12 Sexy Dishes For A Date Night In

This selection of date night recipes includes something for everyone, whether you want to show off your culinary prowess with some fancy shrimp pasta, or are clueless about cooking and would rather simply grill a couple of steaks. If you don't want to take full responsibility for what goes on in the kitchen, you and your date should set about on a cooking adventure together and try something new, like rolling sushi or making pizza from scratch.

The essential part in preparing for the evening is to make sure you have enough wine at the ready and enough appetizers on hand, just in case everything goes wrong.

Don't forget to light some candles, put on a romantic playlist, and decorate the table with flowers to get things off to a good start. From then on, with a cocktail in hand, and the promising wafts of a delicious dinner coming from the kitchen, you're all set for the perfect date night in.

A rich and creamy dish with just the right amount of spice and fresh coriander to lighten it up. For those of you who are cooking for a vegetarian this Valentine's day, this is the perfect dish.

For the Braised Lentil and Split Pea Dahl recipe, click here.

This one may sound crazily complicated, but it's actually amazingly easy. With only five ingredients, all you need to do is cook the ravioli and burn some butter. Yes, really, all you need to do is burn butter. If you're not confident in the kitchen, this is the cheat dish for you.

For the Butternut Squash Ravioli in Thyme Brown Butter Sauce, click here.

A beautifully presented platter of charcuterie is an ideal accompaniment to a cocktail at the beginning of the evening. Having plenty to nibble on with drinks while you put the finishing touches to the entrée in the kitchen will enable you to take all the time you need.

For the Charcuterie Plate recipe, click here.

This is a simple cocktail, but it tastes refreshing and sophisticated. With its wonderful pale pink color and an elegant twist of lemon, this drink looks rather romantic, and will be sure to impress.

For the Dream Girl Cocktail recipe, click here.

If you're going to be hunkering down to watch a movie after dinner, finish the evening with this caramel popcorn. It's so simple to make, and is addictively tasty. There's no way of resisting going back for another handful.

For the Easy Caramel Popcorn recipe, click here.

What is essential to every Valentine's Day? Chocolate. This flourless dark chocolate cake is the ultimate romantic dessert. Make sure you cook it just enough so that there's a crust on top but that it's still molten in the middle. This is sure to win your Valentine's heart.

For the Flourless Dark Chocolate Lover's Cake recipe, click here.

This spicy steak cooks really quickly, and is sure to be a winner amongst any meat-lovers. A popular South American combination, the chimichurri adds some fiery heat to the grilled steak, and is also delicious dolloped on any fries, potatoes, vegetables, or salad you decide to serve it with.

For the Grilled Skirt Steak with Chimichurri recipe, click here.

You can't go wrong with a classic Kir Royale: elegant, bubbly, and a perfect color for Valentine's Day.

For the Kir Royale recipe, click here.

If you're keen to get both of you in the kitchen this date night, you can start off by following this recipe to make your own pizza dough. Top with whatever takes your fancy, but we recommend this pesto recipe. Making your own pizzas will be a fun, alternative date night.

For the Pesto Pizza recipe, click here.

You may have chosen not to eat in your favorite Italian restaurant, but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on all your favorite Italian dishes. This shrimp pasta is deceptively easy, and will taste as amazing as it does in that remote Italian beachside town you once ate at on vacation.

For the Shrimp Pasta with Spicy Tomato Sauce recipe, click here.

This is another fun cooking project for all you ambitious couples. Making sushi from scratch takes a little time and patience, but you'll be surprised by what you can achieve by following some simple steps.

For the Sushi recipe, click here.

This classic white fish dish is packed full of lemon and fresh parsley to create a light, elegant entrée. Serve with some simple boiled potatoes and a fresh baby leaf salad for an impressive, French-inspired meal.

For the White Fish with Lemon, Capers, Mustard and Parsley recipe, click here.