What Dish to Cook for the First Date? Top Tasty Ideas for a Romantic Evening

Meeting your soulmate is coming, and you don’t know what to do on first date to impress them. In your attempts to calm down the butterflies in your stomach and pick the perfect outfit, you are not sure if cooking is a good idea. Take your ease, studies show you're not alone.

In the discussions on Quora, 68% of people struggle with the choice of food to prepare for a first date. Picking the perfect appetizer, main dish, and maybe some dessert is a challenge.

In this case, it’s important which ingredients you choose and how you serve them. According to relationship experts, over 52% of couples have a deeper connection when sharing a memorable meal. So what recipe is guaranteed to make the right impression? Here are the finest 4 meal options, with step-by-step instructions.

What's the Best Meal to Cook For a First Date?

Cooking for a first date can be a personal way to impress the person. The dish should be not only delicious but also relevant regarding dietary preferences and potential allergies. Additionally, if you cook some ingredients in advance, you won’t spend too much time in the kitchen. Moreover, don't forget about the atmosphere, adding soft lighting, music, flowers, and a nice bottle of wine to complement your culinary efforts. So check out some tasty ideas for your romantic evening. 

Pasta Agnolotti 

This is a handmade stuffed pasta parcel filled with ricotta, spinach, and herbs in a creamy tomato sauce. Such a choice is rather elegant and intimate.

Ingredients:

• Agnolotti pasta parcels (can be store-bought to save you time)
• Olive oil
• 1 yellow onion
• 3 garlic cloves,
• 1 cup vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• Fresh basil
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Boil salted water in a large pot. Cook agnolotti according to package directions until al dente.
2. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Cook onions until translucent and add garlic, cooking everything for about a minute.
3. Pour in broth heavy cream, and white wine. Bring to a gentle simmer.
4. Add butter and let melt, stirring frequently for 3-4 minutes, until sauce is slightly thickened.
5. Add pasta to the sauce and mix well enough together.
6. Mix in Parmesan cheese and add some salt or pepper to your taste.

Serve it with a few leaves of fresh basil. You can also prepare crispy bread for dipping it that delicious cheesy cream sauce. 

Pan Seared Salmon

Salmon fillets with a sweet glaze and asparagus are rather easy to make but look so impressive. This is a fancy restaurant-quality meal that a lot of Ukrainian single ladies order.

Ingredients:

• 4 6 oz. salmon fillets
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 tbsp. butter
• Salt and pepper
• 1 lemon

For the Glaze:

• 3 tbsp. maple syrup
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce
• 1 crushed garlic clove
• 1 tsp. fresh grated ginger

Instructions:

1. Mix ingredients for glaze in a small bowl.
2. Dry out the salmon with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Put salmon fillets skin-side up and cook for 4 minutes until crispy. Cook the other side for 2 minutes.
4. Melt the butter in the pan. Spread the glaze evenly over the salmon.
5. Cook for 1 more minute until glazed. Salmon should still be pink inside.

There’s never enough glaze, so add a bit more. Serve it with lemon wedges, and offer a choice between roasted asparagus and wild rice.

Beef Wellington 

So the ultimate romantic impression includes tender filet mignon topped with mushroom duxelles wrapped in puff pastry. It will take your time and effort, but the result is definitely worth it!

Ingredients:

• 2 filet mignon steaks
• 1 package puff pastry dough
• 8 oz. mushrooms
• 1 shallot
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 2 tsp. thyme
• 1 egg

Instructions:

1. Fry filet mignon for 2-3 minutes per side and set aside to cool.
2. Fry chopped mushrooms, shallots, and garlic with butter and thyme. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Chill the fried mix for about 30 minutes.
4. Roll out puff pastry slightly larger than filets. Brush edges with egg wash and put 1 filet on them.
5. Place a mushroom layer on top and cover with a second filet.
6. Wrap pastry tightly around beef into a log shape. Press seams together and take out everything that comes off.
7. Brush with egg wash and bring some creativity with decorative parts.
8. Bake at 400°F 25-30 minutes until golden crust.

Accompany the dish with roasted potatoes and carrots while taking a red wine.

Vegetarian Risotto

A flavorful vegetarian risotto is a sophisticated option. You may choose any seasonal vegetables you like, except those in the recipe.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 1/2 cups arborio rice
• 1 cup white wine
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 bunch asparagus
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1⁄2 cup parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Simmer the broth and keep it warm.
2. Fry onions and garlic in olive oil for a minute.
3. Add rice and cook for 2 minutes.
4. Mix in wine and then add 1/2 cup broth, blending everything well enough.
5. Continue adding broth,1/2 ccup,so the rice absorbs until the next cup.
6. Within 15 minutes, add peas and chopped asparagus.
7. The rice should be of medium hardness to bite. Remove from heat and add butter with parmesan.

Make sure the dish is hot when you present it. The meal works well with grilled vegetables too, but adding more cheese on top is a win-win solution.

Summing-Up: Is a Cooking Date a Good First Date?

A cooking date is on the list of the most cute first date ideas. However, it’s important to choose simple recipes so you can also talk to each other without being overly attentive to the cooking process. Of course, the atmosphere won’t be so romantic if you don’t add some elements that enhance it, for example, candles and flowers. 

Unfortunately, if your kitchen isn’t clean, then the romantic elements can be useless. So don’t be stressed, and avoid making your date feel uncomfortable. To let the date be more lighthearted, flirt as you cook together and play some jokes. It’s also useful to have a plan B if it goes horribly wrong. Ordering takeout as a backup allows you to relax and focus on a date.