Simple Romantic Dinner Recipes

Romantic dinners are supposed to be about sharing a romantic meal together and not about using every pot and pan in your kitchen, so these simple romantic dinner recipes should inspire cuddling not a trip to the local cooking school.

Every list of aphrodisiacs includes asparagus and tomatoes. Tomatoes used to be called Pomme D’Amore (in French) and in Italian it was called Pomi d’amore. Either way, that translates to Apple of Love. It was widely believed that tomatoes would incite ardor in those who consumed them.

Asparagus was also believed to inspire amorous feelings when eaten. This appetizer uses both ingredients and is a fabulous way to start your romantic dinner. The rich flavor of sun dried tomatoes complements the taste of asparagus perfectly. You might want to serve this with some bruschetta and a light white wine. I like to use Pecorino-Romano cheese in this recipe, but Parmesan is easier to find and often kinder to the pocketbook.

If you happen to have dry sun-dried tomatoes on hand (by which I mean they are not packed in a jar with oil), place the dry tomatoes in a bowl and pour at least a 1/2-cup of olive oil over them. Let them sit for about an hour in the oil as they reconstitute. Then use the oil for the recipe.

• ½ pound of asparagus
• 1 cup of sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
• 2 tablespoons Parmesan, grated
• Salt and freshly ground pepper

1. Trim the tougher bottom part of the asparagus off the spears.
2. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
3. Place the asparagus in a roasting dish.
4. Pour about a ¼ cup of the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes over the asparagus spears.
5. Sprinkle a pinch or two of salt over the asparagus as well as a few grinds of fresh pepper.
6. Bake the asparagus for 10 minutes.
7. Toss the sun-dried tomatoes over the asparagus spears and bake for five more minutes.
8. Divide the asparagus and sun-dried tomatoes between two plates and drizzle with a little more sun-dried tomato oil.
9. Sprinkle the cheese over the asparagus.

Jambalaya might look difficult to make and it definitely tastes like you spent all day working on it, but if you can brown chicken you can make a great tasting dinner.

This recipe calls for 2 cups of cooked rice. You can save yourself some trouble and pick up one of those bags of pre-cooked rice that are available at the market. The rice will get heated in the pot with the jambalaya anyway so why drive yourself nuts? No one will know the difference.

You will need a 1/2 pound of andouille sausage, but if you can’t find andouille at the market don’t panic. Any spicy sausage will work just as well. Just ask the butcher for some spicy, pre-cooked sausage and go with that. Remember that simple romantic dinner recipes are about romance not authenticity. Any hot sausage will spice up your night just as well as andouille.

You will need a Dutch oven or any deep pan or pot will work just as well. Since you will not be putting it in the oven a large pot with a lid will do.

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• ¾ pounds chicken, cubed (skinless boneless breasts work well)
• Salt and fresh ground pepper
• ½ pound andouille sausage, sliced ½ inch thick
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1 cup diced bell pepper
• ¾ cup diced celery
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• Pinch of cayenne
• 2 cups of chopped tomatoes (you can use canned diced tomatoes)
• 1 ½ cups chicken broth
• 1 bay leaf
• ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
• ½ teaspoon Tabasco sauce (or more to taste)
• 15 shrimp, peeled and deveined (21 to 25 count)
• 2 cups of cooked rice
• ½ cup of sliced green onions to garnish

1. Heat the oil in the pot over a high flame until it shimmers.
2. Season the chicken with the salt and pepper.
3. Sear the chicken in the oil until it is golden on all sides.
4. Remove the chicken to a plate.
5. Add the sausage to the pot and brown on all sides.
6. Remove the browned sausage to the same plate as the chicken.
7. Add the onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, paprika, cayenne, and a pinch of fresh ground pepper to the pot.
8. Lower the heat to medium-low flame and cook the vegetables, stirring frequently, until they start to soften. About 10 minutes.
9. Add the tomatoes and all the juice from the tomatoes to the pot.
10. Add the broth and the bay leaf.
11. Bring to a simmer and then cover the pot.
12. Let the jambalaya simmer for 15 minutes.
13. Add the chicken and the sausage back to the pot along with any of the juices that has collected on the plate.
14. Add the basil, thyme, and Tabasco sauce.
15. Let simmer ten minutes.
16. Add the rice and the shrimp.
17. Let simmer for five minutes or until the shrimp are cooked through.
18. Serve in a bowl, garnished with the chopped green onions.

Romantic dinners are about time spent together not time spent in the kitchen, so keeping the simple in the simple romantic dinner recipes is key. Bear this in mind when getting your dessert ready.

Most chocolate desserts can be made well ahead of time and served cold. Think along the lines of chocolate mousse, pot de crème, or chocolate dipped strawberries.

If you are making your dessert ahead of time, a simple crème Brûlée, lemon mousse, lava cake, or a mini Bundt cake can be fun. Don’t forget that truffles, especially champagne truffles, are always a welcome addition to a romantic meal.

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