Romantic recipes inspired by the Mediterranean for Valentine’s Day Dinner

Want to go the extra mile this Valentine’s Day? Make date night a breeze with our romantic dinner for two ideas from Jamie’s flavour-packed new book 5 Ingredients Mediterranean.

Jamie’s new book is brimming with delicious recipes that look super impressive, but are surprisingly simple to make. You can easily bring a taste of the Med to your Valentine’s Day dinner without long shopping lists or piles of washing up. We’re talking minimum work, minimum ingredients, but maximum brownie points from your favourite person. Whether you’re after sunshine-filled starters, mains or desserts, we’ve got you covered on the food front this Valentine’s Day. 

STARTERS

Making your own flatbreads doesn’t have to be a long process and this recipe proves it – it’s on the table in just 25 minutes. Follow this straightforward recipe and you’ll be laughing. 

Hot feta encased in crispy filo and topped with pistachios and honey – yes, please! You can easily halve this recipe to serve 2, so it’s ideal for date night. Serve with a glass of something cold and delicious. 

MAINS

Pops of fresh orange work so well with perfectly cooked duck and crispy sage in this super-speedy dinner for two. It looks really posh, but is actually a doddle to make. Swap the tinned beans for creamy jarred beans, if you want to go all out. 

Nothing says Valentine’s Day like a slap-up steak dinner, and this one is a proper showstopper. If you’re really looking to impress, make sure you use fresh pesto or pistou (rather than jarred). 

Spice up your Valentine’s Day dinner with this elegant harissa and prawn pasta. If you can get hold of beautiful, shell-on king prawns from the fishmonger, it’ll make all the difference here. Go on, it’s date night! 

Charring aubergine is a great way to create big flavour, fast. In fact, this fun vegan main is ready in just 22 minutes. And because we’re using chickpeas in 2 clever ways, you’d never guess that this recipe uses just 5 ingredients. 

PUDS

Treat your favourite person to this perfect little pud, inspired by Jools’ love of coffee and chocolate. Serve with fresh strawberries and a dollop of crème fraîche, if you like. Now that’s romantic. 

Shop-bought puff pastry is a great baking shortcut, and the result is really impressive here. With apricot jam, flaked almonds and scoops of vanilla ice cream, it’s a thing of beauty. 

End your evening on a high with this citrus-swirled pastry. It’s ready in just 30 minutes and best served at room temperature, so it’s a great pud to make ahead, leaving you to spend less time in the kitchen. Dessert, done! 

After more dinner for two ideas? Check out our romantic Valentine’s Day recipes.