Valentine’s day is around the corner and love is in the air. So is the desire to impress your significant other, or someone you love. And what better way to impress someone than cooking a delicious meal for them?
Now, if you are a local MasterChef, you have probably already done this to impress your SO. However, not all of us are so lucky. How can we make a meal for our beloved if we can’t cook? Well, you can! It is the age of technology, where even the worst of cooks can become gourmet chefs with a little guidance. So here I am, with some amazing Valentine’s day no-cook recipes to impress your beloved. Most of these recipes use everyday equipment like a microwave oven or a toaster. No stove cooking, no baking whatsoever. So there is just no way you can mess these recipes up. (P.S.- They are tried and true because I used to be a terrible cook!)
Chocolate chip banana bread
You can NEVER go wrong with dessert. And for this particular recipe, all you need is a microwave and zero cooking skills!
Ingredients:
½ banana, 1 egg white, 2 tbsp milk, 1 tbsp flour, ½ tsp baking powder, ½ tsp vanilla extract, 1 tbsp sugar or sweetener (if you want to), mini chocolate chips (as much as you want).
Equipment:
A microwave oven
Directions:
Spray the insides of the mug with some cooking spray, or wipe it with butter. Now dump all the ingredients inside the mug and mix well. Microwave for 2 minutes (or 1 min 30 sec if you want softer bread). Serve hot with or without garnishing!
Mac and Cheese with garlic bread
Who doesn’t love Mac and Cheese? It is the ultimate comfort food that will endear your beloved in a jiffy. Serve it with this amazing garlic bread, and you will definitely earn the tag of a gourmet chef.
For Mac and Cheese
Ingredients:
1 cup macaroni (use more as per appetite, and manipulate other ingredients accordingly), 1 cup water, 1/3 cup milk, 1/2 cup grated cheese, salt, pepper, chilli flakes, garlic powder.
Equipment:
A microwave oven.
Directions:
Mix the macaroni, water, and salt in a mug. Microwave it for 2-3 mins, till the macaroni is cooked. Now add milk, cheese, salt, pepper, chili flakes, and garlic powder. Mix well. Microwave for 30 seconds, and serve hot.
For garlic bread
Ingredients:
Bread, softened butter, garlic powder or chopped garlic, oregano, salt, pepper.
Equipment:
A toaster (an oven will do too)
Directions:
Mix the butter, garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano together. Now spread this garlic butter generously on bread slices. Toast the bread at the lowest setting and let it toast. Voila! Instant garlic bread!
Note: If you are using a microwave, then microwave the buttered bread for 30-40 seconds to get the same end result. You can also melt cheese on top of it in a microwave to take it up a notch.
Vegetable and Chicken Lasagna
Another gourmet pasta dish that sounds fancy but is extremely simple to make. You don’t even need generic lasagna sheets in this recipe.
Ingredients:
1-½ cup sliced eggplant/zucchini/potato, ½ cup red pasta sauce, ½ cup grated cheese, ½ cup ricotta cheese or cottage cheese, cooked chicken (shredded), oregano, chilli flakes.
Equipment:
A microwave oven
Directions:
Take a mug. Put a generous layer of pasta sauce at the bottom. Now put a few slices of your vegetable. Then put a layer of ricotta or cottage cheese. Now put a layer of shredded chicken on top, then some cheese. Repeat this layering process till you reach the top of the mug. Now generously top the mug with grated cheese. Microwave it for 4-5 minutes. Serve it garnished with oregano and chilli flakes.
Chocolate fruit parfait
Easy, healthy, delicious, and good-looking, this recipe is sure to win your beloved’s heart. What’s more, it doesn’t require any cooking expertise and is ready to eat in 5 minutes.
Ingredients:
1 cup yogurt, 1 cup fruits of choice cut into pieces, ½ cup chocolate chips, 1 tbsp sweetened cocoa powder, 2 tbsp honey, 2 tsp lemon juice.
Equipment:
None.
Directions:
Mix the greek yogurt and cocoa powder together. Now, layer the bottom of a glass or mug with some yogurt. Mix separately cut fruit, honey and lemon juice together. Put a layer of this mixture on top of the yogurt layer. Now put a layer of chocolate chips on top of it. Continue the layering process till you reach the top of your mug or glass. Sprinkle some more chocolate chips on top. Refrigerate and serve chilled.
Tomato soup with grilled cheese
It is still winter season, and there is nothing better than some steaming hot tomato soup to ward the chills away. Pair it up with some grilled cheese toast, and you have the perfect romantic appetizer to your love games.
For tomato soup
Ingredients:
5 ripe tomatoes, 1 clove garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, chili flakes, 1 shredded slice white bread with crust removed, 1 cup hot water, ½ onion (chopped).
Equipment:
Electric kettle or saucepan and stove (to boil water and tomatoes), a blender
Directions:
Boil the tomatoes till they become soft. Now peel them carefully. Put these, and other ingredients in the blender. Blend till you achieve a smooth creamy consistency. Serve hot (heat it up in the microwave, duh!) and with or without garnish.
Note: If you are too lazy to make soup from fresh ingredients, you can always buy readymade soup and heat it up!
For grilled cheese toast
Ingredients:
Grated cheese, butter, bread
Equipment:
A knife or heart-shaped dough cutter, a toaster or sandwich-maker.
Directions:
Butter two slices of bread on both sides. Now put some cheese in between the slices and press them firmly. Put this sandwich in the toaster (lowest setting) or the sandwich maker, and wait till they’re done. Now cut the sandwich into a heart shape using the knife or cutter. Serve with your soup!
Strawberry daiquiri
This recipe is for those who love a delicious evening cocktail. Strawberry daiquiris are delicious, and easy to whip up in just a little time.
Ingredients:
2 oz white rum, 1 oz lime juice, ¾ oz strawberry syrup, ½ oz honey, 2 oz crushed ice
Equipment:
A blender
Directions:
Put all ingredients in a blender and blend till you achieve a smooth consistency. Serve chilled.
It is a popular saying, that the way to your beloved’s heart is through their stomach. And with these easy recipes, you will have no difficulty conquering their hearts. So this Valentine’s day, put on your cooking aprons, and impress your S.O. with your MasterChef skills!