Preparing a dish for your sweetheart requires tender loving care but slaving over a hot stove isn’t the recipe for romance. Tenderstem Broccoli is great added to any dish, it’s sweet to taste and packed with good things and also super quick to cook, leaving more time for loving.

There’s simply no better way to express how you feel than preparing your loved one a special dish and if you need a little inspiration check out www.tenderstem.com where you’ll find a host of recipes including Tarragon Chicken with Tenderstem Broccoli or Chilli Beef Stir Fry with Tenderstem Broccoli.

Health-wise you couldn’t look after your partner better. Rich in nutrients, this vegetable can help in the fight against heart disease and cancers and 100g of Tenderstem broccoli contains the full daily requirement of vitamin C. Also worth noting for couples looking to create a new edition to their family this Valentines, Tenderstem is high in folic acid.

They say the quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach and what woman doesn’t like being spoiled? So, head to the kitchen and find the perfect recipe to a happy ever after.

Tenderstem is available from all good retailers including ASDA, Morrison’s, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose.

Here's a couple of recipes to get you started…

Warm Tenderstem broccoli and tarragon chicken salad

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunky strips
• small handful of fresh tarragon leaves, roughly chopped
• grated zest of 1 lemon
• 150g mixed salad leaves
• 150g cherry tomatoes, halved
• 6 spring onions, sliced
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 200g Tenderstem® broccoli
• 25g pine nuts, toasted
• salt and pepper

Dressing

• 1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 2–3 tablespoons olive oil
• 150g mixed salad leaves

Method

small handful fresh tarragon leaves, chopped

Put the chicken strips into a bowl, add the tarragon, lemon zest, salt and pepper and mix well. Leave to marinate in the fridge for a few hours.

Mix together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and set aside

When you are ready to serve the salad, put the salad leaves, tomatoes and spring onions in a large serving bowl and season with salt and pepper.

Heat the sunflower oil in heavy based frying pan and fry the chicken for about 8–10 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through. Add the garlic to the pan for the final minute of the cooking time. Take the pan off the heat, add the prepared dressing and stir, coating the chicken and scraping any bits from the base of the pan.

Meanwhile, cook the Tenderstem® broccoli in boiling, salted water for 4–5 minutes or until just tender.

Top the prepared salad with the cooked Tenderstem® broccoli and chicken and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts. Serve with crusty bread.

Ingredients

• 200g Tenderstem broccoli
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 10 rashers smoked streaky bacon, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1–2 red chillis, deseeded and finely chopped (optional)
• 400g penne pasta
• 180ml crème fraiche
• handful fresh basil leaves, shredded
• freshly ground black pepper
• Parmesan shavings, to serve

Method

Prepare the Tenderstem® broccoli. Cut the floret ends of the Tenderstem® broccoli spears and leave whole. Slice the remainder of the Tenderstem® broccoli spears thinly, on the diagonal.

Heat the oil in a large heavy based pan (one which has a lid). Fry the bacon until golden brown, then add the garlic and chilli (if using) and cook for 30 seconds to soften. Add the prepared Tenderstem® broccoli, stir and put the lid on the pan. Cook for 5–6 minutes or until the Tenderstem® broccoli is tender.

Meanwhile cook the penne in boiling salted water according to pack instructions

When the pasta is cooked, drain well and add to the Tenderstem® broccoli. Add the crème fraiche, basil and pepper, and stir to combine.

Serve immediately topped with Parmesan shavings.

For more recipes and information visit www.tenderstem.com