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How to stage a break-up dinner

A box of chocolates might win you a date and a tub of ice-cream will cure a crushed heart, but what happens after the wooing and before the tearful binge? A break-up dinner, of course. Whether your partner’s been a cheat, snake, beggar or jerk, this is your chance to express wrath in recipe form. Get back at that good-for-nothing with 12 dishes that say: “You’re DUMPED!”

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Nothing says “I know you’re a lying scumbag” quite like cheat’s laksa. Made from all the usual suspects – prawns, tofu puffs, coconut cream and egg noodles – plus commercial laksa paste, it’s a quick and delicious way to end things. For extra kicks, lace your lover’s bowl with chilli and watch them sweat.
Malaysian laksa (cheat's laksa)
Cheat's Malaysian laksa Source: Alan Benson
Smooth out your anger with a meringue-smashing session and create an Eton mess. Usually layered with fruit and cream, this version from Feast takes a different (read: banoffee) approach, favouring banana, almond and dulce de leche.
Dulce de leche Eton mess
Source: Brett Stevens
For an impressive twist on bolognese, try O Tama Carey’s chicken heart and tomato ragù with Red Desiree gnocchi. When making the potato pillows and/or splitting with your spouse, remember Tama’s advice: “Show no fear”.
reddesireegnocchi-02.jpg
To prevent a heated argument from occurring, turn to Chengdu-style pork spare ribs. Hailing from the Sichuan province, this tongue-numbing dish is heaving with chillies and Sichuan peppercorns. Via Feast
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This simple som tam from Adam Liaw features dried shrimp, cherry tomatoes, roasted peanuts and green or snake beans. For separation purposes, stick with the latter.
Carrot and cucumber som tam
This som tam is a great veg-heavy salads Source: Hachette Australia
If you’re looking for the perfect “summer separation” dish, try Matthew Evans’ barbecued lamb with zucchini, mint and feta salad. It’s a simple, yet satisfying, decision that won’t leave you with a smidgen of regret. Via Feast
barbecued-lamb-with-zucchini-mint-and-feta-salad.jpg
Made from nutmeg, cinnamon, peppercorns and allspice, jerk marinade lends itself to poultry, meat and seafood. Here we’ve served it with pork chopssweet potato salad and a few cutting remarks. Via Spice Trip
Jerk-spiced pork chops with sweet potato salad
Source: Spice Trip
Feel like you’ve nothing left to give? Put the point across by serving bone marrow. Here The seasonal cook pairs the roasted offal with porcini butter, chestnut mushrooms and chargrilled toast.
RoastedBoneMarrowWithPorciniButter-01.jpg
Stuffed with shiitake mushrooms, rice and Chinese red sausages, then sealed in a salt dough crust, beggar’s chicken is succulent and bang-on in the flavour stakes. You’ll need to break the crust with a hammer. If you’d like to create a spectacle, do this in front of your dinner guest. Via Feast
Dinner-and-a-Movie-BeggarsChicken-0221.jpg
This Jewish dish from Feast was originally made with goose livers, but beef and chicken work just as well. The mix of eggs, onion, parsley and chopped liver makes for a lovely break-up starter. In other words, give ‘em the schmalz (poultry fat), then tell ‘em to waltz.
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A clever way to prevent protests or pleas is to announce “I’m breaking up with you” while carving Peruvian-style chicken. Serve the marinated meat with a cold beverage and plenty of sob-sating bread.
Here's a handy shortcut to try.
Here's a handy shortcut to try. Source: China Squirrel
12. “Let’s make like a banana…”

Pack a punch (and pun) with the pièce de résistance of break-up desserts, the formidable banana split. Peter Kuruvita’s adults-only version combines traditional banana and ice-cream with jackfruit, peanut toffee and a mulled wine reduction.
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SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only. Read more about SBS Food
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SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only.
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