Clodagh McKenna makes steak frites Feb. 9, 202105:47 Going out to eat for Valentine’s Day is so 2019 (read: pre-pandemic). And nothing quite says, “I love you” or “I wanna get to know you” like a homemade dinner . This romantic holiday may have taken on different iterations over […]
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Clodagh McKenna makes steak frites
Feb. 9, 202105:47
Going out to eat for Valentine's Day is so 2019 (read: pre-pandemic). And nothing quite says, "I love you" or "I wanna get to know you" like a homemade dinner.
This romantic holiday may have taken on different iterations over the years, from being coined "Galentine's Day" by single women to adding extra pressure on couples. But let's face it: The best way to express a little love, whether it's for a friend, a partner, your kids or anyone who is special to you (including yourself!), is to show off your skills in the kitchen.
Say "Happy Valentine's Day" like you mean it with beautiful starters and a satisfying entrees. Whoever you want to celebrate with, will feel happy and fulfilled with these perfectly easy, elegant recipes.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Four of Hearts Salad
Adam Richman
The name of this recipe is a play on words with regard to your heart and the blood in the blood oranges. Grilling the romaine takes the flavor from refreshing to complex and the salad is full of color with a variety of textures that's visually pleasing on the plate.
Nathan Congleton/TODAY
Blinis with Smoked Salmon and Caviar
Ryan Scott
These blissful bites are the perfect easy, elegant and impressive appetizer. No one will suspect they only took five minutes to make!
Courtesy Romel Bruno
Burnt Broccoli and Charred Brussels Sprouts Salad
Romel Bruno
Roasting veggies to the point of charring them works beautifully with heartier varieties like broccoli and Brussels. Serve this simple salad warm, with a vinaigrette that’s bright, acidic and onion-y. With crispy pancetta and Dijon, it all balances out to a forkful of heaven.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Alejandra Ramos
This is the ultimate sweet and salty combo! You get tanginess from the cheese and sticky sweetness from the dates all wrapped in a crispy, salty bacon blanket.
Elena Besser
Baked Strawberries & Goat Cheese
Elena Besser
While this recipe is ideal for entertaining when you're low on time and don’t want to make a huge mess, it really looks like a gourmet production. It comes together in one pan and it is sure to please.
TODAY
Ina Garten's Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta
Ina Garten
Ina Garten said the fig preserves recipe for this surprisingly simple bruschetta may be one of the best things she's ever made. And when the Barefoot Contessa gives a dish that stamp of approval, we make it!
AlexPro9500 / Getty Images
Valerie Bertinelli's Asparagus, Herb and Goat Cheese Tart
Valerie Bertinelli
This tart is fast, easy and sure to impress. The bright flavors from the lemon and herbs complement the tanginess from the goat cheese, making the tart light but satisfying.
Samantha Okazaki / TODAY
Kale Salad with Crispy Bread Crumbs
Siri Daly
Siri Daly recreated one of her and Carson's favorite date-night appetizers from a restaurant in LA, and this hearty salad is it. So if you're feeling like sourcing a little romantic energy from the Dalys, this is your dish.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Prosciutto, Green Olive and Melon Skewers
John Alberti
The irresistible combination of sweet, salty and briny make it impossible to have just one of these delicious skewers.
Molly Baz
Shrimp Cocktail with Dilly Horseradish Cream
Molly Baz
In this recipe, Molly Baz dishes out all the tips on what takes an OK shrimp cocktail to an exquisite shrimp cocktail. Finished with her herbaceous, spicy cream for dipping, it's hard to beat.
Will Coleman
Whipped Feta with Quick-Pickled Vegetables
Will Coleman
This whipped feta dip is a mouthful of tangy, salty flavors that, when combined with colorful, quick-pickled veggies, becomes a serious showstopper before dinner.
