While many couples decide to dine out for Valentine’s Day, many others choose to create a romantic meal at home. A home cooked meal offers a more intimate and private setting, and you can impress your date with your awesome cooking skills. If you’ll be dining in this Valentine’s Day, former-chef Hussain al Nowais has rounded up two of his favorite recipes from the Web.
Baked Maple Salmon
Recipe adapted from Esmee Williams
Ingredients:
- 1 pound salmon
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions:
- Mix the maple syrup, soy sauce, minced garlic, garlic salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Place the salmon in a shallow baking dish. Pour over the maple syrup mixture. Cover the dish and let the salmon marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, turning once.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- Once preheated, place the baking dish in the oven. Bake the salmon, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
Smoked Duck Salad with Raspberries and Walnuts
Recipe adapted from Marcia Kiesel
Ingredients:
- ½ pound smoked duck breast, thinly sliced, skin and fat removed
- ½ cup walnuts
- 1 cup raspberries
- 3 tablespoons walnut oil
- 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 6 cups frisee lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces
- 3 cups Boston lettuce, torn
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet, bake for about eight minutes, and coarsely chop.
- Mix the vinegar, mustard and shallot in a large bowl. Gradually whisk in the vegetable and walnut oils. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Add the frisee, Boston lettuce and walnuts, and toss to coat. Top the salad with the sliced duck and raspberries.