Striking a culinary chord on V-Day!

Kalpana Sharma / Feb 14, 2009, 00:00 IST

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We churned out few of the best love recipes to help you conjure the perfect love concoction!

Whoever said that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, understands that love accentuates not only emotions, but appetite as well. So we churned out few of the best love recipes to help you conjure the perfect love concoction!
Chef Tara Chandra Joshi, Shalom, New Delhi and food consultant Rupali Dean share some lip smacking receipes!
Poached Chicken, Avocado and Mango salad
Ingredients

Avocados (peeled, pitted and diced): 2 no.
Lettuce (Iceberg, Romaine): 500 gm
Mangoes (peeled, seeded and diced): 2 no.
Poached Chicken (diced): 4 cup
Chili, garlic sauce: �� cup
Lime Juice: 1/3 cup
Brown Sugar: 2 table spoon
Water: �� cup
Method:
In a saucepan, stir together brown sugar and water over medium-high heat. Bring it to a boil, and then pour into a medium sized bowl. Stir in the chilli garlic sauce and lime juice. Set the dressing aside. In a large bowl, toss together the chicken, mangos and avocados. Arrange the spring salad mix on serving plates, and then top with a few spoonfuls of the chicken mixture. Pour dressing over the top.

Steamed Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
Ingredients:
Asparagus (washed and trimmed): 1 bundle
Salt: 200 gm
Hollandaise Sauce: Ingredients
Egg yolk: 2 no.
Lemon juice: 1 tea spoon
White wine vinegar: 1 tea spoon
Clarified butter: 200ml
Salt and Pepper powder: To taste
Method:
Take each stalk and trim the ends to neaten and even out the length.
Bring the steamer to boil and lay the asparagus in it.
Season with salt and replace the lid.
Steam for 4 to 5 minutes.
Place the egg yolks in the food blender and season with salt and freshly milled black pepper and then blend thoroughly.
Heat the lemon juice and white wine vinegar in a small pan until it just simmers.
Turn the blender on again and slowly add the hot liquid in a steady stream. Turn the blender off.
Using the same pan, melt the butter over a gentle heat until it just starts to foam.
Turn the blender on again and trickle in the melted butter, a little at a time.
Turn the blender off and scrape the sides of the blender clean with a spatula before giving it one last blitz to incorporate everything.
Transfer to a warm serving dish and drizzle the hollandaise over the asparagus
Valentine's Day: Celebrating love
Fresh Oysters with Vodka chili shooter
Ingredients:
Oysters: 12 no.
Ice: �� kg
Rock salt: 200 gm
Vodka: 30 ml
Tabasco: 10 ml
Fennel (chopped): 1 tea spoon
Celery (chopped): 1 tea spoon
Water: 10 ml
Worcestershire sauce: 5 ml
Lemon wedges: 12 no.
Parsley sprig: 12 no.
Method:
Take a mixing bowl and mix water, vodka, tabasco, salt, chopped fennel, and chopped celery.
Refrigerate this mix for 2 days.
Using an oyster knife, twist open the oyster shells and remove the oyster.
Arrange rock salt and ice on a plate, place oysters shells on rock salt, place oyster on shells.
Garnish with lemon wedges and parsley sprig.
Serve with vodka shooter.
Chocolate Dipped strawberries
Ingredients:
Strawberries: 450 gm
Dark chocolate: 200gm
Greaseproof paper: 1 no.
Method:
Wash the strawberries (leaving the stalks in place) in cold water. Drain in a colander and dry completely on kitchen paper.
Line a baking sheet or tray with greaseproof paper.
Heat some water to boiling point in a saucepan. Remove from the heat.
Break the chocolate into pieces and place in a large heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over the pan of hot water ensuring that it does not come into contact with the water. Stir regularly until the chocolate is completely melted & smooth.
Hold a strawberry by its stalk and dip into the chocolate, rotating it slowly. Lift it out of the chocolate and allow the excess to drain back into the basin. Place onto the greaseproof paper.
Repeat the process until all strawberries are coated.
Allow the strawberries to set fully in the refrigerate for about an hour.
Serve with kiwis and dry fruits.
Strawberry Smoothie
Ingredients
Yoghurt: 450gms
Honey: 2 tbsp
Strawberry (Sliced): 250gms
Method:
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Puree until extremely smooth.
Valentine's Day: Celebrating love
Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
Cocoa: 12 grams
Milk: 400ml
Water: 35ml
SugarTo taste
Method
Mix the sugar and cocoa in a saucepan, add water and make a paste. Stir in milk and bring to a boil. Serve in cups.
Fruit Salad
Ingredients
Ripe banana: 1
Papaya: 2 slices
Strawberry: 4
Mango: 1
Kiwi: 1
Apple: 1
Peach: 1
Medium size banana: 2
Figs: �� cup
Low fat yoghurt: 450 grams
Lemon juice: 1 lemon
Sugar: To taste
Lettuce leaves: 4
Method
Make dressing-Blend together bananas (medium size), yogurt, sugar and lemon juice till smooth. Cover and refrigerate for about 2-3 hours.
Peel and cut the fruits into cubes. Line individual plates with lettuce, place fruit on top, top up with dressing.
Hot food facts
Strawberries improve blood flow; and feed the capacity of sexual and carnal desire. Strawberries tipped with chocolate can get the ultimate in desire!
See where your passion takes you. The famed lover Casanova is said to have drunk chocolate before seducing his woman.
Peaches are known to have noted nutrients for improving horizontal salsa. Mangoes are the muse of poets and philosophers since the beginning of recorded time. A fruit salad has many benefits. So add that on the list for sure!
Valentine's Day: Celebrating love

About the Author

Kalpana Sharma

Kalpana Sharma is Lifestyle Editor with over 18 years of experience in the field of lifestyle, entertainment, health, parenting and wellness. Her writing endeavors are dedicated to enriching lives and empowering individuals to embrace fulfilling lifestyles.

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