How to host a Galentine's Day party

By

Rachel Beckwith

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Gather friends and celebrate Galentine's Day on February 13th, for a fun Valentine's alternative. See our starters, main courses and desserts.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be a traditional meal for two – you can honour the season of love by sharing delicious food with as many guests as your table can manage.

Galentine's Day is a celebration of female friendship on the 13th of February. Invite friends, family and loved ones to a sophisticated dinner party. These handpicked recipes are achievable yet impressive, with just the right amount of pizzazz for the occasion.

If you have a whole crowd to cater for and need more buffet-style recipes, read our guide on how to throw an alternative Valentine’s Day party.

Starters

Mussels with leeks and saffron in a bowl

To start, serve guests a few canapés and cocktails before they sit down to eat. Once they’re ready for their meal, a bowl of mussels with leeks & saffron makes for a luxurious appetiser. These shellfish are in season from October to March and are more affordable than oysters, but still feel special – especially with saffron. Alternatively, smoked salmon soufflés are easy to prepare and can be made well ahead of time.

For more ideas, visit our dinner party starter recipe collection.

Main courses

Lamb chops with board bean pesto on a plate

These lamb chops with chilli & Ligurian broad bean pesto have a real presence on the plate. Other dishes that are sure-fire hits for a dinner party main include seasonal slow-roast pork belly with celeriac & pear mash and our top-rated sea bass with sizzled ginger, chilli & spring onions.

You might also want to consider our pastry-laden spinach & ricotta slice as a vegetarian option, or visit our vegetarian dinner party recipe collection for more meat-free inspiration.

Desserts

Finish your evening in style with the perfect dinner party dessert. We think, given it’s Galentine’s Day, a self-saucing chocolate pudding or this striking squidgy chocolate & pomegranate torte is in order! For a fruitier option, it’s easy to scale up our recipe for champagne & raspberry possets to make enough for your guests, or perhaps individual bakewell trifles will hit the spot.