14 meal ideas to share on Valentine’s Day

valentines-day

14 meal ideas to share on Valentine’s Day

Every occasion is the right time to gather around a good meal, whether it’s between lovers, friends, siblings, etc. Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to get your hands dirty and cook a meal that’s out of the ordinary. But there’s no need to look too far for meal ideas that can often be complicated. The solution for a successful dish is usually hidden in pretty simple recipes. You just have to add your own personal touch!

So to celebrate the day of love, we propose 14 recipes to share on a special day – or not! They’re just as good on other days of the year, too.

Recipe ideas for a romantic dinner

Cooking for two can be a fun activity for couples which makes sharing your meal even more enjoyable. So put on your aprons and have fun cooking one of these 6 meals to share.

Warm Brie with maple syrup, apples and nuts from Jasmine Cuisine (in French only)

Super easy to prepare, people will love this warm Brie. Enjoy it with a good loaf of bread to dip into the cheese. To make it a main meal, serve this pomegranate and bean salad with grilled chicken as a side. Who can say “no” to a recipe made in less than 30 minutes?

warm-cheese

 

Salmon tartar, avocado and mango from Papilles à l’affût (in French only)

Despite how easy it is to make, this salmon tartar will impress and make you look like a real chef when you serve it to your sweetheart! Avocado and salmon are always good together, but add mango and you’ll get a trio that’s just unbeatable. Serve with crackers and homemade sweet potato fries by Chef Cuisto (in French only).

tartare

 

Cheese and cauliflower fondue by foodlavie (in French only)

Chocolate fondue is a favourite on Valentine’s Day, but a savoury fondue is also a great meal shared between lovers. Borrowed from Switzerland, cheese fondue is meant to bring people together. Add a special touch by incorporating some cauliflower to the cheese. It’ll be lighter and just as delicious. You can even serve a rainbow vegetable stir-fry as a side or even in the fondue itself. Why not?

fondue

Tagliatelle with wild mushrooms by jecuisine (in French only)

Don’t have a clue what your sweetheart would like for Valentine’s Day dinner? A plate of pasta is the perfect classic romantic dish. You can even try to reproduce the scene from the movie Lady and the Tramp by sharing this meal together. Tagliatelle with three mushrooms will win the hearts of noodle lovers. And what better side for this dish than some cheesy garlic bread from Fraîchement pressé (in French only)!

For more pasta recipe ideas, read our “Pasta: the secret’s in the sauce” article.

mushrooms-pastas

 

Maple fondue by Les recettes de Caty (in French only)

Step out of the ordinary with this extraordinary dessert that’s just as scrumptious as a classic chocolate fondue. With strawberries, raspberries, cupcakes and more, this maple fondue is out of this world. Let your imagination go!

maple-syrup-fondue

Recipe ideas for a dinner with friends

Everybody knows that Valentine’s Day is the day of love, but friendship is love too, right? Take this opportunity to celebrate the occasion with your friends. These recipes are just as delicious when shared.

Nachos

From all the kinds of dishes to share, nachos are probably at the top of the list. At a restaurant, hockey game, the movies or with friends, this dish is the most versatile of all. As well as being easy to make, nachos are also infinitely customizable. Add your own flair and serve them with our layered guacamole, sour cream and salsa dip.

nachos

Pull apart bread by 5 ingrédients 15 minutes (in French only)

This new trend of bread sharing which has been around for some time, consists of taking a loaf of bread and cutting it into a grid, but not cutting through the bread completely. Then, simply fill the slits with ingredients like cheese and onions in this case. Although it looks a little tricky, it’s actually really simple and quick to prepare. Serve it with a good Mexican quinoa salad for a splash of colour.

pull-appart-bread

Homemade pork dumplings by Sylvie Isabelle (in French only)

If you’ve got time to cook, we invite you to cross the ocean with this Asian dish. The recipe itself is simple, but folding the dumpling requires a little dexterity. But these little bites are so delish you’ll forget how long it took to prepare them, especially because you’ll want to show them off and share them with your friends. You can even make a group activity out of them and cook together! Our article “Try Asian Cooking” can definitely give you some inspiration for a theme night. Why not serve this Asian vegetable and rice salad to complete your dumpling dish?

pork-dumplings

Smørrebrød by foodlavie (in French only)

Smørrebrød is an essential Scandinavian dish. The idea is perfect for meals to share. Actually, it’s a fun idea to reinvent traditional open-face sandwiches. It consists of putting cold cuts, fish, condiments, cheese or spread on a slice of buttered rye bread. Put the ingredients on the table and let everyone make their own little open-face sandwiches. To add a serving of vegetables to your sandwich meal, serve with a creamy broccoli salad.

Smorrebrod

Chocolate fudge squares

These chocolate fudge squares are just perfect for sharing. In addition to being super fast to make, they’re also more than healthy because they’re made with black beans. They’re so delish you won’t even notice they have legumes in them. Don’t forget to let them rest in the fridge for 2 hours so that the texture turns out just right.

chocolate-fudge-squares

Recipe ideas for a family dinner

Valentine’s Day is a great time to celebrate with your kids or parents. Love can be shown in so many ways. Impress your family members by cooking one of these four recipes.

Broccoli rolls

Served with a side of sautéed legumes with caramelized onions and bacon, these appetizers can be great as a main, too.  Easy to make, easy to share and oh so easy to enjoy! You can eat this meal while playing a board game, no problem.

broccoli-rolls

All dressed pizza

Cooking a pizza is a great way to share a gourmet moment with your family and friends. This rather traditional recipe will please everyone and you can always add your own personal touch. Love mushrooms? Just throw them in! You can also serve a warm potato salad with grilled lettuce to enhance your pizz.

pizza

Fish and mango tacos by Les recettes de Caty (in French only)

Who doesn’t love taco night? Put all the ingredients on the table and let your imagination go to create these fish and mango tacos. A recipe with tons of colour that’ll spice up any traditional taco recipe. This lime edamame is an excellent side dish for snacking with tacos. Your table with shine.

fish-tacos

 

Queen Elizabeth vegetable cake

Finish the evening on a high note with this wonderful Queen Elizabeth cake. You’ll be stunned that there’s broccoli and cauliflower in it! This dessert will go as fast as it came to the table. Success guaranteed.

queen-elizabeth-cake

Ideas for a special Valentine’s Day

  1. Create a personalized gift

There’s no need to spend a huge amount of money to make someone happy. Most of the time, a small gesture that shows how well you know the person is worth much more than an impersonal, but expensive gift. For example, you can give a voucher that’s good all-year long. Like a gift certificate for a massage, a voucher for a favourite, homecooked meal or a coupon for breakfast in bed!

  1. Do a special activity together

Use this day to spend some quality time together – no distractions. Valentine’s Day on a weekday? Break the routine and go skating outside or play a board game inside.

  1. Surprise them

Everyone loves surprises even those who say they don’t! Why not send flowers to their work or chocolates to their house – with a personal note, of course! Guaranteed to make them smile. 🙂

 

We hope these suggestions and recipes have inspired you to create a special evening for someone you love. So who will you enjoy these inspired dishes with?

 

 

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