20 Special Date-Night Recipes for Two
Why dine out when you can enjoy a romantic dinner at home?
Whether it's your anniversary, Valentine's Day, or a date night, we'll help you plan the ultimate menu for a romantic dinner at home with our recipes for two. These dishes result in an elegant meal that's easy to pull off and will make the time you spend together extra delicious. Get ready to find date-night dinner ideas that make eating in so much better than going out.
Related: 35 Irresistible Chocolate Desserts for Valentine's Day
Radicchio Salad With Chopped-Lemon Dressing
The ultimate partner for a steak or seafood dinner, this special salad has an irresistible dressing. Quartered lemons are mixed with whole-grain mustard, sugar, and olive oil then tossed with torn radicchio and fresh mint.
Chili-Glazed Fried-Chicken Lettuce Cups
Bun-free fried chicken takes on an Asian flavor when it's brushed with a spicy chili sauce and served in lettuce cups with crisp sliced carrots and cucumbers. A simple but fancy take-out-inspired dinner in a snap!
Steak Tartare
Bring the romance of the bistro to your dinner table when you serve steak tartare. Be sure to use the best quality beef tenderloin for this restaurant-worthy appetizer.
Thai Cucumber Salad
Make this refreshing, spicy cucumber salad when you need a crisp side. It combines cucumbers with thinly sliced red onion, Thai chiles, roasted peanuts, and plenty of fresh herbs.
Fondue for Two
Nothing says date night quite like cheese fondue. Serve it with crudités, charcuterie, cubed bread, and roasted potatoes for an indulgent and interactive appetizer.
Cornish Hens With Lemon and Herbs
While most roast chicken recipes serve four, game hen is the perfect size for a couple. Paired with root vegetables or a light green salad, it's a special but quick meal to make year-round.
Pan-Seared Scallops with Lemon
This special seafood dinner takes just minutes to make, and the best part is that as the scallops are being seared in olive oil, they require little embellishment or additional seasonings. Pro tip: Don't flip the scallops more than once or you run the risk of missing out on that perfect golden sear.
Roasted Branzino With Lemon and Thyme
So much easier than pan-searing and just as impressive, this oven-roasted branzino is flavored with just four ingredients—lemon, thyme, salt, and pepper—which let the sweet, flaky fish shine.
Mussels With Red Wine and Roasted Garlic
Want a traditional French bistro dinner in the comfort of your own home? Make these easy mussels soaked in flavor for a speedy, elegant dish. Serve with fries for a true French experience.
Skillet Steak With Pink-Peppercorn Butter
A juicy, rich steak to share is the ultimate date-night dinner for carnivores. This easy recipe uses a boneless rib-eye and builds flavor with easy homemade butter.
Broiled Snapper With Paprika Butter
Snapper gets a bit of spice and lots of flavor with this paprika butter. It's also a speedy dinner, cooked in mere minutes, and the tenderness and flakiness of the fish will surely wow your better half.
Dan Dan Noodles
Our lighter take on the classic Szechuan pork-and-noodle dish calls for dark leafy greens (think spinach, mustard greens, or tatsoi). DIY chili oil takes it to the next level.
Honeynut Squash, Leek, and Brie Gratin
Whether you serve it as a vegetarian main or a side, this rich, cheesy recipe is sure to please.
Flat-Iron Steak au Poivre
Flat-iron steaks are a smart choice for date night. They're juicy and flavorful but not as pricey as some other cuts. Au poivre refers to the sauce made with crushed black peppercorns, cognac, Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock, and heavy cream. Round out the meal with a side salad or roasted potatoes.
Sriracha Shrimp
Give shrimp a hint of heat by coating them in a combination of mayonnaise and Sriracha. Enjoy them as an appetizer or serve them over steamed rice with crisp lettuce or stirred into rice noodles for a lively entrée.
Soy-Honey-Glazed Arctic Char
If your go-to seafood is salmon, try Arctic char instead for your date-night dinner. It's rich, a little fatty, moist, and an upgrade from your usual.
Rib-Eye With Jalape?o Butter
Looking for a standout dinner for a summer date night? Make this grilled rib-eye steak with spicy butter for bonus flavor.
Flounder in Parchment With Asparagus and Shiitakes
Cooking fish in parchment is a wonderful way to keep the flounder flaky and tender. Plus, it makes for easy clean-up.
Chocolate-Mousse Parfaits
No date night is complete without a sweet ending. This rich, airy mousse requires 25 minutes of prep—but allow at least an hour for it to set. Our advice is to make it the night before.
Amaro Spritz
Make a toast with this colorful, refreshing cocktail that's lighter on the booze (so you can have more than one).
Read the original article on Martha Stewart.
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