Easy Anniversary Dinner Ideas For A Romantic Evening

Planning a special meal for a wedding anniversary can be tricky, but it's a great opportunity to cook up a storm and create a romantic dinner at home. From seafood to steak, pasta to pizza, there are plenty of options to choose from.

For a special celebration, you could try a rack of lamb with a mustard and shallot sauce, or a pan-roasted lobster with chive beurre blanc. If you're after something a little more low-key, a simple pan-seared fish or a hearty bowl of soup could be a good option.

For a cosy night in, a rich pasta dish like a creamy mushroom and asparagus ravioli or a spicy shrimp scampi linguine might hit the spot. Or, if you're celebrating in the summer, a light salad like a red citrus salad with berries, pears and pomegranates could be perfect.

Whatever you choose, don't forget to finish with a romantic dessert!

Rack of Lamb with Mustard-Shallot Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons vegetable oil, divided
• 1 (2 1/2-pound) rack of lamb, frenched
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 medium shallots, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1/4 cup chicken stock or low-sodium broth
• 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons chopped thyme
• Fresh rosemary leaves
• Freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
• Lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 400°F. In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil until it shimmers. Season the lamb rack with salt and pepper. Remember to french the rack of lamb, which means removing the meat, fat, and sinew from the bones for a neat presentation. You can ask your butcher to do this or do it yourself.

Place the lamb rack in the skillet, with the fat side down, and cook over moderately high heat. This should take about 3 minutes until the lamb is richly browned. Turn the lamb fat side up and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Now, transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and roast the lamb for about 20 minutes for medium-rare. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the centre of the meat should register 125°F. Transfer the lamb to a carving board and let it rest for 10 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute and ensures a juicy, tender texture.

It's time to make the delicious mustard-shallot sauce! Discard the fat in the skillet and add the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil along with the thinly sliced shallots. Cook over moderate heat for about 3 minutes until the shallots soften. Add the dry white wine and let it simmer until reduced by half, which should take about 2 minutes.

Next, add the chicken stock or low-sodium broth and bring it to a simmer. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the whole grain mustard, Dijon mustard, and chopped thyme. Don't forget to season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.

Finally, carve the lamb into chops and arrange them on warmed plates. Generously spoon the mustard-shallot sauce over the lamb chops. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

Your Rack of Lamb with Mustard-Shallot Sauce is now ready to be enjoyed! Pair it with a Tuscan Sangiovese wine to complement the earthy and fruity notes of the dish. Happy anniversary!

Seafood, such as salmon or crab cakes

Seafood is a great choice for a wedding anniversary dinner, and crab cakes or salmon are two delicious options. Here are some mouth-watering recipes to try:

Crab Cakes with Key Lime Mayonnaise

Crab cakes are a decadent choice for a special occasion, and this recipe adds a tropical twist with a zesty Key lime mayonnaise. This dish is sure to impress and is perfect if you've been craving a beach vacation.

Pan-Seared Salmon with Baby Kale Salad

This healthy and quick salmon supper is an excellent choice for a romantic dinner. The cast-iron skillet ensures a beautiful sear on the salmon, and pairing it with a dry white wine will create an elegant meal.

Crab and Bacon Linguine

This elegant pasta dish is a perfect blend of crab and bacon, with dry white wine adding a complementary touch. It's a great choice if you want to indulge in a luxurious and flavourful meal.

Salmon with Creamy Feta Cucumbers

If you're short on time, this 20-minute recipe is a saviour. The crispy salmon is accompanied by an unusual yet delicious side of creamy feta cucumbers, bringing a unique flavour profile to the dish.

Horseradish Salmon

If you're looking for something a little different, give this horseradish salmon recipe a go. It's a creative twist on a classic that will add some spice to your anniversary dinner.

Crab Rangoon

For a fun and easy appetiser, try making crab rangoon. This Asian-inspired dish combines cream cheese and crab for a tasty treat that your partner will surely enjoy.

Steak, like a ribeye or filet mignon

Preparation

First, decide whether you want to cook a ribeye or a filet mignon. A ribeye steak is known for its marbling, which gives it a juicy and tender texture. On the other hand, a filet mignon is a more expensive cut of steak, known for its tenderness and buttery texture.

Once you've chosen your steak, remove it from the fridge at least 30 minutes to one hour before cooking to bring it closer to room temperature. This step ensures even cooking. Pat the steaks dry with a paper towel and season generously with salt and pepper on both sides. If you want to dry brine your steak, place it on a wire rack on a baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Leave it in the fridge, uncovered, for at least one hour or overnight.

Cooking

For the perfect sear, use a cast-iron skillet if you have one. Preheat your skillet on high heat, and add a light coating of vegetable or canola oil. You want the oil to be very hot but not smoking. Place your steaks in the pan and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side for a medium-rare steak. If you're using a meat thermometer, the internal temperature should be 50°C for rare, 60°C for medium-rare, and 70°C for well-done.

After searing both sides, add butter, thyme, and garlic to the pan and baste the steak for a minute by tilting the pan and spooning the butter over the steak.

