Dinner for two—for one (Photo by Rieko Suzuki)

Feeling doomed watching commercials for sweet chocolates on Valentine’s Day? This quick dinner utilizing unsweetened cacao powder can be just the right meal for a lonely stomach at Saint Valentine’s Feast. Why is the recipe for two people, then? Just in case … you know …

Grilled Chicken and Vegetables with Mole Sauce

Servings: For 2 people

• 2 chicken breasts
• 2 cups chopped carrot, onion and beans
• 2 pinches salt and pepper, to rub
• 1 tbs vegetable oil

Mole Sauce

• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 pinch each chili powder, cumin
  powder and cinnamon powder
• 1 tbs tomato paste
• 1/2 consommé cube
• 2 tsp peanut butter
• 1/2 tsp red miso
• 20g dark chocolate (more than 70 percent)
• 1 tsp unsweetened cacao powder
• 120cc water
• 1 tsp salt

Directions

1. Rub salt and pepper on chicken breasts. On pan, heat vegetable oil and cook chicken, skin side first.
2. On plate, shift chicken. In same pan, cook chopped vegetables and place next to chicken.
3. In same pan, heat garlic and spice powder on low heat. Add tomato sauce, consommé cube, water, peanut butter, red miso, cacao powder and salt. Mix well to smoothen. Turn off the heat and add dark chocolate. Mix and melt chocolate completely.
4. Pour mixture on chicken.

Green Salad with Cacao Vinaigrette Dressing

Servings: For 2 people

• Fresh vegetables of your preference 
• Dressing
• 1.5 tbs extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbs white wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp unsweetened cacao powder
• 1/3 tsp salt
• 1 pinch mustard power
• 1 pinch black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine dressing ingredients and mix well.
2. Pour on chilled fresh vegetables.