If you haven’t made reservations for Valentine’s Day dinner, think about making your own romantic dinner for two. Planning and preparing a meal is a time-honored way of showing how much we care for someone else, and it certainly puts hearts in our eyes.
This year, you can pick up the Doris Valentine’s Day package, which includes jumbo cooked shrimp, lobster tails, filet mignon and cannoli. The deluxe package comes with a dozen roses and a bottle of wine. Though you won’t have to worry about cooking the appetizer or dessert, you may want some inspiration for what to do with the lobster and steak.
Below is a roundup of our favorite romantic recipes that will get the sparks flying after supper.
Will you be my lobster?
Boil, broil, grill or steam, but you need only a few simple ingredients to make lobster shine– butter, lemon, salt and heat. We love this recipe for lobster pasta from Food 52 that pairs lobster tail meat with linguine, lemon, garlic and parmesan.
Making stuffed lobster tail requires a few more steps and ingredients, but the payoff is tasty and beautiful. Try this recipe from A Farmgirl’s Kitchen that combines the lobster meat with cracker crumbs, butter, herbs and spices before stuffing and baking the tails.
If the sun is shining on February 14, don’t hesitate to throw the lobster tails on the grill alongside the filet mignon. The Neelys are popular hosts on the Food Network, and the husband and wife duo shared this yummy recipe for grilled lobster tails.
Here’s your “meat” cute.
Filet mignon is one of the most tender cuts of steak. It’s also one of the leanest. That’s not necessarily a bad thing with all the butter and chocolate on the table, but it does mean filet mignon offers a milder flavor and is at risk of drying out.
This recipe from The Spruce Eats suggests wrapping the filet in a nice thick slice of bacon, which adds flavor and keeps the meat from being too dry. Alternatively, you can make this porcini-crusted filet with fresh herb butter shared by Epicurious. The crust is made by grinding dried porcini mushrooms in a spice grinder and sprinkling on the steaks before eating.
Looking to really spice things up? We happened upon this full-of-flavor filet mignon and shiitakes in a chile sauce from Leite’s Culinaria.
The only side dishes you’ll be seeing on Valentine’s Day
Choosing a side shouldn’t be an afterthought. With stars like lobster and steak on the plate, you need something that will complement the texture and flavor of the proteins. Picking up a prepared side like grilled veggies or pasta from Doris makes things easier if you’re short on time. However, if you have the time and inclination to take on something a bit more complicated, there are some great recipes to try.
Food & Wine has a delicious recipe for Meyer lemon risotto with basil, and Saveur’s white asparagus with olive oil sabayon would be an elegant addition to the plate. For sentimental types, food blog Kroll’s Korner has a recipe for roasted potato hearts that put a smile on our faces.
A few pro tips
Whether you’re a master home cook or a kitchen newbie, you get to decide how much or how little to take on this Valentine’s Day. There’s no shame in adding ready-to-eat items or having the entire meal prepared by your favorite local gourmet market (wink-wink).
If cooking is on the menu, remember that timing is key to getting a great meal on the table. While lobster is best served immediately, your steak will need time to rest. So, take some time to figure out how long you’ll need to cook each item or to heat up any prepared dishes. Coordinate accordingly.
And remember, Doris will always love you.
