As someone who has travelled while working as a digital nomad, and lived in various ‘small spaces’ around the world with a variety of cuisines, I know from personal experience how difficult it can be to rustle up that special romantic meal. So, if you are looking for a hassle-free and easy way to impress your significant other on Valentine’s Day, then look no further! 

These last-minute Valentine’s recipes are perfect for those of you living in fully furnished and fully equipped shared spaces, or even renting a room for a longer period as a ‘home away from home.’ No need to stress about complicated dinner plans, these simple Valentine’s Day meal recipes are sure to impress without taking up too much of your time.

Having recently spent some time in Singapore, you may notice a slight ‘Singaporean twist’ on the recipes, as the food and drink there were some of the most mouth-watering I’ve tasted worldwide.

So whether you’re in a long-term stay or just passing through your location of choice, these drinks, starters, mains and dessert ideas will make your Valentine’s Day special and delicious. Happy cooking!

Table of Contents

• • • Pre-dinner Drink: Pomegranate Cosmo
    • Starters I: Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Lemon and Herbs
    • Starters II: Vegan Grilled Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce
    • Mains I: Grilled Steak with Chimichurri Sauce
    • Mains II: Brown Butter Parmesan Pasta
    • The Romantic Dessert:
      Cendol with a Heart-Shaped Pandan Jelly and Coconut Milk
    • MetroResidences Singapore Serviced Apartments—Your Home Base for Travels Beyond

Pre-dinner Drink: Pomegranate Cosmo

Shake things up with something fruity.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz vodka
• 1 oz Cointreau or triple sec
• 1 oz pomegranate juice
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• Pomegranate seeds and lime wedge for garnish

Instructions:

1. In a shaker filled with ice, add the vodka, Cointreau or triple sec, pomegranate juice, and lime juice.
2. Shake well for about 10-15 seconds.
3. Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass.
4. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and a lime wedge.
5. Serve and enjoy your Pomegranate Cosmo!

Note: You can adjust the amount of ingredients to your taste. You can make it sweeter by adding sugar syrup or cranberry juice.

Starters I: Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Lemon and Herbs

Perfect for sharing!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 lemons, zested and juiced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Wooden skewers, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix together lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper.
2. Add the shrimp to the bowl and toss to coat in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours.
3. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Thread the shrimp onto the soaked skewers.
4. Grill the shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side, or until cooked through and pink.
5. Serve the shrimp skewers with additional lemon wedges, if desired.

Note: You can also add some vegetable like bell pepper, onion, mushroom in the skewers to make it more colorful and healthier.

Starters II: Vegan Grilled Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce

A zesty alternative if one or both of you are vegan or vegetarian.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. firm tofu, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• Wooden skewers, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes

Peanut Sauce:

• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 2 tbsp coconut milk
• 1 tbsp lime juice

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix together soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and turmeric. Add the tofu cubes and toss to coat in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours.
2. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Thread the marinated tofu cubes onto the soaked skewers.
3. Grill the skewers for 2-3 minutes per side, or until lightly browned and heated through.
4. To make the peanut sauce, combine the peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, turmeric, coconut milk, and lime juice in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and heated through.
5. Serve the grilled tofu skewers with the peanut sauce on the side for dipping.

Note:  As with the first starter, you can also add some vegetable like bell pepper, onion, mushroom in the skewers to make it more colorful and healthier.

Mains I: Grilled Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

A little spice to keep things going.

Ingredients:

• 2 (8 oz) boneless ribeye steaks
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Chimichurri Sauce

• 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Season the steaks with salt and pepper on both sides. Let them rest for about 30 minutes to come to room temperature.
2. Preheat grill to high heat.
3. Grill the steaks for about 4-5 minutes per side for medium-rare or longer if you like them more done.
4. While the steaks are grilling, make the chimichurri sauce. In a small bowl, mix together parsley, cilantro, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
5. Remove the steaks from the grill and let them rest for a few minutes before slicing.
6. Serve the steaks with the chimichurri sauce on the side.

Note: You can adjust the amount of ingredients in the chimichurri sauce to your taste and you can also add more herbs like basil or mint. 

Mains II: Brown Butter Parmesan Pasta

Satisfying and soothing, perfect for after a long day of work.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz spaghetti or any pasta of your choice
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta according to package instructions in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Drain and reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water.
2. While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter turns golden brown and has a nutty aroma, about 3-5 minutes.
3. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the cooked pasta, 1/2 cup of reserved pasta cooking water, grated Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Toss everything together until the pasta is well coated with the sauce.
4. If the pasta seems dry, you can add more pasta cooking water as needed.
5. Serve the pasta hot and enjoy!

Note: This is a vegetarian dish but you can add some protein like chicken, shrimp, or bacon to make it more filling. Also, you can add some vegetable like spinach, mushroom, or cherry tomatoes to make it more colorful and healthier.

Sweeten Up the Night: Cendol with a Heart-Shaped Pandan Jelly and Coconut Milk

A little more work to source the ingredients, but it’s easy to make and looks simply stunning!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rice flour
• 1/2 cup tapioca starch
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 cups water
• red food coloring (optional)
• 2 cups pandan juice
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp agar-agar powder
• 1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk
• Red/pink food coloring (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine rice flour, tapioca starch, sugar, and salt. Slowly add 2 cups of water while whisking to make a smooth batter. Add a few drops of red food coloring if desired.
2. In a saucepan, bring pandan juice, sugar, and agar-agar powder to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes or until the agar-agar has dissolved.
3. Pour the pandan mixture into a heart-shaped mold and refrigerate until firm.
4. In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Using a spoon or a piping bag, drop spoonfuls of the batter into the boiling water and cook for about 2-3 minutes or until they float to the surface.
5. Use a slotted spoon to remove the cendol from the water and place it in a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain well.
6. In a saucepan, heat the coconut milk over medium heat until warm.
7. To serve, place the cendol in a bowl, pour the warm coconut milk over it, and add the heart-shaped pandan jelly. You can also add some pink food coloring to the coconut milk to make it more romantic looking.
8. Enjoy your Cendol with a heart-shaped pandan jelly and coconut milk!

Note: You can adjust the amount of sugar to your taste and also you can add more pandan leaves to make it more fragrant.

MetroResidences Singapore Serviced Apartments—Your Home Base for Travels Beyond

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And, you can rest easy at any of our properties. We adhere to our strict Property Standards that account for the comfort and cleanliness of all our serviced apartments. Our fully-furnished apartments come with amenities like wi-fi, air conditioners, and a fully-equipped kitchen.