If you happen to be single this Valentine’s Day and are twiddling your thumbs, wondering how you can feel included, we suggest a full five course dinner that features some of the most interesting black foods, we think you should try. Interestingly enough, each course, including the drink, has a black food element (no, not activated charcoal) or an ingredient that might seem unfamiliar, but we can assure you, is rewarding in a dish nonetheless. Here’s how you can plan and serve each course.
Blackbeard Martini
It is only fitting that your single self will need a drink to make it through the tsunami of hearts and love quotes floating around you this Valentine’s Day; and a Blackbeard Martini is perfect for the upliftment of your spirits. Made like a martini, with the exception of adding a touch of black raspberry syrup, this martini is a strong way to kick off celebrating being single.
Black Chicken Soup
For those wondering if this really exists, there is a variety of native chicken in India by the name of kadaknath, that has black meat, which is great for a warming bowl of soup. Although this variety of fowl meat is relatively drier than its regular counterpart, it works just like chicken. Adding it to a pot of soup ensures that you’re not left tearing away at dry, lifeless meat.
Also Read:
Black Rice Salad
Image Credits: Heartful Table
The nutty, slightly chewy grains of native black rice taste wonderful when paired with a sweet-spicy Asian dressing and chunks of avocado. If you’re an omnivore, pairing it with shredded pork or seafood works pretty well too. As long as you ensure that your dressing is the right balance of sweet-spicy-salty, this course is sure to be a hit with you and something you would come back to over and over.
Squid Ink Risotto
Image Credits: Broadsheet
Although now quite the culinary rage, this squid ink risotto topped off with seafood is perfect to maintain an air of noir. It might seem weird at first to imagine that the ‘impurities’ extracted from the squid, while cleaning, is stuff of gourmet delights but in reality, squid ink can be quite the delicacy when used appropriately. It has a mildly fishy flavour which is accentuated by the white wine and parmesan cheese, when used in an Italian-inspired main like the risotto.
Devil’s Food Cake
Image Credits: Imperial Sugar
Nothing, and we mean nothing quite compares to the realisation that you can dig into a big piece of deliciously decadent dark chocolate cake on your own, without having to share. If you’re alone, you can very easily forget your social norms and table manners and simply dig in with your fingers and experience the pleasure of licking clean all the chocolate that’s leftover, once the cake has been eaten.
Black Liquorice Pudding
Although the world is divided about liquorice, it tastes absolutely magical when used in a modest proportion for a creamy pudding. The pungent sweetness that’s hard to miss, can be quite mellow when steeped with whipped cream and vanilla, to make small but delicious servings of a creamy pudding, topped off with crushed digestive biscuits.