On Valentine’s Day, it’s nice to give (or receive) flowers. But there’s no denying the romance of whipping up a special meal for two. After all, the best way to a person’s heart is through their stomach. It’s the day of love, so here are our favourite Valentine’s Day recipes, from oysters (of course) to lots of pasta and lobster to figs, strawberries and… chocolate.
Best Valentine’s Day breakfast recipes
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Japanese soufflé pancakes with genmaicha sugar
These fluffy soufflé pancakes are elevated with the addition of a generous sprinkle of genmaicha sugar.
Chocolate, tahini and pear pancakes
A sweet stack we’d happily have for brunch or dessert.
Turkish eggs with samoon
Though somewhat labour intensive, we promise that baking your own traditional Iraqi bread makes this meal even more delicious.
Saffron pancakes with bitter greens and smoked trout
Luxurious, fluffy and flavourful savoury pancakes.
Mixed seed and spice crêpes with roasted pumpkin
Whether you’re looking for a breakfast-for-dinner option, or you’re planning to host an ambitious champagne breakfast, these crêpes are a showstopper.
Green shakshuka with Brussels sprouts, olives and labne
Make your greens the focus of your meal with this green shakshuka – the sicilian green olives give this vegetarian dish a burst of umami.
Ricotta hotcakes with apple and honey
Fast recipe for ricotta hotcakes with apple and honey.
Hong Kong French toast with smoked cinnamon ice-cream and spiced cherry sauce
This softly spiced take on French toast is sure to delight.
Cheesy polenta waffles with fried egg and ham
Polenta adds a gorgeous texture to these waffles, which are perfect for breakfast or brunch – or dinner, or supper for that matter.
Curtis Stone’s Liège-style waffles with rhubarb-vanilla jam
“One bite of these crisp, buttery waffles and you’ll never go back to regular waffles again,” says Curtis Stone.
Syrian filled pancakes with pistachio cream
Otherwise known as Qatayef Asafiri.
Croque-madame crêpes
These croque-madame crêpes are the perfect variation for those who love croque-madame flavours, but find the bread too filling.
Rose jam with strawberries and buckwheat crêpes
Recipe for rose jam with strawberries and buckwheat crêpes by Danielle Alvarez.
Best Valentine’s Day snacks (and aphrodisiacs)
Oysters with pomegranate dressing
An oyster combination that tastes as good as it looks.
Oysters with two sauces
Add a little zing to your oysters with two vibrant mignonettes.
Oysters two ways, with cucumber-lime dressing and cabbage-ginger tsukemono
Why settle for just one dressing when you can have two?
Raes on Wategos’ oysters with lemon-aspen vinegar, anise-myrtle oil and finger lime
For oysters with personality.
Curtis Stone’s oysters with Champagne and caviar
Curtis Stone recipe for oysters with Champagne and caviar from Maude restaurant in Los Angeles.
Dan Hunter’s sautéed artichoke hearts
Australian Gourmet Traveller Spanish recipe for sautéed artichoke hearts by Dan Hunter from The Royal Mail Hotel.
Lobster mousse
Was the ’60s the high-watermark of the savoury mousse? We’ve taken inspiration from parties of the past for our lobster mousse, served with golden oily Melba toast for dipping.
Salt and vinegar 15 hour potato bites
These trendy taters are best started a day in advance, but the crispy deliciousness as a result is well worth the wait.
Scallop crudo by Leonardo’s Pizza Palace
How best to appreciate the silkiness of scallops? Raw, and drizzled with a light citrus dressing.
Scallop crudo with crisp ginger and pomegranate
This elegant summer starter comes together in just 15 minutes.
Scallops with Champagne and pea sauce
Sweet Australian scallops pair perfectly with this vibrant Champagne and pea sauce, topped with nuggets of chorizo and texture.
Amy Hamilton’s grilled scallops with spring onion and peanuts
This modern take on the classic Vietnamese street-food dish will be ready in a flash.
Ocean trout escalopes with walnut-pomegranate salsa
Escalopes are great for cooks in a hurry. This recipe makes the most of this thin cut by cooking them on one side only and achieving a wonderful texture in the process. Win-win.
Sashimi of mulloway with beetroot pickle
Australian Gourmet Traveler recipe for Sashimi of mulloway with beetroot pickle
Sashimi tartare with avocado and smoky miso mayo
A no-cook starter that’s a little bit Mexican, a little bit Japanese and a lot of fun.
Beef carpaccio, fig and fennel salad
Impress dinner guests with this simple and speedy summer salad.
Blistered shishito with queso fundido (Mexican cheese dip)
This Mexican cheese dip is the ultimate party starter.
Three-cheese fondue with chorizo oil and crudités
If you can’t get enough cheese, then this is the dish for you.
Valentine’s Day dinner recipes
Fig, pomegranate and burrata with Sherry vinaigrette
Sherry vinegar adds brightness and depth to the winning combination of figs, pomegranate and burrata.
Mike McEnearney’s fig salad with roast onions, walnuts and radicchio
A purple-hued salad that celebrates the best of fig season.
