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TasteBud: Hot V-Day on A Budget
THESE INEXPENSIVE RECIPES NEED A MINIMUM INVESTMENT OF MONEY, TIME AND EXPERTISEWords and Photos Theodora HurustiatiLet me guess: Your Valentineâs Day date is in less than 10 hours, thereâs a huge hollow in your wallet and a fancy restaurant dinner is not an option
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THESE INEXPENSIVE RECIPES NEED A MINIMUM INVESTMENT OF MONEY, TIME AND EXPERTISE
Words and Photos Theodora Hurustiati
Let me guess: Your Valentine's Day date is in less than 10 hours, there's a huge hollow in your wallet and a fancy restaurant dinner is not an option. A candlelit home-cooked meal might offer a wise alternative. It's romantic-and thrifty! But let me guess again: You're the kind of cook who normally enters the kitchen only to boil water for instant noodles. Well JPlus is here to help. These two budget recipes require a minimum investment of time, money and expertise, so even a novice cook can produce a romantic meal in less than an hour. By the way, both dishes use red chilies, which should help to heat up your night!
Spicy chocolate fondue
Fondue-the word means 'to melt' in French'refers to a convivial dish of melted cheese from Switzerland eaten with dipped bits of bread that's served as a starter or can be a meal on its own. Fondue is usually presented in a heated ceramic pot called a caquelon, to prevent the cheese from coagulating. Inspired more the savory versions, this dessert fondue is made from chocolate, which, of course, is more sensual!
100g dark chocolate (70 percent cocoa)
80g fresh cream
1 red chili
Tiny pinch of salt
300-500g assorted fresh fruits
* Prick chili with fork and add to saucepan with cream and salt. Place over low heat and cook until almost boiling.
* Break chocolate into pieces and incorporate into hot cream off the heat. Mix using spoon until chocolate is melted.
* Transfer into the warm ceramic pot. Serve with cut fresh fruit.
Spaghetti all'aglio olio e peperoncino
This garlic, oil and chili spaghetti is a popular item on the menu of Jakarta's Italian restaurants. While a classic in Italy, aglio olio is usually not a dish that Italians eat out. It's an emergency meal prepared when you have only minutes to cook, the refrigerator is empty and your paycheck has long since evaporated. The key is not burning the garlic'otherwise you can forget about kissing your date!
Serves 2
160-200g spaghetti
2 garlic cloves
2 red chilies
50ml extra virgin olive oil
5g fresh parsley, chopped
Salt
* Cook spaghetti in abundant salted boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, depending on thickness. Read the suggested cooking time on the packet and reduce by 2 to 3 minutes.
* Meanwhile, peel garlic and slice as thin as possible. While the traditional recipe calls for the garlic to be lightly crushed, I prefer otherwise.
* Slice chilies into thin rings. De-seed if you prefer subtler heat.
* Place garlic 'petals' in a sauté pan along with chilies and olive oil. Fry over the lowest heat possible to let flavor to infuse without burning.
* Take the golden garlic 'chips' and crisp chili rinds from oil and place on kitchen paper to absorb excess oil.
* By now your pasta should be al dente- literally 'to the tooth', meaning it can be eaten with a slight bite. Reserve about ½ cup of the cooking liquid and drain the rest.
* Insert the pasta into the pan containing the spicy and garlicky oil. Add parsley and the reserved cooking liquid. Toss for about a minute until the spaghetti is glossy and parsley is evenly distributed.
* Divide into portions and sprinkle with crispy garlic and chilies. Serve immediately.
