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Dinner is a time to unwind and enjoy delicious food and conversations with your significant other. However, coming up with vibrant and various romantic dinner ideas can be stressful. Weekends offer the perfect opportunity to brainstorm and prepare elaborate and thoughtfully prepared scrumptious meals that leave the soul satisfied. If you have the time and affection it requires to make a seven course meal for your beloved, then here are some wonderful Sunday dinner ideas for two, complete with complementary aphrodisiacs and enriching liqueurs:
1. Spicy Soup Dumplings with Red Ginseng
No preparation could better signify the heat and the butterflies that people often feel at the helm of a romance. As a Sunday dinner idea for two, soup dumplings make for a great first course. When enhanced with the aphrodisiac red ginseng, soup dumplings act like a spicy gateway dish to an evening full of romantic decadence.
Pair it with some scotch as the smoky and complex flavours of an aged Scotch whisky can balance the spiciness of the dumplings and complement the earthy notes of red ginseng.
Ingredients:
Store-bought or homemade dumplings
Red ginseng slices
Spicy dipping sauce (mix soy sauce, rice vinegar, chilli oil, and minced garlic)
Instructions:
Steam the dumplings according to the package instructions.
While steaming, add a slice of red ginseng to each dumpling.
Serve the dumplings with the spicy dipping sauce.
2. Fig and Salami Crostini
As the second course in the Sunday dinner idea for two, we suggest the fig and salami crostini. Fig is a wonderful yet mild and delish stimulant, and salami offers the perfect bits of protein to kick off the rest of your romantic dinner. You can also reshape the salami to look like small hearts to infuse additional affection into your evening.
Pair this palette-teaser with Amaro, a bittersweet Italian liqueur that can enhance the flavours of the salami and figs with its herbal and citrusy notes.
Ingredients:
Baguette slices
Salami (heart-shaped)
Fresh figs, halved
Balsamic glaze
Olive oil
Fresh basil leaves
Instructions:
Toast the baguette slices until they're crispy.
Drizzle with olive oil and arrange salami hearts and fresh fig halves on top.
Drizzle with balsamic glaze and garnish with fresh basil leaves.
3. Shrimp Cocktail
Shrimps are just the perfect appetisers to zhuzh-up your Sunday dinner idea for two. Mindblowingly flavourful and colourfully alluring, shrimp cocktails are made of prawns that adorn a cocktail glass that is filled with tangy tomato and hot sauces. Simply dip your buttery shrimps in the succulent sauce and pop them in your mouth for a quick and delicious picker-upper.
A classic dry gin or dry vermouth can be a nice choice to complement your apéritif and whet your appetite for the following courses.
Ingredients:
Cooked and chilled shrimp
Cocktail sauce (ketchup, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce)
Lemon wedges
Fresh parsley
Instructions:
Arrange the chilled shrimp on a serving platter.
Serve with cocktail sauce for dipping.
Garnish with lemon wedges and fresh parsley.
4. Cajun Rice Salad with Pistachios
Another effective yet proteinaceous aphrodisiac are pistachios. This green nut, when combined with spicy Cajun rice and delicious vitamin-rich veggies, delivers a platter that is truly fulfilling and a wonderful Sunday dinner idea for two. Rice also makes for a great starch to complete the fourth course of your meal.
To enhance this course, pair it with absinthe. The anise and herbal notes in absinthe can complement the spice and complexity of the Cajun salad while adding a touch of intrigue.
Ingredients:
Cooked and cooled rice
Grilled Cajun-spiced chicken, diced
Chopped bell peppers (red, green, or yellow)
Roasted pistachios
Cajun vinaigrette dressing
Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine cooked rice, diced Cajun-spiced chicken, and chopped bell peppers.
Drizzle with Cajun vinaigrette dressing and toss to coat.
Sprinkle roasted pistachios over the top for crunch.
Garnish with fresh cilantro.
Serve as a delicious and spicy Cajun rice salad.
5. Honey-Glazed Salmon with Saffron and Asparagus
The tender and pink flesh of salmon is not only delicious but positively nutritious. Additionally infused with the luxurious flavours of saffron, the glaze of honey elevates the fish to a heavenly indulgence. Paired with the fresh scrunch of butter-fried asparagus, this is the perfect palette cleanser to prepare for your sixth and main course.
Complement this Sunday dinner idea for two with a good quality Chardonnay or a white wine that's not too sweet. The wine's acidity will cut through the richness of the dish.
Ingredients:
Salmon fillets
Honey
Saffron threads
Asparagus spears
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Mix honey and saffron threads to make a glaze. Brush it over the salmon.
Toss asparagus with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Bake the salmon and asparagus in the oven until cooked through.
6. Marry Me Chicken with Choice Herbs and Spices
Moving on to the main protein of the night, we have decadent chicken breasts braised with and marinated in a mixture of mouth watering herbs and spices. The name ‘Marry Me Chicken’ alludes to the fact that this preparation is so delicious it is sure to lead you straight down the wedding aisle.
Pair this hearty Sunday dinner idea for two with some spiced rum. Its warm and aromatic spices will enhance the flavours of the chicken dish and its blend of cinnamon and basil.
Ingredients:
Chicken breasts
Butter
Garlic, minced
Red pepper flakes
Chicken broth
Heavy cream
Cinnamon
Fresh basil leaves
Salt and pepper
Instructions:
Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and cinnamon.
In a skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic and red pepper flakes.
Add chicken and cook until browned.
Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, simmer until chicken is cooked.
Stir in fresh basil leaves before serving.
7. Chocolate and Cheese Fondue with Strawberries
Conclude your romantic Sunday dinner idea for two by drowning it in liquid cheese and chocolate. Add in a dash of the classic aphrodisiac strawberry and witness your souls dance in pure unadulterated joy. End your night of decadence with Crème de Cacao, which can pair well with the chocolate fondue without overwhelming your palette.
Ingredients:
Cheese fondue (Gruyère, Emmental, white wine, garlic)
Chocolate fondue (dark chocolate, heavy cream)
Strawberries for dipping
Instructions:
Pour the cheese and chocolate in separate bowls.
Serve with a side of fresh strawberries for dipping.