Fig, prosciutto, pear and witlof salad with pomegranate vinaigrette
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast recipe for fig, prosciutto, pear and witlof salad with pomegranate vinaigrette
Tachin with caramelised onion, pomegranate and pistachios
Pomegranate makes for a vibrant addition to this Tachin.
Ouzo, saffron and garlic mussels
Garlic and saffron are the spice stars in this summer seafood dish.
Za’atar roast chicken with pilaf, pomegranate and nuts
This fragrant chicken dish is made to serve in the centre of the table for guests to help themselves. We’ve made the za’atar fresh for a more intense thyme flavour.
Spice-roasted duck with figs
Duck is the ideal main attraction for a smaller Christmas gathering, particularly when spiced and paired with lush summer figs.
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Proscuitto-wrapped chicken with fig and goat’s cheese stuffing
Chicken involtini gets an upgrade in this impressive chicken dish.
Shawarma-spiced chicken with pomegranate tabbouleh
Labanieh takes this sharwarma dish to a luxurious new level. Begin this recipe a day ahead.
Sean Moran’s pork belly roasted with fennel, radicchio and figs
A pork roast enhanced with sweet, salty and sharp flavours.
Thai-style barbecued lobster with lemongrass, makrut lime and palm sugar
A vibrant take on a classic seafood Christmas dish.
Analiese Gregory’s lobster and abalone with wakame butter and XO sauce
A decadent dish by mainland standards, perhaps; but not so much in the lobster- and abalone-rich waters of Hobart, according to the Franklin chef.
Lobster with lemon myrtle, tarragon and crab butter
A simple and decadent way to enjoy lobster — particularly at Christmas.
Grilled lobster with beurre blanc and chives
Lobster is the ultimate show-stopping centrepiece, always.
Sean Moran’s linguine with shredded rocket, lemon, chilli and parmesan
This perfectly balanced linguine is enhanced by zesty lemon and a kick of spice.
Al Dente’s prawn ravioli
A very luxe pasta indeed.
Mixed pepper and pecorino pasta
A cacio e pepe with extra bite.
Spaghetti alla carbonara
The proper way to make this Italian classic.
Sarah Cicolini’s spaghettoni con cacio e pepe
You’ve seen this Roman pasta dish all over social media. Now, find out its origins and try your hand at the deceptively simple recipe.
Spaghetti and spanner crab meat
Add a little luxury to your midweek dinner.
Lobster spaghetti with tomato water
Substitute the lobster meat for any sweet, tender seafood like prawns or crab meat in this quick decadent pasta dish.
Marameo’s squid-ink spaghetti with crab, chilli and tomato
The type of pasta dish we’d happily eat year-round.
Cavatelli with pancetta, mint, figs and pecorino
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for cavatelli with pancetta, mint, figs and pecorino.
Spaghetti with clams and butter
The spaghetti alle vongole con burro from London’s River Café doesn’t skimp on indulgence.
Spaghettini with pipis
The foolproof combination of white wine, garlic, seafood and tomato is employed here for a super-quick weeknight dinner.
Pumpkin ravioli with sage brown butter
A combination that’s a classic for good reason.
Valentine’s Day dessert recipes
Chilli chocolate lava cake
Chocoholics delight, because this chocolate lava cake is all things spiced, gooey and delicious.
Coffee caramel panna cotta
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for coffee caramel panna cotta.
Flour and Stone’s chocolate Manjari cake
The famous signature chocolate Manjari cake by Nadine Ingram from Sydney bakery Flour & Stone.
Flour and Stone’s pink grapefruit sponge with strawberries and sesame frosting
Guaranteed to fill your kitchen with dreamy baking aromas and the irresistible fragrance of grapefruit zest.
Pistachio and rose roulade with lychees and raspberries
This elegant dessert combines a light, pistachio-flecked sponge with a decadent chocolate-cream filling.
Cardamom nut cake
Fragrant, nutty and beautiful to boot.
Chocolate mousse with white chocolate and corn flake crumble
This recipe by Leonardo’s Pizza Palace in Melbourne uses a classic technique that produces flawless mousses and parfaits.
Gerard Yaxley’s Persian love cake
With a kiss of nutmeg.
Chocolate whiskey soufflé
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for chocolate whiskey soufflé.
Marco Pierre White’s strawberry shortbread
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for Marco Pierre White’s strawberry shortcake.
Watermelon and cherry salad with cheat’s cherry granita
Straightforward and speedy.
Glazed figs with salted caramel ice-cream
Brushed with rapadura sugar and doused in muscat, you’ll want to sink your teeth into these as soon as possible.
Strawberry and rose hazelnut tart
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for strawberry and rose hazelnut tart.
Rhubarb and strawberry tart with candied pistachio and fennel seeds
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for rhubarb and strawberry tart with candied pistachio and fennel seeds.
Curtis Stone’s yoghurt panna cotta with strawberries and rosewater
“Draining yoghurt turns it into labne, and its creamy thickness makes for the best panna cotta in this easy-as dessert – a beautiful match for rose-scented strawberries,” says Curtis Stone.
Burnt honey panna cotta with chamomile strawberries
Sink your spoon into these super smooth, silky panna cottas that make for perfect spring desserts.