Resting

Remove the steak from the pan and let it rest for at least 5 minutes. Resting is crucial, as it allows the juices to redistribute and the temperature to equalize, ensuring a juicy and tender steak.

Serving

Slice the steak against the grain and serve with your choice of sides. Some classic side dishes for steak include homemade chips, field mushrooms, tomatoes, and onion rings. Don't forget to spoon the garlic butter from the pan over your steak for extra flavor!

Happy cooking, and happy anniversary!

Pasta, including ravioli or fettuccine

Pasta is a great choice for a romantic, intimate dinner, and there are many ways to elevate this classic dish to make it perfect for a wedding anniversary celebration. Here are some ideas for pasta, including ravioli or fettuccine, that are sure to impress:

Lobster Ravioli with Vodka Cream Sauce

This luxurious dish is an excellent choice for a special occasion. The ravioli can be made from scratch or store-bought to save time. The creamy vodka sauce adds a decadent touch to the dish, making it a perfect indulgent meal for a wedding anniversary.

Heart-Shaped Pasta

This dish is not only delicious but also a sweet romantic gesture. The pasta is coloured with beetroot powder to give it a vibrant pink hue and shaped into little hearts. For the filling, you can use taleggio (a soft cheese) and mortadella (Italian sausage), or go for a vegetarian option such as spinach and ricotta.

Authentic Italian Meatballs with Pasta

There's nothing like a plate of homemade Italian meatballs to show your love. This family recipe includes a secret ingredient that makes the meatballs melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Serve them with your favourite type of pasta and a generous helping of sauce for a hearty and comforting anniversary meal.

Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

A romantic dinner wouldn't be complete without a dish featuring garlic and butter. This recipe calls for shrimp cooked in butter and garlic, then tossed with fettuccine and vegetables. It's a quick and easy option that's sure to impress, and the garlic and butter combination will leave your taste buds dancing.

Cherry Tomato Pasta

This simple yet impressive dish is perfect if you want to incorporate fresh tomatoes. It takes only 20 minutes to prepare, and the results are better than most restaurant pasta. The key is to use creamy and cheesy ingredients to create a dish that's sure to win anyone over. Don't forget to serve it with plenty of Parmigiano Reggiano!

Other Ideas

• Spinach Ricotta Pasta: A delicious combination of ricotta cheese and spinach, this dish is perfect for lasagna lovers and healthier eaters alike.
• Artichoke Tagliatelle: A light and low-calorie option that's still luxurious and glossy. It only takes 20 minutes to cook, making it ideal for a quick yet romantic meal.
• Three Cheese Baked Rigatoni with Roasted Vegetables: This healthier option is filled with sweet roasted vegetables and fresh herbs. It's easy to prepare and rich in flavour.

Chicken, perhaps with a mushroom or lemon sauce

Chicken is a great option for a wedding anniversary dinner. Here are some ideas for how to prepare it, with a mushroom or lemon sauce:

Chicken with a Mushroom Sauce

For a creamy mushroom sauce, you will need chicken broth, chicken tenders or thighs, cream of mushroom soup, bacon crumbles, and optional pot-in-pot rice.

First, pour the broth into an Instant Pot. Add the chicken, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Spoon the cream of mushroom soup over the chicken. If you want to make pot-in-pot rice, place a trivet in the pot, and add a dish with water and rice on top of the trivet. Cover the Instant Pot and cook for 3 minutes. After 10 minutes, move the valve to venting and remove the lid. Carefully remove the rice and set aside. Take out the trivet, and stir the sour cream, bacon, and parsley into the pot. Serve the chicken and sauce over the rice.

Alternatively, you can make this in a slow cooker or in the oven. For the slow cooker, add the broth, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cream of mushroom soup, and stir. Then, add the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours. Stir in the sour cream, bacon, and parsley, and serve over rice or mashed potatoes.

For the oven method, add the chicken to a greased baking dish. In a bowl, mix the broth, salt, pepper, garlic powder, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, bacon, and parsley. Spoon the mixture over the chicken, and bake for 25 minutes. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes.

Chicken with a Lemon Sauce

For a zesty lemon sauce, you can try this recipe, which serves two. You will need two skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs, garlic cloves, serrano chiles, ginger, reduced-sodium soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, fish sauce, salt, and lemons.

Whisk the garlic, chiles, ginger, oil, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, fish sauce, and salt in a bowl. Add lemon slices and thyme. Place the marinade and chicken in a large resealable plastic bag, and chill for at least 12 hours.

Heat the oven to 450°F. Remove the chicken from the marinade and place it, skin side up, on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve with lemon wedges.

Sides and Presentation

To make the meal extra special, consider adding some sides and garnishes. Here are some ideas:

• Green beans amandine
• Steakhouse-worthy twice-baked potatoes
• Roasted broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Green beans
• Mashed potatoes
• Noodles
• Cauliflower rice
• Garlic toast

For a romantic touch, you could also decorate the table with candles and flowers, and perhaps add some soft music in the background.

Frequently asked questions