Courtesy of The Melting Pot
The Melting Pot's Classic Alpine Cheese Fondue
The Melting Pot
The most popular fondue at The Melting Pot, here, aged Gruyère, raclette and fontina cheeses are blended with white wine and fresh garlic and finished with a dash of nutmeg.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Pear and Brie Tarts
Skyler Bouchard
Talk about an easy way to impress a date! These tarts are great on their own, or as part of a larger charcuterie board.
Nathan Congleton/TODAY
Siri's Oysters on the Half-Shell
Siri Daly
Oysters are an elegant way to kick off any date night. They are simple yet impressive, and completely delicious — especially when topped with hot horseradish, spicy cocktail sauce and savory mignonette.
Nathan Congleton/TODAY
Siri's Heart-Shaped Meatloaf
Siri Daly
This is a moist meatloaf, light in texture but heavy in flavor and completely nourishing. It is basted during the cooking process with a savory, tangy glaze that keeps the meatloaf tender while giving it a sweet crust. Oh, and if you didn't notice, it's also shaped like a heart.
Casey Barber/Good Food Stories LLC
Sheet-Pan Greek Shrimp with Asparagus, Tomatoes and Olives
Casey Barber
Nobody said Valentine's Day dinner had to be time consuming or difficult. This easy dinner is part of the Mediterranean diet and it's absolutely delicious. Oregano, mint and feta round out the veggies, salty Greek olives and shrimp.
Courtesy Joy Bauer
Chicken Bruschetta
Joy Bauer
From juicy, fresh Roma tomatoes to aromatic basil and ooey-gooey mozzarella cheese, this chicken dinner boasts gourmet pedigree and is ready in just 15 minutes. Plus, it looks beautiful plated, especially if you're opting for a red theme.
Cacio e Pepe
Carlo Mirarchi
The predecessor of mac and cheese as we know it now, this Roman dish is made with pasta, cheese and pepper. The secret is using the starchy pasta's cooking water to create a creamy sauce that coats each strand. The result is perhaps the ultimate three-ingredient dinner ever.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Bone-In Rib-Eye Steak with Arugula and Avocado
Adam Richman
Adam Richman loves a good rib-eye because of the complexity and richness of flavor. The salad offers a nice bit of a counterpoint and the avocado adds to the luxurious mouthfeel. It's visually arresting and a great crowd-pleaser.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Byaldi (Provençal Vegetable Casserole)
Eric Ripert
Byaldi is a very typical Provençal dish, like a very fancy ratatouille. Each layer of the vegetables taste fresh and juicy as you eat them from the warm casserole. It's even better the next day if you manage to have leftovers.
Nathan Congleton/TODAY
Seared Scallops with Caper Beurre Blanc
Ryan Scott
You can never say no to white wine butter sauce, and this one is seriously the best ever. Add the salty notes of the capers and sweetness of fresh scallops and you have a little bite of seafood heaven.
Courtesy Alejandra Ramos
Heart-Shaped Pizza with DIY Toppings
Alejandra Ramos
What could be more romantic than making and sharing a heart-shaped pizza with your sweetheart? Just imagine the sparks flying as you knead the dough and spread the toppings.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Creamy Fettuccine with Shrimp, Spinach and Tomatoes
Gina Neely
Veggie-packed pasta is perfect for date night because it's healthy, delicious and comes together fast — so you can get back to spending time with each other.
Clodagh Mckenna
Steak Frites with 10-minute Béarnaise Sauce
Clodagh McKenna
Bring your special someone on a taste-scape a fabulous Parisian bistro! This classic dish is made easier and quicker with a simple 10-minute buttery, herby sauce to serve alongside the juicy steak.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Eric Ripert's Swordfish au Poivre
Eric Ripert
Swordfish is a great alternative to steak or other red meats. Eric Ripert serves his medium-rare with a creamy au poivre sauce.
Mike Smith / TODAY
Jean-Georges' Soy-Glazed Beef Short-Ribs
Jean-Georges Vongerichten
The sweet heat of the apple puree compliments the hearty richness of the tender beef in this recipe. It's also easy to prepare but is special enough to leave a lasting impression.
