These are our favourite Valentine's main course recipes to cook to get you in the romantic mood
Planning to serve up a Valentine's dinner? Here's how to make the main course a spectacular one...
While many mark Valentine's Day with a bouquet of flowers and a reservation at their favourite restaurant, preparing a romantic meal at home together is just as special.
But before you light the candles and pour the wine, you first need to decide what to cook come the 14 February, which is why we have collated our favourite main dish recipes for the occasion, including seafood, steak and vegetarian show-stoppers.
They're so good that even Cupid would approve!
Gnocchi cacio e pepe recipe
Traditionally made with spaghetti, this dish is so quick and easy to make it’ll become a weekly staple.
Recipe: Gnocchi Cacio e Pepe
Singapore chilli crab and prawns recipe
This crab and prawn dish is easy to make and perfect for a mid week meal.
Recipe: Singapore Chilli Crab and Prawns
Lamb with creamy spinach polenta recipe
This gorgeous dinner option is so speedy to make, needing only 15mins of cook time, and is perfect with a glass of red wine.
Recipe: Lamb with Creamy Spinach Polenta
Côte de boeuf with rosemary salt fries and truffle mayo recipe
A côte de boeuf is the French name for a single bone-in ribeye steak, which makes a superb special occasion meal for two, especially when paired with crispy chips and a rich dip.
Recipe: Côte de Boeuf with Rosemary Salt Fries and Truffle Mayo
Crab and asparagus clafoutis recipe
We’ve used a mix of white and brown meat to maximise the flavour of this savoury dish.
Recipe: Crab and Asparagus Clafoutis
Roast rack of venison with port and blueberry sauce recipe
A Hogmanay inspired, impressive dinner party recipe.
Chorizo and kale risotto recipe
Just a few ingredients make this flavourful risotto.
Recipe: Chorizo and Kale Risotto
Spaghetti vongole recipe
You can use any shellfish you like here; cockles are a cheaper alternative to clams and mussels would also work well. If you don’t like tomatoes, you can leave them out and the recipe will be just as delicious. This venetian dish is also the perfect romantic dinner to impress, half the recipe if making for a special someone.
Recipe: Spaghetti Vongole
Polenta with garlicky wild mushrooms recipe
The butternut squash adds sweetness to the polenta and helps to keep it softer and smoother.
Chicken borscht with rye dumplings recipe
This vibrant soup is sure to warm up a chilly day and can be easily adapted to become vegetarian. The rye bread flavour is authentic, but you can use fresh brown breadcrumbs too if you like.
Rolled crackling pork belly with peach stuffing recipe
Pull out all the stops with this rolled crackling pork belly, packed with peach stuffing.
Lentil and sage stuffed aubergine recipe
Tinned lentils and fresh veggies make for a thrifty yet delicious meat free main.
Mackerel and kale salad recipe
This winter salad is full of flavour and texture.
Recipe: Mackerel and Kale Salad
Egg yolk ravioli with beurre noisette recipe
Nothing says ‘special occasion’ quite like making your own pasta. And the best part is the egg yolk remains runny, the perfect dramatic way to kick off a meal.
Lamb with red wine and lentils recipe
This hearty lamb and lentil dish will warm you up on cold winter nights
Recipe: Lamb with Red Wine and Lentils
Earl grey tea-smoked salmon recipe
If you love salmon, try our recipe for smoking it at home. Make sure your kitchen is well ventilated!
Recipe: Earl Grey Tea-Smoked Salmon
Beef wellingtons with garlic mash recipe
A super easy beef Wellington, perfect for a Sunday lunch. A piece of beef fillet can be cut into evenly sized steaks for precise cooking.
Luxury bisque fish pie recipe
A family favourite made extra luxurious for special occasions, this fish pie is particularly good for Christmas
Recipe: Luxury Bisque Fish Pie
Chestnut-stuffed chicken recipe
Try using this stuffing inside a Portobello mushroom for a veggie alternative.
Recipe: Chestnut-Stuffed Chicken
Italian pork chops recipe
If possible, buy free range or organic pork – you'll be rewarded with better taste as well as texture.
Recipe: Italian Pork Chops
An experienced and highly skilled team of food writers, stylists and digital content producers, the Good Housekeeping Cookery Team is a close-knit squad of food obsessives. Cookery Editor Emma Franklin is our resident chilli obsessive and barbecue expert, who spends an inordinate amount of time on holidays poking round the local supermarkets seeking out new and exciting foods. Senior Cookery Writer Alice Shields is a former pastry chef and baking fanatic who loves making bread and would have peanut butter with everything if she could. Her favourite carb is pasta, and our vibrant green spaghetti is her weeknight go-to. Lover of all things savoury, Senior Cookery Writer Grace Evans can be found eating crispy corn and nocellara olives at every opportunity, and will take the cheeseboard over dessert any time (though she cannot resist a slice of tres leches cake). With a wealth of professional kitchen know-how, culinary training and years of experience between them, they are all dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work (and if they don’t – we’ll have the answer for why*) every time (*90% of the time the answer is: “buy an separate oven thermometer”!).
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