How To Cook A Romantic Meal On A Student Budget

If you can’t afford to take your SO out to a fancy restaurant, or just want to treat your housemates to something special, then THIS. IS. IT.

A delicious dinner doesn’t have to break the bank, or be incredibly difficult to pull off either. It’s time to graduate from oven chips with this tasty steak dinner that anyone can cook.

We caught up with pro chef George and student Sophie to learn how to cook the ultimate romantic steak dinner on a budget. Check it out below.

Budget Romantic Steak Dinner Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 2 steaks (Flat Iron, Flank or Sirloin)

• 1 bag baby new potatoes

• 1 pack tenderstem broccoli

• 1 tbsp. olive oil

• 3 cloves garlic

• 1 lemon

• 1 tbsp. butter

• Salt

• Pepper

• 4 cooked beetroot

METHOD

1. Take steak from the fridge 10 minutes before you cook it to get it up to room temperature, this ensures even cooking across your steak.

2. Put your pan of water on to boil, turn your oven to 160℃ and start heating up your frying pan.

3. Halve the new potatoes into bite-size pieces and boil for 15-17 mins.

4. Season your steak on both sides with salt and pepper and rub it into the meat. Make sure your frying pan is screaming hot, just starting to smoke.

5. Put some oil in the pan and lay the steak down away from you to ensure you don’t get splattered in oil.

6. Line a tray with foil and lay out the tender stem broccoli — dress with olive oil, salt and pepper and put in the oven for about 12 mins.

7. For the beetroot puree, add 3-4 cooked beetroots, clove of garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper into a blender and blend until smooth.

8. Go back to the steak and have a look at the cooking side of it, make sure it has a nice crust forming and flip it over gently. Cooking times depend on the size and cut of steak.

9. Touch the steak and use the hand guide from the video to work out whether it’s cooked enough.

10. Before the steak cooks to where you want it, take the pan off the heat and add butter and garlic, then use a spoon to pour the melted butter over the steak continuously.

11. After basting the steak, take it out with the butter and garlic and place it in foil and wrap it up.

12. Leave your steak to rest for about the same amount of time you cooked it before serving with the potatoes and broccoli — check out the video for serving suggestions!

Making a steak dinner has never been easier (or more budget friendly), so save down this recipe and get ready to impress your SO.

After more tasty ideas that won’t break the bank? Check out our fave TikTok pizza hacks, or if your bae is plant-based, you can make their fave recipes vegan.