Valentine’s Day Recipes For That Romantic Dinner

Food, Recipes / By
Valentine's day recipes

A Valentine’s Day dinner at a fancy restaurant is something many couples would want but can’t always afford. But don’t worry, you can still do that romantic dinner right at home. Here are some great Valentine’s Day recipes to make and serve to your partner. 

Valentine’s Day recipe no. 1: Angry mussels

For a seafood dinner, mussels (tahong) are a great alternative to the more expensive oyster dishes. This particular recipe adds a slight Pinoy twist to the usual angry mussels recipe. Instead of slab bacon, it uses bacon rashers, which are thin slices of meat. 

Image from All Things Edible.

Ingredients

  • ½ kilo mussels
  • 250 grams bacon rashers
  • 1 medium red onion
  • 1 red chili pepper or ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • Parsley or scallions for garnishing
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • Salt and pepper

Steps

  1. Clean the mussels by putting in water and brushing them to remove dirt. Set aside to dry.
  2. Slice the bacon rashers into strips and fry until crisp. 
  3. On the same pan, add butter and saute onions, garlic, and red chili peppers. 
  4. Add the mussels and white wine and stir. 
  5. Once the mussels start opening, add the bacon strips. 
  6. Add salt and pepper to taste and garnish with parsley or scallions. Serve with bread. 

Valentine’s Day recipe no. 2: Broccoli cheese soup

Soups are a great appetizer for any Valentine’s Day dinner. This particular recipe can be done in just a few minutes while your loved one is waiting for the main course. The combination of broccoli and cheese creates a slightly sweet and tangy flavor that would set the mood nicely. 

Image courtesy of PageOne.

Ingredients

  • 3 packages of frozen chopped broccoli
  • 3 cans chicken broth
  • 1 ½ pound processed cheese food, cubed
  • 6 tablespoons margarine
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 cups milk

Steps

  1. Put the broth in a large pot and add the broccoli. Simmer for 15 minutes over medium heat.
  2. In a separate skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add onions and saute for 5 minutes or until your desired tenderness.
  3. Add the flour to the onion and stir until you get a pasty consistency. Gradually add the milk and stir until thickened. 
  4. Add the mixture to the broccoli and stir.
  5. Put in the cheese and stir until melted. Add pepper to taste. Note that you should be careful not to let the soup boil, as it will cause the cheese to break down. 

Valentine’s Day recipe no. 3: Chicken Piccata Pasta

If your beloved is craving for Italian cuisine but also, they will love this one. It uses multigrain spaghetti and skinless chicken, great for carb-conscious people. On the other hand, white wine enhances the already flavorful sauce. 

Image from Woman’s Day.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces multigrain spaghetti
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 lemon
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 1 tablespoon capers
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • Pepper
  • Salt

Steps

  1. Cook the pasta according to the packaging instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water for later. 
  2. Drain the pasta and return to the pot. Toss with half the parsley and the juice and zest of the lemon. 
  3. Slice the chicken breasts into ¼-inch thick pieces. Season with ¼ teaspoon of salt and pepper. 
  4. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Put in half of the chicken and cook until both sides are golden brown. Set aside in a bowl. 
  5. Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining chicken and oil. Cook for 1 minute. 
  6. Turn the chicken and add the garlic, capers, and peppers over the top. Cook for another minute. 
  7. Add the first batch of the chicken to the skillet and toss to combine. Pour in the wine and let simmer for 1 minute. 
  8. Remove the chicken from the heat and add the remaining pepper on the top. Toss in with the pasta and add the reserved water as needed. 

Valentine’s Day recipe no. 4: Chocolate cupcakes

To cap your Valentine’s dinner, you don’t want to miss dessert. You can prepare these cupcakes beforehand and then serve on a decorated plate. They are also great as gift items. 

Image from Preppy Kitchen.

Ingredients

Cupcake

  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar

Frosting

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 6-8 cups powdered sugar
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Steps

  1. Preheat your oven to 190 degrees Celsius. Lightly butter muffin cups. 
  2. Stir the boiling water and cocoa powder in a bowl until smooth. Let it cool. 
  3. Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. 
  4. Use a hand mixer to beat together the butter and sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and beat until smooth. Beat in the vanilla extract.
  5. Add the flour mixture and beat until fully incorporated. Follow with the cocoa mixture and stir until smooth. 
  6. Fill each muffin cup with the mixture about ⅔ of the way. Bake for 16-20 minutes. When they’re done, place them on a wire rack to cool. 
  7. For the frosting, mix the butter for a few minutes until creamy. 
  8. Add 4 cups of sugar, the milk, and vanilla. Mix until combined.
  9. Add two more cups of sugar and mix until light and fluffy.
  10. Spread the frosting on the cupcakes using a spatula. 

Prepare a romantic dinner with these Valentine’s recipes

Preparing these Valentine’s Day recipes at home is a great way to show your love for your partner. After all, you went through all that effort. Complete your romantic date with these other neat tricks and they will love you more.