French Valentine’s Day recipes

If you’re choosing to stay in rather than dine out this Valentine’s Day then impress your other half by creating a delicious, romantic French dinner with these easy recipes

Apéritif: champagne

If you are really setting out to impress your date, then the perfect way to start your Valentine’s Day meal is with a glass of French champagne. Did you know there is a correct angle to hold the bottle at and the best glass to use? Click here to find out how to pour the perfect glass of champagne.

Starter: cheese soufflé

A starter of cheese soufflé is sure to impress your dinner guest and by opting for this recipe for soufflé au fromage cuit deux fois (twice-baked cheese soufflé) you don’t need to worry about it sinking! Made from butter, flour, milk, egg yolks and cheese, it is a light dish, the perfect starter. Because it is baked twice you can even be very prepared and make it a day ahead and just pop it in the oven for the second bake just before dinner, leaving you plenty of time to concentrate on creating a romantic candle-lit atmosphere. You’ll find the recipe for cheese soufflé here.

Main course: daube de boeuf provençale

For the main course we have picked the French classic daube de bœuf provençale, essentially a rich beef stew attributed to the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Made with beef, vegetables and red wine and traditionally served with pasta it is a delicious and filling main course, which is best served with a good red wine – a Bordeaux would be our recommendation. Slow cooked in a pan for three hours, this is another dish you can prepare ahead of time. You’ll find the recipe for daube de boeuf provençale here.

Dessert: fondant au chocolat

Can there be a better way to finish off a romantic meal than with a rich fondant au chocolat? This classic French dessert is favourite with a light and delicate chocolate sponge and a centre of gooey chocolate sauce. You can adapt the recipe to include caramel or flavoured chocolate in the middle, and serve it with ice cream or cream or even fresh raspberries. It is a surprisingly simple dish to make but there are a few rules to follow: buy the correct moulds (dariole moulds), prepare the moulds well and chill for 10 minutes before filling, make sure your oven is at the correct temperature, cook for precisely 13 minutes and then leave to sit for 5 minutes. You will find the recipe for fondant au chocolat here.

Going all out? Finish off the meal with a French cheese board! Read our 10 expert tips for creating a heavenly French cheese board

More Valentine’s Day ideas:

8 of the most romantic places in France

The best luxury Paris hotels

Valentine’s Day in France