The way to the heart is thru the stomach!

New Delhi, (IANSlife) You’ve probably already thought about your Valentine’s Day dinner plans, whether this is the first Valentine’s Day you’ve spent with your partner or the tenth. Whether you’ve spent the entire day together or have just returned from an evening date, you’ll be hungry by the time the sun sets. These dishes are ideal for a romantic date night or for a wonderful way to conclude the evening. Cooking together is a really enjoyable way to pass the time.

Here are some recipes curated by Swapnadeep Mukherjee, Executive Chef, The Metropolitan Hotel and Spa.

CHOCOLATE HEART PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE

Ingredients

Unsalted butter

Granulated sugar

Packed brown sugar, light or dark

Peanut butter

Large egg

All-purpose flour

Baking soda

Baking powder

Kosher salt (don’t use if using salted butter)

Dark chocolate

Method:

Make the cookie dough:

Take a bowl, mix peanut butter and egg, beat unsalted butter until creamy for 2 minutes, add brown sugar and white sugar, beat for another 2 minutes. Pour this mixture in the bowl and mix well.

In another bowl, vigorously whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the sugar butter mixture.

Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Reheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

Shape the cookies

Shape the dough into 1 1/4 inch balls. Place the balls of dough about 3 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets (unlined sheets are fine, though you can use parchment paper to line them, if you like). Flatten in a crisscross pattern with a fork (It helps to dip the fork in sugar to keep it from sticking to the dough)

Bake the cookies:

Bake one sheet at a time on the center rack at 375°F (190°C) until light brown for 9 to 11 minutes.

Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool in their baking sheets for a minute.

After 1 minute, transfer the cookies to a rack to cool completely.

Melt dark chocolate, pour it in a heart shaped mold and keep it in a cool area.

When cookies are baked, put heart shape chocolate on top and enjoy the crunchy

chocolaty taste.

CHOCOLATE PIZZA

Ingredients:

Refined flour

Milk

Yeast

Sugar

Salt

Oil

Water

Chocolate-hazelnut spread (such as Nutella)

Chopped or semisweet chocolate

Chopped high-quality white chocolate

Chopped toasted almond

Method:

Preheat the oven to 250′ c. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface. Take a heart shaped pizza base cutter to give it a heart shape. Transfer dough to prepared sheet. Make indentations all over the dough with fingertips. Bake until golden, for 20 minutes.

Pour chocolate-hazelnut spread over the hot crust, level it. Sprinkle chopped chocolate and white chocolate over. Bake until chocolate begins to melt for 2 minutes. Sprinkle chopped almonds, cut into wedges, and serve.

PANEER DILNAAZ

Ingredients

Onion Finely Chopped

Tomatoes

Whole Cashews

Ginger Garlic

Butter/Oil

Green Chillies

Bay Leaf

Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder

Coriander Powder

Turmeric Powder

Kasoori Methi

Water as required

200 grams Paneer

Method

Add a bit of water to diced tomatoes, ginger garlic paste and cashews. Once the mixture is cooled completely, blend it into a smooth paste. Set aside.

In a non-stick pan, heat butter/oil. Add dried bay leaf and fry for ten seconds. Add finely chopped onions and fry until translucent. Pour ground tomato, cashew paste in it and fry for 3-4 minutes.

Add some water if required and add all the masala powders-kashmiri red chili powder, garam masala powder, coriander powder, cumin powder and turmeric powder. Add some water if the gravy is too thick. Add slit green chillies and salt. Cook for another 3-4 minutes.

Add Kasoori methi and fresh cream. Mix well. Cut paneer into thin slices and using a heart shaped cutter cut out the hearts and grate some of the paneer too. Add heart shaped Paneer pieces and mix well

Serve hot with Kulchas/Rotis/Phulkas/Naan.

Any Valentine’s Day recipe you select for your special someone is likely to be the ideal choice if it is romantic, useful, or simply spectacular. Try to come up with a gesture that will serve as a reminder of your unique relationship to your loved ones. Special Valentine’s Day Recipes curated by Divya from Intelliquo.

THE BETTER FLOUR – BAKED NACHOS

Ingredients

The Better Flour Robust Red Flour Blend

Cheese

Milk

Jalapenos

Sour cream

Avocado

Salt

Pepper

Method

Knead the dough with a Robust red flour blend and warm water

Roll the dough into chapatis and cut triangles

Preheat the oven to 180c temperature for 10 minutes

Brush them with oil or ghee

Bake the chips at 180c for 20 minutes until the edges start to brown

Prick it with a fork at regular intervals

For the cheese sauce:

Heat the milk and keep stirring in cheese till a the thick sauce is achieved

In a plate or a bowl layer the chips, cheese sauce and jalapenos slices

Garnish with sour cream and mashed avocados.

Serve