Valentine's dinner - quick and easy recipes - page 3

The idea for using filet mignon for this classic Vietnamese dish comes from The Slanted Door in San Francisco: cubed, tender beef, stir-fried briefly in a hot pan, before adding the ingredients to form a simple, flavorful sauce. Serve shaking beef on a bed of watercress with lime wedges and thinly sliced scallion or red onion.

Super simple and incredible flavorful, these one-bite stuffed pepper appetizers are very addictive. If you can’t find the Spanish marcona almonds in your supermarket or specialty food store, simply roast raw, skinned almonds with a little olive oil and coarse salt until golden. Find Peppadews at the olive bar of well-stocked markets, or in the grocery aisle next to the jarred olives. Serve with glasses of dry rosé or Barcelona-style gin and tonics.

Got your hands on some good, fresh oysters? Serve these luscious bivalves in haute style with caviar, mirapoix, and coriander. You’ll need your oyster-shucking tool, of course. And don’t forget to buy a hefty amount of ice or salt to serve this starter on a bed of ice or salt for a cool, crisp, dramatic backdrop.

One of the most ubiquitous casseroles around, the pot pie has many incarnations, both good and bad—but when it’s good, it’s memorable. With tasty Creamed Turkey (or Creamed Chicken, if you prefer), loads of vegetables, and a no-fuss puff pastry crust, this one falls in the good category. We think you’ll agree. What to buy: We used Dufour puff pastry with excellent results, but if you prefer a denser crust, try topping your pot pie with frozen store-bought flaky pie dough. This recipe was feat...

Poutine, Montreal’s beloved snack and late-night drunk food, gets the pulled pork treatment here. You start by cooking oven fries that—easily enough—you get from the freezer case, then topping with cheese curds and a mound of pulled pork. Ladle gravy over the top, pop the whole thing back in the oven briefly, just enough to melt the cheese, and you and your guests are ready to scarf.

The classic rendition of this dish is traditionally made with chicken, but we wanted to change up our poultry routine, so we swapped out the conventional choice with hearty and heathy turkey. What’s with the name? Story goes that the recipe is named after an opera singer, Luisa Tetrazzini, though there is still a debate about the dish’s true origins: whether they trace back to San Francisco’s Palace Hotel or New York’s Knickerbocker Hotel.

Being from the Caribbean, my partner Lu loves tropical flavors—he goes crazy for anything that comes with mango. I’ve made him swordfish with mango-avocado salsa, zucchini pasta cooked with mango and coconut flakes, and this tilapia recipe, which is probably his favorite. The spicy, blackened fish gets along famously with the sweet mango and refreshing chayote and bell pepper. With fresh herbs like cilantro and mint, you’ll have to check out your window to make sure you’re not at the beach!

This dish is deceivingly simple, as long as you get the right ingredients, it can be executed for the home cook seamlessly. This salad started as a play on the classic “Cucumber, yogurt and smoked fish” combination, but at dinnertable in NYC, their team adds in a unique Japanese twist: mixing in sesame yogurt, marinated trout roe, and a seaweed (hijiki) dressing.

This Thai soup has diverse flavours and a creamy taste. Make Tom Yum at home and it will be a real treat for everyone who tastes this special soup.

Enjoy the pork chop Cuban style with orange marinade

A creamy chicken Alfredo with sun dried tomato, spinach and bacon, you'll love how the shredded chicken acts like a mop for the luxurious Alfredo sauce!

Nothing beats classic lasagna. And this is the easiest recipe you will ever make. It can be made ahead and it’s freezer-friendly too!

Rich and Comforting Beef Bourguignon in a delicious rich sauce…. Slow cooked merrily in the oven until beautifully tender. This is a great dish for when you have guests.

Rich and indulgent beef stroganoff with ribeye steak and mushrooms is a real treat dinner. It’s also ready in less than 20 minutes! Perfect for Valentine's day.