VALENTINE'S RECIPE: Chocolate Delight & Strawberry Puree

This is very rich and decadent so only a small serve is needed. Be creative — maybe draw a chocolate heart on the plate and fill it with strawberry puree, or paint words of love on a plate with the puree.

VALENTINE'S DAY RECIPE: CHOCOLATE DELIGHT WITH STRAWBERRY PUREE

Serves 6 to 8

600g good quality dark chocolate, chopped
250g unsalted butter
4 eggs
2 tbsp caster sugar
1 tbsp plain flour, sifted
100g hazelnuts, crushed
100g pitted dates, finely chopped
1 punnet of big strawberries, hulled

2 tbsp caster sugar

Melt the butter with the chocolate on low heat. Whisk the eggs with the first lot of sugar until pale and creamy. Fold in the flour.

Cool the chocolate mixture and add the egg mixture. Fold through the hazelnuts and dates.

Line a 23cm greased cake tin with baking paper or a heart shaped tin. Pour in the cake mixture and cook for 30 minutes until crusty on top and soft in the middle. Chill overnight.

Puree the strawberries with the second lot of sugar. Serve the cake in small wedges with the strawberry puree.

MORE VALENTINE'S DAY RECIPES . . . Panacotta & Blueberries | Oysters with Champagne Sauce