Deceptively Easy Valentine's Day Recipes

Make the right decision and stay home this Valentine's Day.

First things first: don't eat out on Valentine's Day. Going to a restaurant on Valentine's Day is a little like dining out on New Year's Eve. You're surrendering to meaningless hype. You're needlessly subjecting yourself to overpriced prix-fixe menus. You're voluntarily submerging yourself in hoards of annoying crowds (V-Day couples are arguably more irritating than drunken New Year's Eve revelers). And you're signing up for mediocre food as restaurants do what they must to keep pace with one of the busiest nights of the year. You needn't take part in this dining death sentence, however. Go out to celebrate Valentine's Day if you must -- just do it on a day that isn't February 14.

Instead of going out to eat for Valentine's Day, do what all long-term couples do best: eat at home, preferably on the couch. Or get a little fancy and eat at the table. Either way, you'll be making the right decision if you cook at home on Valentine's Day. Worried a home-cooked meal won't impress your Valentine as much as spending unnecessary bills on sub-par food? Worry not. We've rounded up 26 recipes that sound, look and taste difficult but are actually really easy. These recipes run the gamut from decadent to light, and the one thing they all have in common is that they're totally doable, no matter your experience level in the kitchen.

With this year's holiday falling on a Saturday, Valentine's Day is going to be a zoo at any restaurant. Keep away from the animals and try one of these deceptively easy but wildly impressive recipes.

1
Brown Butter Halibut Orzo And Mushroom Broth
A Spicy Perspective
2
Lobster Bisque
Gimme Some Oven
Get the Lobster Bisque recipe from Gimme Some Oven
3
Skirt Steak With Paprika Butter
Food & Wine
4
Alice Medrich's Best Cocoa Brownies
Food52
Get Alice Medrich's Best Cocoa Brownies recipe by Genius Recipes from Food52
5
Easy Champagne Risotto
Le Fork
Get the Easy Champagne Risotto recipe from Le Fork
6
Crab Cakes With Rémoulade Sauce
Brown Eyed Baker
Get the Crab Cakes With Rémoulade Sauce recipe from Brown Eyed Baker
7
Tuscan Chicken Liver Paté
Food52
Get the Tuscan Chicken Liver Paté recipe by gluttonforlife from Food52
8
Kale Citrus Salad
Minimalist Baker
Get the Kale Citrus Salad recipe from Minimalist Baker
9
Todd Coleman's Potato Gratin
Food52
Get Todd Coleman's Potato Gratin recipe by Genius Recipes from Food52
10
Moules Marinière
Alexandra's Kitchen
Get the Moules Marinière recipe from Alexandra's Kitchen
11
Nigella’s Flourless Chocolate Orange Cake
NeighborFood
12
Beet And Burrata Tart
Little Leopard Book
Get the Beet And Burrata Tart recipe from Little Leopard Book
13
Pomegranate Roast Lamb
Food52
Get the Pomegranate Roast Lamb recipe by Savour from Food52
14
Linguine Con Vongole
Food52
Get the Linguine Con Vongole recipe by TheWimpyVegetarian from Food52
15
Balsamic-Roasted Shallots
Food52
Get the Balsamic-Roasted Shallots recipe by Kenzi Wilbur from Food52
16
Toro Bravo's Radicchio Salad With Manchego Vinaigrette
Food52
17
Idiot Proof Creamy Tomato And Curry Butter Lobster Pasta
Half Baked Harvest
18
Gooey Chocolate Coconut Truffles
How Sweet It Is
Get the Gooey Chocolate Coconut Truffles recipe from How Sweet It Is
19
Chantarelle Mushroom And Caramelized Shallot Risotto
Adventures in Cooking
20
Flourless Nutella Cake
bell'allimento
Get the Flourless Nutella Cake recipe from bell'allimento
21
Seared Scallops With Truffle And Butter Sauce
Macheesmo
22
Lemon And Olive Oil Marinated Fennel With Burrata And Mint
Food52
23
Chocolate Truffles
Simply Recipes
Get the Chocolate Truffles recipe from Simply Recipes
24
Warm Olives In Anchovy Oil
Food52
Get the Warm Olives In Anchovy Oil recipe by ieatthepeach from Food52
25
Easy One Pan Fettuccine Alfredo
Number 2 Pencil
Get the Easy One Pan Fettuccine Alfredo recipe from Number 2 Pencil
26
Almost Flourless Chocolate Cake With Meyer Lemon Whipped Cream
Food52

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