Rich seafood, cream for Valentine's Day

Warm au gratin is perfect for a cold winter night. And what better way to say "I love you" than with a little indulgence of seafood and cream.

This dish goes together with just a little effort and you end up with an impressive and delicious dinner for two. Serve with crusty bread and a green salad dressed with olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, sea salt and ground black pepper.

Seafood Au Gratin

Some grocers and seafood markets sell frozen lobster meat. Alternatively, ask for a 1 1/4-pound lobster at the grocer and have them steam it for you while you shop. That size lobster should produce about 4 ounces of cooked meat.

Start to finish: 45 minutes

Servings: 2

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 small sweet potato, peeled and grated (about 2 cups)

1/4 cup grated yellow onion

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

Salt, ground black pepper

3 ounces haddock or other white fish

4 ounces cooked lobster meat (about 1 1/4-lb. lobster)

4 ounces raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

4 ounces bay scallops

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs

1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 tablespoon butter, melted

Directions

Heat the oven to 375. Place 2 shallow ramekins or gratin dishes on a sheet pan and lightly coat with cooking spray.

In a small saute pan over medium, heat the olive oil. Add the grated sweet potato and onion. Cook until tender, about 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in the thyme and season with salt and black pepper. Divide the mixture between the 2 baking dishes, spreading it evenly across the bottom.

Cut fish and lobster into bite-size pieces. Arrange the fish, lobster, shrimp and scallops over the sweet potato mixture. Sprinkle with salt and pour the cream over the seafood.

In a small bowl, combine the panko, paprika and a pinch of salt. Pour the butter over the mixture and toss to coat. Sprinkle the panko mixture over the seafood. Bake until the cream is bubbling, about 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

Per serving: 700 calories; 37g fat; 44g carbs; 560mg sodium.