Valentine’s Day dinner in 15 minutes

Want to cook a special meal with your loved one without slaving for hours in the kitchen? Don’t worry - we’ve come up with three main meals you can cook in 15 minutes or less, so you can enjoy more time together.

Cheddar, chive and chilli croquettes





These cheese croquettes are small but surprisingly filling. Serve hot with a green salad. Serves two.

[Related: Chic cocktail recipe ideas for Valentine's Day]

Ingredients:
50g grated Cheddar
70g fresh, white breadcrumbs
1 large egg
half a teaspoon Dijon mustard
salt, to taste
pinch of dried chilli flakes, or to taste
small handful chives, finely snipped
20g fine breadcrumbs
olive oil, for frying

Method:
Beat the egg and mustard together in a bowl. In another bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and cheese and season with a little salt. Add the chilli flakes and mix in the snipped chives. Tip in the egg, mixing with your hands, until you have a fairly sticky mixture. Divide into two and form into small patties. Tip the fine breadcrumbs into a clean bowl, and coat the patties with the crumbs. Next, heat two to three tbsp of olive oil in a small non-stick pan and fry the patties on a medium heat for three minutes on each side. Drain on kitchen paper and serve hot.

Smoked trout tagliatelle



Try this luxurious pasta dish made with white wine and smoked trout. Speed up your cooking time by buying fresh tagliatelle. Serves two.

[Related: World's most expensive Valentine's Day gifts revealed]

Ingredients:
200g dried tagliatelle
1 tbsp olive oil
1 very small onion, finely chopped
glug of dry white wine
small handful of fresh dill, chopped roughly
60g smoked trout (about 2 slices), roughly sliced
lemon wedges and salt and black pepper, to serve

Method:
Start by cooking the pasta. Meanwhile, gently soften the onion in the olive oil (about five minutes). When the onions are translucent, add the wine and let it bubble for two to three minutes, stirring in half the dill. Drain the cooked pasta, reserving half a mugful of the cooking water, and toss it into the pan with the wine and onions. Add the reserved water and smoked trout slices and season with salt and pepper. Serve with a lemon wedge, the remaining dill and plenty of black pepper alongside.

Garlic mushroom beef burger



If you don’t fancy steak, try this burger; we’ve added rocket, sliced garlic mushrooms and Edam cheese. Makes four.

Ingredients:
500g Aberdeen Angus minced beef
small handful chopped fresh parsley
olive oil
salt and black pepper
1 egg, beaten
2 tsp butter
2 large chestnut mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
4 burger buns, lightly toasted
4 slices Edam cheese
mayonnaise and rocket, to serve

Method:
Place the mince in a bowl, add the parsley and black pepper and crack in the egg. Combine gently with your hands and set a medium-sized frying pan on the heat. Form the mince into four patties and season with salt and drizzle with a little olive oil. Fry for about four minutes on the each side.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small pan and add a drop of olive oil. Throw in the sliced mushrooms and chopped garlic and heat gently until softened and aromatic.

Once the burgers are cooked, spread a little mayonnaise on the bottom half of each bun and arrange a small handful of rocket on top. Top with the cooked burger, a thin slice of Edam and spoon over the garlic mushrooms, replacing the other half of the bun.

What will you be cooking on Valentine’s Day?