Whether you celebrate it as a family, with friends or as a couple, Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to get together with your loved ones over a nice meal .
Some prefer to go out to a restaurant on Valentine’s Day but why not share a home cooked meal with your favorite person at home?
And since there is no reason these days to give love and bring a little joy, let’s go all out to celebrate the holiday of love, with family, friends, roommates or couples!
Cooking for Valentine’s day
Here are our top recipes for a perfect Valentine’s Day meal, that are easy to cook and delicious!
The goal here is to simplify the preparation, so that you can make the most of the time spent with your loved ones without sacrificing taste.
Foods known to be aphrodisiacs
If you’re planning a romantic dinner or evening, you can also incorporate a few “aphrodisiac” foods into your menu. Of course it’s not scientifically proven, but it will keep the conversation going!
Rather, these are foods that would affect your mood, provide energy or stimulate the production of serotonin or dopamine.
Some examples:
- cheese, especially mozzarella, which is rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that stimulates the production of serotonin, the hormone responsible for happiness
- chocolate;
- ginger;
- oysters;
- mushrooms;
- asparagus.
Bites and appetizers for Valentine’s Day
For starters, opt for light and fresh dishes. If you want to make your meal a little more convivial, you can simply serve platters of cold cuts and cheeses as main courses.
Grilled octopus salad
Head to the Mediterranean region with this easy and festive recipe of grilled octopus salad, paired with a pinot grigio spumante.
Scallop ceviche with lime, strawberries and fennel recipe
A tasty and fresh starter that can be prepared quickly. It has summer written all over it!
Prosciutto wrapped asparagus with smoked cheddar
3 easy steps to make these oven-baked asparagus rolls with prosciutto and smoked cheddar. You can serve them as an appetizer or a side dish.
A grazing board
Cheeses, cold cuts, veggies... learn how to make a perfect grazing board
Greek salad and grilled halloumi cheese
A fresh and delicious salad reminiscent of holidays on the Greek Islands
Oysters
Oysters served with a classic mignonette recipe.
Grilled scallops
A simple yet delicious starter.
Oysters au gratin "Rockfeller style"
An easy recipe of oysters au gratin Rockfeller style, with spinach, garlic and parmesan, and without béchamel sauce.
Main courses suggestions
For the main course, I suggest you choose recipes that don’t require too much preparation during the evening. You want to spend time in good company, not in front of the oven!
Braised and Pulled Turkey Pasta
These braised turkey pasta, in a white wine sauce with tender vegetables, are the perfect example of comforting and delicious food.
Grilled Turkey Cutlets with Lemon, Capers and White Wine Sauce
Lovers of lemony and sunny dishes, this recipe for grilled turkey cutlets topped with a lemon, white wine and caper sauce will delight you!
A cheese fondue
2 recipes to make the perfect cheese fondue at home
Desserts ideas, with or without chocolate
For dessert , why not opt for a dessert board, which has the advantage of being friendly and greedy!
Otherwise, chocolate covered strawberries are always a winner! You can pair this with a good digestive or an alcoholic coffee and the trick is done.
What drinks to serve on Valentine’s Day?
To start the evening, there is nothing better than a cocktail or a glass of bubbles, accompanied by appetizers or even a cheese board.
Or you can also choose to go with a pink and romantic theme with one of these 7 wine, cider and bubbly rosés suggestions.
Aperol Spritz
2 versions of this cult cocktail that brings us straight to a terrace in Italy
The Grand 75
A fruity and sparkling cocktail thanks to champagne and the citrus flavors of Grand Marnier.
Bellini Bottega
A simplified version of the classic Bellini cocktail to replace your mimosas at brunch
Disaronno Fizz
Light & sparkling, the Disaronno Fizz is the perfect cocktail for hot summer days!
Fruity Mimosa
A fruity and refreshing cocktail, perfect for brunch!
Marie-Noël Ouimet is a writer and content creator specializing in gastronomy, wine, and travel. She is the founder of the digital magazine Urbaine City, where for over 10 years she has been highlighting the pleasures of the table and the destinations that bring them to life. She also holds the WSET Level 3 certification in wines and spirits.