Last-minute Valentine’s menu

Oops, did you only realize this morning that it was February 14 and all the restaurants are already fully booked? You can make this menu with ingredients that are all available at the supermarket, it’s anything but difficult, and your Valentine will have an incredibly delicious meal. And so will you, of course.

We’ve already put together a handy shopping list for you. It contains slightly less leek and potatoes than are listed in the chicken recipe, because we’ve adjusted it for two people.

Mussel tartare

You make this mussel tartare by Bart van Olphen with pickles, which need to sit for an hour. Not a problem, because they marinate while you prepare the rest of your menu. The recipe calls for precooked mussels, because on a romantic day like today, you’re allowed to cut a few corners.

Chicken with tarragon and leek

The chicken with tarragon and leek by Joris Bijdendijk needs an hour in the oven, which is exactly enough time for the cucumbers from the recipe above to marinate. Prepare the leek and potatoes separately and add them to the chicken later. In the meantime, you’ll also have plenty of time to finish the rest of the meal. You can now mix all the ingredients for the tartare and start on dessert.

Blackberry cake that always works

You can prepare the batter for this blackberry cake by Samuel Levie in five minutes, and it can go straight into the oven as soon as the chicken comes out. Perfect, because that way it will still be warm when you eat it. Just remember to lower the oven temperature. This cake is also just as delicious with raspberries or blueberries, if you happen to have those at home.