Looking for Valentine’s dinner ideas that will surprise and delight the one you love? No matter your skill level in the kitchen, we have a recipe for your Valentine’s day.
When considering Valentine’s dinner ideas, you may want to cook something a little different. Recipes made with love don’t have to be overly complex. Sometimes a simple combination of delicious flavors is all you need to put a smile on someone’s face.
We’ve divided our suggestions into appetizers, mains, sides, desserts and drinks, making it easy for you to create the perfect combination for a special lunch or evening meal.
For a more sustainable choice, try to choose local, organic and fair-trade produce to give the planet a little love on Valentine’s Day as well. You can even cook up your mouthwatering Valentine’s meal together, listen to your favorite music, run a bath or express yourself in a different love language.
Valentines Dinner Ideas: Appetizers
Set the table, dim the lights and maybe light a candle. Then, serve up one of these tasty valentines dinner ideas — appetizer edition!
- Crostini Recipes: 10 Tantalizing Vegan Crostini Appetizers: Put your Valentine’s spins on crostini with one of these simple appetizer suggestions. Crostini is an Italian concept, translating to ‘little crusts.’ You can eat them on their own, dip them in hummus or add them to a soup (take a look at our soup ideas below)
- Homemade hummus: Hummus is simple to make and is a great choice to serve before a main course. Chop up some carrot, celery and pepper sticks to dip along with the crostini above. Follow our step-by-step recipe, maybe sprinkling a love heart of paprika on the top.
- The Best Homemade Mushroom Soup: There is a ton of choice when it comes to soups, but this homemade mushroom soup recipe is one of our favorites. You can use mushrooms for depth of flavor. You can serve it garnished with fresh cilantro and crispy crostini croutons. It’s also easy to freeze soup, which reduces waste and lets you enjoy it again at a later date.
- Avocado and Mango Salad: You can also keep things light and fresh with this delicious salad. Avocado and mango make a beautiful pair, and the result is refreshingly different from your average green salad. You can pair it up with homemade lemonade for extra tang (see below).
Valentines Dinner Ideas: Mains
To follow appetizers, we have a selection of meals to inspire you in the kitchen. The best meals are ones that allow you to spend time together. Valentine’s Day is a perfect opportunity to get to know each other better or to reconnect if you’ve been together for a while.
- Creamy vegan mushroom risotto: If your date loves all things mushroom, this risotto may be the key to their heart. This tantalizing recipe is plant-based and uses our recipe for vegan parmesan cheese. The meal doesn’t need dairy and beautifully draws out the mushroom and garlic flavors.
- Birria tacos: Who doesn’t love tacos? Our second Valentine’s dinner idea is a taco recipe for you to enjoy. Birria is a kind of spicy Mexican stew, and this plant-based adaptation recreates the flavors and textures and comes served with vegan cheese, onions, lime and fresh cilantro.
- Dominican spaghetti: If you love pasta, try something simple and a little different with this memorable take on spaghetti. This dish is perfect served with grilled asparagus (see sides below) and topped with fresh herbs. Furthermore, you might be able to find heart-shaped pasta to make a special occasion swap!
- Black bean burger: Burgers are also fun to make and are a real treat when served with fresh bread and local salad vegetables. Add your favorite toppings, such as this sriracha mayo, garnish and you’re ready to go. You can try your hand at this succulent homemade black bean burger or one of our other burger alternatives.
Valentines Dinner Ideas: Sides
You can keep things simple with a light salad or serve some veggies to accompany your main Valentine’s dinner ideas. Sometimes one or two ingredients are plenty for a side dish. Here are a few ideas you can adapt in many ways.
- Tomato and onion salad: A refreshing tomato and onion salad, which you can enjoy with a main like Dominican pasta. The textures combine wonderfully. Try to source local and ripe tomatoes to get the best flavor.
- Grilled asparagus: Asparagus is a lovely side dish you can prepare in many ways. You can opt for or lightly fry in a pan or air-fryer. Before serving, you can also drizzle a dash of thick balsamic vinegar on the asparagus.
- Mashed potatoes: Potatoes are a safe bet for a tempting side dish. Why not try a sweet potato mash or these soft and super mashed potatoes with skins? You’ll be full and content. Potatoes have a special place in people’s hearts.
- Zucchini fries: When people think of fries, they mostly think of potatoes, but here we offer another vegetable — zucchini. Zucchini fries are tasty, crispy and work as a side dish to burgers. Our recipe shows you five ways to achieve the perfect fries.
Valentines Dinner Ideas: Desserts
Rounding off the meal with a dessert, we have some light recipes and some rich ones, depending on taste and desire. Most of these can be made in advance, ready to captivate and delight.
- Oatmeal cookies: Cookies come in many shapes and sizes, but these oatmeal treats have just the right amount of bite. Serve them with tea, coffee or an orangecello (see below).
- Chocolate mousse: This soft and dreamy Valentine’s Day dessert is gentle on the palate — and tasty, too. You can top it with strawberries or blueberries for an outstanding result.
- Cassava cake: Fancy making a cake? You could whip up this stunning Asian dessert with only a few ingredients. It is a melt-in-your-mouth sensation.
- Vegan lava cake: Our second cake suggestion for your special day. This lava cake is a rich and sensuous chocolate cake that releases warm melted chocolate for a real treat.
Valentines Dinner Ideas: Drinks
Accompany your Valentine’s meal ideas with something special to drink. You may choose your favorite bottle of wine or sparkly or enjoy a soft drink. However, you can also make your drinks, so we have included some drinks recipes below.
- Homemade lemonade: There are many ways to make your own lemonade. Once you know how, you can enjoy it all year round.
- Classic peach punch: Maybe you’d like to experiment with making a fruit punch? Here’s a delightful variation you can enjoy, maybe as an aperitif.
- Rose water: Valentine’s Day is often associated with roses, a flower signifying love and romance. You can stick with the theme and easily make up a jug of rose water for yourself and your loved one.
- Orangecello: Try this variation on limoncello, a well-known after-dinner liquor, to end the meal. Orangecello is a sophisticated drink you can make with leftover orange peel.
Whatever special dishes and combinations you choose, we wish you a loving and enchanting Valentine’s Day.
Read more:
- What Are the 7 Love Languages and What Do They Mean?
- Self Care: Learning How to Take Care of Yourself
- Green Sex: 9 Tips for a Sustainable Love Life
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