Fake Being A Good Cook And Impress Your Date With These Easy & Romantic Dish Ideas
If you're not much of a cook but still want to impress your date, don't worry, we've got your back. To help inspire you, we've come up with 20 easy-to-make but delicious dishes that will give you a good idea of what you can whip up. From drinks to mains to desserts, there's a little bit of everything here!
1. Pan-seared Steak with Herb Butter
There's no dish out there that screams "special occasion" like a perfectly cooked steak. It's the best way to impress your date! The best part is that pan-searing is pretty straightforward, and topping your steak with a dollop of herb butter (homemade or store-bought!) elevates the dish to restaurant-level quality.
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2. Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Shrimp
If your date is more of a seafood lover, impress them with a decadent and delicious shrimp dish, like a Creamy Garlic Butter Tuscan Shrimp. Not only will this dish taste luxurious, you'll be surprised by how easy something like this can be to make!
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3. Caprese Salad with Balsamic Reduction
It doesn't get more effortless than a tasty Caprese salad. Simple yet elegant, all you really need are some fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil, and a balsamic reduction. It'll take no effort on your part, but your date will be pleased by the refreshing taste and sophisticated tone of this dish.
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4. Mushroom Risotto
Although risotto has a rep for being a more elegant, high-end dish, it's actually easier to make than you might think. So to impress your date, cook up a creamy mushroom risotto that'll feel oh so comforting and romantic. It's got rich flavours and a delightful creamy texture! All it requires is a bit of patience on your end; just keep stirring if you want to achieve perfection.
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5. Chocolate Fondue
Easy-to-make, chocolate fondue is the perfect way to close off a delicious meal. With so many different sweet items to choose from, like fruits, marshmallows, cookies, and cakes, your date will certainly be impressed by the array of goodies to enjoy. It's an interactive experience that's fun AND romantic.
Image by Ernesto Pasini from Pixabay
6. Champagne Cocktails
A simple way to make the evening special is to bring out some champagne cocktails. Cocktails are the perfect thing to whip up to easily impress and satisfy your date. All you need is some champagne mixed with a splash of fruit juice or liqueur you know they'll like for a personalized touch. You just can't go wrong with it.
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7. Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon
For an impressively easy yet full of flavour dish to pull off, trying baking or pan-frying a salmon with some lemon garlic butter sauce. It requires very little ingredients but it'll taste out of this world. It's a simple way to impress someone even if you have very little cooking skills.
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8. Pesto Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
Whether you're making the pesto homemade or buying it from the store, this pesto pasta dish will inspire you to lean into light and fresh flavours. Combined with some cherry tomatoes, it's a vibrant and easy-to-make dish that's perfect for a simple romantic dinner.
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9. Strawberry Shortcake Trifles
Trifles are awfully easy to put together despite their complex and intricate look. Not only is it visually appealing, but a Strawberry Shortcake Trifle is sure to please. Just layer some storebought sponge cake, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries in clear glasses!
10. Watermelon Cucumber Feta Salad
For a light and refreshing side or starter, your main will have some serious competition for best dish after you serve this salad. It's simple - you just need some watermelon cubes, cucumber, feta cheese, and a sprinkle of mint. It's effortlessly "chic" and will pair well with almost any main you serve!
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11. Baked Brie with Honey and Almonds
For a romantic appetizer, you should definitely consider making some baked brie. Topping it with some honey and almonds just gives it a classy touch! All this requires on your end is baking the brie until soft and pairing it with some crackers or sliced baguettes. Talk about romantic.
12. Stuffed Bell Peppers
For something more colourful, stuffed bell peppers are a great route to go. You can stuff them with a variety of fillings, meaning you can choose something that you know your date will enjoy. Whether they're vegetarian or love meat, just fix up something that matches their taste and preference. Not only will they taste good, they're so visually appealing too; they seriously pop on the plate!
13. Butternut Squash Soup
For a cold evening, warm up your date with a creamy soup - maybe butternut squash? It's simple to make, but so homey and flavourful. To be extra fancy, consider swirling in some cream or topping it with some herbs for an extra touch of elegance.
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14. Chicken Piccata
Chicken piccata is a quick and delicious main course featuring chicken breasts cooked in a flavorful lemon-caper sauce. It's both refreshing and rich, perfect for a special dinner without requiring hours in the kitchen.
Image by -Rita-👩🍳 und 📷 mit ❤ from Pixabay
15. Red Velvet Cupcakes
Red is the colour of love after all! That makes Red Velvet Cupcakes a classic and romantic dessert choice. Just find the easiest recipe online if you're not an experienced baker! This will definitely be more of a challenge, but it won't be as hard as you might think. Plus, if your date's got a sweet tooth, you just know they're going to appreciate your effort.
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16. Prosecco Peach Bellini
For a sweet and bubbly drink, try making Prosecco peach Bellinis. It's super easy - you just need to blend fresh or frozen peaches into a puree, then top with chilled Prosecco more or less. This drink is elegant, refreshing, and perfect for a romantic toast.
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17. Garlic Lemon Herb Mediterranean Chicken Salad
While the name of this dish might sound extremely fancy, it's pretty easy to put together. Featuring marinated chicken, fresh vegetables, and a vibrant lemon herb dressing, it's a bright salad that's perfect for any romantic dinner. And hey, if you buy the ingredients separately from the grocery store, they'll never know!
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18. Chocolate Mousse
What's more classic than a chocolate mousse? Nothing screams romantic like a rich and creamy chocolate dessert. And little did you know, this sweet treat is stress-free to make too! Depending on how much effort you want to put into this dessert, you can find recipes that vary in difficulty and extravagence easily online.
Photo by American Heritage Chocolate on Unsplash
19. Mango Lassi
For something a bit more unique, impress your date with a Mango Lassi, a sweet and refreshing Indian drink made with ripe mangoes, yogurt, and a touch of honey. It will definitely be the thing to bring your romantic dinner to new heights. Bonus points if you introduce your date to something new that they'll love!
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20. Rosemary and Garlic Roasted Potatoes
Listen, who doesn't love potatoes? But more importantly, who doesn't love elevated potatoes? Help your date appreciate potatoes in a new light by enhancing your roasted potatoes with rosemary and garlic. Yes, it's a simple added touch, but the flavour will be 10x better! Hearty and aromatic, there's just something so rustic and romantic about this simple side dish.
