Happy Valentine’s Day!

How about doing something different for a change and offer your valentine an original gift? Instead of taking him/her out to a fancy restaurant, show how much you care by cooking dinner. Avoid the packed, loud venues and enjoy your evening by setting the mood and pouring a fine wine along with a thoughtful meal.

My Choice? Foil Wrapped Baked Salmon 

Easy to prepare, it’s an absolute winner when it comes to both presentation and flavor. Start by tearing a generous sheet of foil, large enough to wrap the salmon and vegetables. Slice the vegetables into thin slices and layer them, making a bed for the fish: here I went with onion, zucchini and tomato, you can adjust to your liking. Place the salmon on top and season it properly with a pinch of salt and black pepper, but most importantly herbs: I went with thyme and basil but fresh oregano or sage leaves will work nicely as well. As an optional flavor enhancer you can use chorizo, parma ham or pancetta and top everything with a drizzle of good quality extra virgin olive oil. Carefully wrap everything with the foil sheet, making sure it’s tight enough so all the flavors are kept in and it cooks perfectly and evenly. Pre-heat your oven to 180ºC and when it’s hot enough put the salmon in and leave it for about 20 min. Afterwards unwrap it and serve with a salad and some basmati rice (optional).