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Love Served Hot: 5 Easy Valentine’s Day Recipes For Every Kind of Couple

Simple dishes, sweet moments, and zero stress: just good food for the one you adore.

| Vaishnavi Rana
1000146771

Valentine’s Day doesn’t always need a grand gesture. Sometimes, the most romantic thing you can do is cook something delicious, share a laugh over a bubbling pot, or steal a bite of dessert before it even reaches the table. Whether you’re planning a cosy dinner, a playful date night, or a solo celebration filled with self-love, these four easy recipes bring all the charm without any of the chaos. From a pink pasta to a heart-shaped pizza that practically winks back at you, here’s your foolproof guide to Valentine’s comfort cooking.

1. Pink Pasta

The controversial cousin of white and red sauce pasta, this dish is a favourite when you both can't choose between the two. Serve it with a glass of your favourite wine!

Ingredients

  • Pasta of choice (penne or rigatoni)

  • Butter

  • Garlic, chopped

  • Tomato paste

  • Vodka (optional)

  • Fresh cream

  • Chilli flakes

  • Parmesan

  • Salt

  • Pepper

Method

Step 1

Boil the pasta until al dente and reserve a little pasta water.

Step 2

Melt butter in a pan, add garlic and sauté until fragrant.

Step 3

Stir in tomato paste and cook it down until it deepens in colour.

Step 4

Add vodka and let it simmer for 1 to 2 minutes so the alcohol cooks out.

Step 5

Pour in cream, add chilli flakes, salt and pepper, and mix until the sauce turns pink.

Step 6

Add pasta + a splash of pasta water and toss with parmesan until glossy.

2. Chocolate Lava Mug Cake

Chocolate can be a safe bet when it comes to surprising your lover on Valentine's but making it in the form of a lava cake makes it even sweeter. Trust us.

Ingredients

  • All-purpose flour

  • Cocoa powder

  • Sugar

  • Baking powder

  • Milk

  • Melted butter

  • Vanilla extract

  • A small piece of chocolate

Method

Step 1

Mix flour, cocoa powder, sugar and baking powder in a microwave-safe mug.

Step 2

Add milk, melted butter and vanilla, and stir until smooth.

Step 3

Press the chocolate piece into the centre.

Step 4

Microwave for 60 to 75 seconds until the top is set but the centre stays molten.

Step 5

Let it sit for 30 seconds before eating so the lava settles.

3. Heart-Shaped Pizza

Confess your love with a heart shaped pizza, because that's the one they will always remember. Just make sure you know their opinions on pineapple on pizza.

 Ingredients

  • Pizza dough

  • Olive oil

  • Pizza sauce

  • Mozzarella cheese

  • Basil leaves

  • Your toppings of choice

Method

Step 1

Shape the dough into a heart by pulling the top into two curves and the bottom into a point.

Step 2

Brush with olive oil and spread pizza sauce evenly.

Step 3

Add mozzarella and toppings.

Step 4

Bake in a preheated oven at 230°C until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly.

Step 5

Finish with basil leaves and serve hot.

4. Viva La Romance Cocktail

This with a side of strawberries dipped in chocolate. That's the perfect romantic evening right there!

Viva El Ron White Rum_Viva La Romance

Ingredients

  • 45 ml Viva El Ron White Rum

  • 30 ml coconut cream

  • 15 ml crème de cacao

  • 30 ml pineapple juice

  • Chocolate drizzle (for garnish)

Method

Step 1

Add the rum, coconut cream, crème de cacao, and pineapple juice to a shaker with ice.

Step 2 

Shake well and strain into a chilled coupe or highball glass filled with ice.

Step 3 

Finish with a light chocolate drizzle on top.

5. Lemon Butter Salmon

A little buttering goes a long way in relationships. And what better way to make them happy! Serve them this dish and make it a valentine you won't forget.

Ingredients

  • Salmon fillets

  • Butter

  • Garlic, minced

  • Lemon slices

  • Lemon juice

  • Salt

  • Pepper

  • Parsley

Method

Step 1

Season salmon with salt and pepper.

Step 2

In a pan, melt butter and add garlic until fragrant.

Step 3

Place salmon skin-side down and cook until golden.

Step 4

Add lemon slices and a splash of lemon juice to the pan.

Step 5

Spoon the buttery lemon sauce over the salmon until fully cooked.

Step 6

Garnish with parsley and serve.

If love had a flavour, it would probably taste a lot like this: buttery salmon, blushing pasta, warm chocolate, and pizza shaped like a tiny edible declaration. These recipes were made to be shared, whether that’s with a partner, friends, or simply yourself on a night you feel like celebrating your own brilliance. No matter how you spend the day, let your kitchen be the place where the romance shows up in the smallest, sweetest ways. Bon appétit!

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