Menu for Valentine’s Day dinner or lunch: easy recipes from appetizers to desserts

Valentine’s Day 2022 is approaching: a dinner or lunch menu with easy recipes from appetizer to dessert is what we will need this year, as we will not have many chances to go out. However, the ideas that we propose below are suitable for the menu of any romantic dinner for two at home, whether it is an anniversary or another occasion that needs – perhaps – aphrodisiac recipes. It is said that the shortest path to a person’s heart was straight through their stomach. But it is even more certain that cooking for someone represents a gesture of love. Whether you want to opt for an inexpensive Valentine’s Day menu at home based on meat or fish, with or without kitchen machines, here are some winning ideas for February 14th.

Valentine’s Day lunch, ideas for the menu

Let’s start with the ideas for Valentine’s Day lunch in which, unlike dinner (many prefer to opt for a light menu in the evening) you can indulge more with pasta meals (even if this does not mean neglecting the other dishes). For lunch, we suggest a complete menu, from appetizers to desserts.

Appetizers for Valentine’s Day lunch

The appetizers of Valentine’s Day are the best way to get the ball rolling. Because of the rich menu, we recommend choosing a maximum of two appetizers, including puff pastry snacks, heart-shaped canapes with lumpfish eggs, vol au vent filled with mascarpone or tuna mousse or savoury pumpkin souffle, or small squares of homemade focaccia. If you opt for a pasta dish, the main course, and the dessert it is better not to overdo it with the risk of weighing yourself down immediately.

Valentine’s Day lunch, pasta dishes

For the pasta dishes, you can opt for many kinds of pasta, even homemade, or risotto. In the latter case, if you want to go big, you could propose a risotto with sparkling wine, seafood, shrimp and citrus, or simply a mushroom risotto. As for pasta, you can play with the shape of the pasta, choosing a heart-shaped one to dress with a tasty walnut pesto or Bolognese sauce, or opting for a classic of Italian cuisine, the spaghetti Carbonara. If you prefer a vegetarian pasta dish, you can prepare the tagliatelle with vegetable ragù.

Main courses for lunch on February 14th

Main courses for Valentine’s Day can be based on meat, fish or even vegetarian. The choice depends on the rest of the menu. Regardless, we suggest some ideas that you can include in your romantic menu that are quick and easy to prepare. With chicken you are never wrong: you could therefore opt for a classic and Italian Chicken cacciatore, or if you want a touch of spiciness you can go for spicy chicken drumsticks. If you prefer fish, however, salmon fillet can make your life easier: you can make it baked in a pistachio crust or with a pan in a sesame seed crust. The tuna can be grilled and served with an orange sauce. Potato soufflé, low fat Spanish omelette, and also a tomato soup with little hearts of cheese may come in handy, however, as vegetarian ideas.

Sweets for Valentine’s Day lunch

Of course, a delicious dessert cannot be missing. Valentine’s Day desserts suitable to conclude the menu are preferably single portions, chocolate and creamy. A few examples? A small heart-shaped cheesecake, a chocolate and raspberry mousse or even some very simple cookies to garnish with small heart-shaped sprinkles. If you prefer a gourmet dessert, then you can opt for the poached pears, but even a simple banana bread dipped in melted chocolate can be a tasty idea. Do you prefer not to overdo it? Opt for the dear old strawberries covered in dark chocolate, with or without whipping cream on the spot: they won’t make you regret more caloric choices.

Valentine’s dinner, recipes for the menu

A Valentine’s Day home menu suitable for dinner provides a greater focus on appetizers and main courses. In this case, you can also give more space to the aperitif. How about a passion fruit Martini? It is the perfect cocktail with which to start – or even conclude, why not – Valentine’s Day dinner. Proceed with the appetizers.

Appetizers (aphrodisiacs) for Valentine’s Day dinner

A crab and citrus salad, a prawn bruschetta with lemon fennel salad, a smoked salmon and avocado tartare can be perfect for a gourmet menu. But if you do not have great expectations, you can opt for the classic appetizers such as the inimitable oysters and champagne or the irreplaceable scallops au gratin. Salmon canapés, baskets of phyllo dough or savoury shortcrust tarts filled with meats and cheeses or vegetables, if wisely cared for in appearance, can be eye-catching even before tickling your taste buds.

Main courses for Valentine’s Day dinner

As anticipated, in this case, we are focusing on main courses, which must be the real stars of the dinner. Some idea? Meat-based courses are pork tenderloin with honey and ginger, or also a tasty butter chicken. Fish courses are salmon and lemon fish cakes, the grouper fillets with truffles, or the skewers of swordfish with pistachio. If you are vegetarian or vegan you could go for vegetarian stuffed peppers or homemade veg burgers to be served with classic side dishes (baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, stir-fried broccoli).

The side dishes recipes

Large main courses must be matched with side dishes that are up to par. A few examples? We can opt for salads: the mediterranean potato salad to accompany the fish-based main courses. Or you can opt for the salad with rocket, walnuts and pears, more suitable for a meat-based dinner. Stewed artichoke hearts or caramelised carrots and onions are also excellent, to bring a touch of colour and originality to the table.

Valentine’s Day dinner, dessert recipes

And to top it off, what you need is a dessert for two that is romantic enough, choosing between Valentine’s Day cakes or single-portion desserts. An example is the Red Velvet Cake, a strawberry millefeuille, a carrot cake decorated with hearts and roses, but if your love is celiac you can prepare a gluten-free lemon drizzle cake. If you prefer a sweet treat to be enjoyed in a bite, chocolate truffles or madeleines are more suitable. Aphrodisiac Valentine’s Day sweets are, on the other hand, a chocolate mousse or a saffron panna cotta.