Ed Anderson
Vietnamese Steak Salad
Michael Symon
This fulfilling salad starts with an umami-rich marinade that takes its cues from Vietnamese, Thai and even Korean kitchens.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Ravioli San Valentino
Andrew Carmellini
Beets are great because they are super easy to work with. For Valentine's Day, this ravioli offers a festive but sweet and earthy combination of flavors.
Angie Mosier
Brie Pasta
Elizabeth Heiskell
This creamy, rich pasta comes together in a flash — and your date will be blown away by it.
Kathryn McCrary / Andrews McMeel Publishing
Lobster Mac and Cheese
David Rose
Take a classic comfort food and transform it into an elegant dish fit for royalty. The blend of sharp cheddar, nutty Parmesan, the gradual build of mild heat from the pepper jack and the sweet and briny lobster meat make this mac unforgettable.
Courtesy Ken Goodman
Maccheroni with Polpettine
Scott Conant
This dish is soul-satisfying, and you're truly able to get a bite of a meatball and pasta with sauce in each bite. This is a bit of a play on the traditional Italian-style pasta. The maccheroni is a timeless, rustic shape.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
Parchment Baked Cod with Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms
Seamus Mullen
Fish fillets baked in parchment with a colorful assortment of vegetables make an effortless and awesome dinner. All of the juices mingle together as the ingredients cook together. Plus, they smell incredible once you open the parchment, add fresh herbs and finish with a drizzle of olive oil.
Courtesy Ryan Scott
Braised Beef Short Ribs with Mashed Potatoes
Ryan Scott
This dish is like a fancy-pants version of beef stew: every bit as comforting but with an elevated twist that makes it perfect for a Sunday supper with family or for entertaining very important guests.
Ditte Isager
Sea Scallops with Crushed Peanuts and Cucumber Relish
Padma Lakshmi
This delicate, elegant dish is surprisingly simple to make. Adding the crunchy peanuts offsets the soft, voluptuous nature of the sea scallops yet still echo their buttery flavor. This is a dish in which you really have all the basic tastes of salt, sour, hot and sweet.
TODAY
Ina Garten's Skillet-Roasted Lemon Chicken
Ina Garten
"I can't tell you how many times I've made this!" says Ina Garten. She recommends having the butcher butterfly the chicken so all you do is grind the thyme, fennel seeds, salt and pepper, mix it with olive oil, and brush it on the chicken. When the lemon slices are roasted and caramelized, you can eat them with the chicken.
TODAY
Pasta alla Norma
Anthony Contrino
Sweet tomatoes, earthy eggplant and a little red pepper for spice make it a hearty dish for any night. Normally topped with ricotta salata, this version uses a whipped ricotta to balance the tomato-based sauce with a creamier texture.
Amber St. Peter / Homestyle Vegan
Rosemary Garlic Hasselback Potatoes
Amber St. Peter
This recipe looks much fancier than the amount of work required to make it. Pair it with a protein — like chicken or steak — or serve it on its own for a showstopping vegetarian main.
Tyler Essary / TODAY
Red Wine Pasta
Ali Rosen
This eye-catching, ruby-red pasta is always the star of a party. It only takes 20 minutes, including both prep and cook time, and the noodles take on a sweet, earthy flavor from the wine.
Grace Parisi / TODAY
5-Ingredient Harissa Chicken with Potatoes
Grace Parisi
Five ingredients (not including oil, salt and pepper) come together to make this a one-pot meal. Serve it with a salad and dinner's complete. Making deep gashes into the chicken before roasting not only allows the spices to penetrate more deeply, it also speeds up the cooking.
Samantha Okazaki / TODAY
Creamy Lobster Linguine
Giada De Laurentiis
Trust us: This luscious lobster linguine is the most decadent display of affection.
