Get things cookin’ with these vegan date night recipes!
Valentine’s Day is just a few days away! I usually don’t make too much of big deal about it, but I do like to have a nice dinner to celebrate. Because restaurants can be overpriced and crowded, Dennis and I rarely go out to dinner. In past years when the holiday has fallen on a weekend, we’ve trekked into New York City to see a matinee and get lunch at a nice vegan restaurant. We’ve found that the restaurants are usually pretty bare at lunchtime, as most people will be dinning out for dinner.
When Valentine’s Day falls on a weeknight, I like to make a nice dinner. I start the meal with an appetizer, and I serve the main course with a salad and a little something for dessert. I don’t want heavy sweets after having a big meal, so I usually make truffles or mini cheesecakes.
Whether you have lots of time to prepare a meal or just a few minutes to cook dinner after work, these vegan recipes are perfect for Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day, or an evening with Netflix!
Vegan Date Night Recipes
Starters
Tangy Herbed Vegan Cheese Spread – Wine and cheese are the ultimate Valentine’s Day pairing, and this herbed spread is super easy to make.
Tomato Tartlets with Spinach Pesto – These tarts take a little time, but they’re worth it. They can be made ahead, and rewarmed at dinner time.
Stuffed Mushrooms – Stuffed mushrooms are my go-to appetizer. They’re easy to make and they can be dressed up to look fancy.
Pesto White Bean Bruschetta – This healthy oil-free bruschetta from What the Health by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn with Eunice Wong is a terrific appetizer.
Cornmeal Crusted Brussels Sprouts – Even self-professed sprout haters will love this delicious appetizer!
Vegan Cheese and Apple Tartlets – Made with puff pastry, these little tarts are super easy to make.
Salads
Kale Caesar Salad with Roasted Chickpeas – This is my favorite salad, and it’s perfect for a romantic night in.
Kale Caesar Salad with Cider Carrots – This salad is a fun twist on the classic Ceasar, and it’s a terrific side dish for a fancy dinner.
Strawberry Kale Salad – Strawberries make this salad perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Roasted Beet and Citrus Salad – Use a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut the beets in this salad rather than cutting them into cubes for a romantic twist.
Main Dishes
Socca Stacks – This impressive-looking dish is the ultimate date night meal. It has several components, making it a little time consuming, but they can be made ahead and then rewarmed and assembled when you’re ready to eat, if you’re pressed for time.
Tempeh Piccata – This lemony dish is a great dish to serve on date night or for a dinner party, but it’s easy enough for weeknights too.
Tempeh Cacciatore – Pasta gets a flavorful boost with this recipe, which is full of mushrooms, onions, and peppers.
French Mustard Seitan – Serve this dish with mashed potatoes and steamed kale for the ultimate date night meal!
Cauliflower Marsala – Cauliflower “steaks” always impress dinner guests. This version is served with a classic marsala sauce.
Roasted Cauliflower Piccata – This cauliflower dish is similar to the marsala recipe, but it’s made with a tasty lemony piccata sauce.
Spaghetti Squash in Lemon Caper Sauce – The lemon caper sauce in this dish is similar to piccata, and the spaghetti squash is a great gluten-free alternative to pasta.
Cashew Scampi – This dish is ready is just 10 minutes, so it’s the perfect main dish solution if you don’t have much time to cook.
Lemon-Dijon Tempeh with Mushrooms – This dish looks (and tastes) like something from a gourmet restaurant, but it comes together super quickly.
Tempeh Bourguignon – This flavor-packed dish comes together really quickly, too, and it’s fancy enough for date night.
Polenta Lasagna – Lasagna is always a date night favorite, and this gluten-free version uses pieces of polenta instead of pasta.
Lasagna Tart – This dish is similar to lasagna, but zucchini slices are used in the place of noodles, and it’s baked in a rustic crust.
Desserts
Tahini Truffles – Chocolate and sesame paste combine deliciously in these luscious vegan Tahini Truffles. They’re just the thing to make your sweetie swoon this Valentine’s Day.
Vegan Chocolate-Almond Date Truffles – If you’d like a lighter, healthier truffle, give these a try!
Vegan Chocolate-Peanut Butter Truffle Mini Tarts – These easy-to-make tarts combine two of my favorite things – peanut butter and chocolate.
Avocado Chocolate Mousse – Unless they see you make it, no one will ever guess that this decadent mousse is made with healthy avocados.
Chocolate Cream Pie – This luscious cream pie is a veganized version of an old family favorite.
No-Bake Mini Vegan Key Lime Cheesecakes – If chocolate isn’t your thing (which I think is weird, but hey, whatever floats your boat) give these little cheesecakes a try!
What vegan recipes will you be cooking up this week?
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