Cooking together as a couple is one of my and my husband’s favorite parts about our relationship. We usually cook four times a week, and it’s just a fun (and tasty) way to spend time together. So if you’re looking to spice up your next date night in, consider one of these eight lovely recipes.

PORTOBELLO POT ROAST

Go old school with a hearty, meaty pot roast—without the meat. A splash of red wine brings out the richness of the portobello mushrooms, and a host of veggies like peas, carrots and parsnips round out this comfort food classic. 

Recipe here.

RED LENTIL PASTA WITH HOMEMADE ARRABIATA

Italian food is the first thing that comes to my mind when I’m thinking about a romantic dinner. This is a quick meal to put together, leaving you more time to drink red wine/stare deeply into each other’s eyes.

Recipe here.

LENTIL MEATBALL SANDWICH

A meatball sandwich is like an old teddy bear or holey T-shirt—it may not be the newest or brightest thing, but it might just bring nostalgic tears to your eyes. Lentil meatballs are lovingly blanketed with melted provolone cheese + sauce and hugged between two pieces of crusty bread. Truly beautiful.

Recipe here.

GREEN VEGGIE GOAT CHEESE PASTA

Keep things interesting with this Green Veggie Goat Cheese Pasta. Decadent goat cheese combines with tangy lemon juice and fresh herbs for a true flavor explosion.

Recipe here.

SPINACH SALAD WITH FRENCH GREEN BEANS, NEW POTATOES & BOILED EGGS

A sumptuous spinach salad is on every high-end restaurant’s menu, so why not make one at home? This is like a vegetarian version of a niçoise salad, complete with French green beans, boiled eggs and an olive oil-based vinaigrette.

Recipe here.

BROCCOLINI MELT

Soup + sandwich is a classic combo worthy of a date night makeover. Broccolini is one of those high-end vegetables (I don’t know who decides these things), and gruyere is a decidedly fancy cheese. Keep things classy by pairing the melt with a creamy tomato soup, and prepare to see fireworks.

Recipe here.

LENTIL DAAL + SWEET & STICKY GRILLED PANEER

Every date night needs a touch of something sweet. Marinate some sliced paneer in a honey & orange juice-based sauce, grill it to perfection and prepare to fight over the final piece. 

Recipe here.

SPINACH & MUSHROOM PESTO LASAGNA

Italian food, again, just screams romance. This recipe elevates your traditional marinara sauce with meaty mushrooms, and the combo of ricotta + spinach is simply divine (just be sure to check your teeth before attempting a flirty smile).

Recipe here.