- Ready in 35 mins
A bistro-style starter for two. Mop up the juices with crusty bread, or make it into a main with chunky chips
Easy
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Milk chocolate & pistachio truffles
By

- Ready in 3 hrs 40 mins
Gain maximum brownie points by making these stylish chocolates for friends or family
Easy
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Seared beef with wild mushrooms & balsamic

- Ready in 2 hrs
A classy main course for two, inspired by the Italian region of Emiglia-Romagna
Moderately Easy
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Cherry ripple & almond crunch ice cream

- Ready in 7 hrs
Juicy cherries, crunchy almonds and creamy ice cream, it's what summer's all about
Moderately Easy
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Pink strawberry cheesecake

- Ready in 45 mins
An impressive centrepiece for a dinner party dessert
Moderately Easy
