Romantic DIY Valentine's Day Recipes From Trattoria Dell'Arte
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Haven't made Valentine's Day reservations yet?
More: Valentine's Day Cocktails You Can Make At Home
Skip the crowds and grab your apron instead.
More: V-Day Restaurants| DIY Valentine's Day Gifts | Offbeat V-Day Events | V-Day Events For Singles
Trattoria Dell'Arte managing director Brandon Fay stopped by CBS2 on Sunday to share his favorite recipes for a romantic Valentine's Day DIY dinner your loved one won't forget.
Click on the video above for more, and check out the recipes below.
Lobster and Tuna Wrapped In Sheets Of Cucumber With Passion Fruit.
Makes 2 rolls
What You'll Need:
6 oz. cooked lobster meat
6 oz. sushi- grade tuna, cut into thin slices
1 large cucumber, peeled and sheeted
1 large ripe avocado, pitted and cut into slices
½ lemon, squeezed
¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tbsp Basil leaves
1 tbsp Mint leaves
Freshly Ground Black Pepper and Kosher Salt, to season
Sliced chives, for garnish
1 serrano chili, sliced paper thin
2 Passion fruit, cut and scoop passion fruit pulp
How to Make It:
- Using a vegetable sheeter, make a thin continuous sheet of cucumber.
- Drizzle olive oil on cucumber sheet. Squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Add basil and mint leaves, season with salt and pepper.
- Arrange the cooked lobster meat, sliced tuna, and sliced avocado in a line down the center of the sheet of cucumber. Lift the end of the cucumber sheet, and gently roll it over the ingredients, pressing gently. Roll it forward to make a complete roll.
- Cut each roll into 4 to 6 slices using a wet, sharp knife.
- Garnish the rolls with the serrano chili and chopped chives. Decorate the plate with fresh passion fruit pulp.
Tip: Using plastic wrap, repeat recipe with the plastic wrap underneath cucumber sheet and store tightly wrapped in plastic till ready to use.
Fun tip: Add strawberries or any delicious tropical fruit like mango and kiwi to enhance and create a special aphrodisiac roll.
Grilled Oysters WithCitrus Herb Horseradish Compound Butter
Serves 2
What You'll Need:
12 Blue Point Oysters, on the half shell
For the citrus herb horseradish compound butter:
1 lb unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 tbsp fresh grated horseradish
3 tbsp. prepared horseradish
1½ tsp. tsp coarse sea salt
¼ cup chopped parsley
1½ lemon, zest and juice
(Freeze and reserve unused butter for future recipes)
How to Make It:
- Making the Compound butter: Take a large glass bowl, add all the ingredients. Using a large spoon fold all the ingredients into the soften butter until well incorporated and fluffy.
- Draw out a large piece of parchment paper (about 12 by 18 inches). Using a spatula, gather butter together in the bowl, and then add the butter mixture onto the center of the parchment paper. Using your hands form into a log.
- Place in the fridge until your log is firm.
- Grilling Oysters: Preheat grill or Grill Pan on a high heat, Place a little dollop of compound butter on each oyster. When the butter melts and the oyster liquor starts to bubble remove the oyster from the grill.
Tip: The precious oyster liquor should never to be discarded, never rinse or dump the juice out. This liquor tastes amazing, it's oyster gold. Never call it "Oyster juice".
Tip: Always apply the compound butter before grilling the oysters; you want the oyster to braise in the herb butter.
