Ideas for Valentine’s Day! Spaghetti with Shrimp Marinara

ByAnna + Liz Published
26 Comments

Ideas for Valentine’s Day! Spaghetti with Shrimp Marinara is a pasta dish served with a delicate sauce made with a few ingredients!  Whether you’re looking for a more intimate setting for your special Valentine’s Day meal or just trying to avoid the crowds in busy restaurants, preparing a romantic dinner for two at home might be easier than you think.

Spaghetti with Shrimp Marinara

Here are some easy tips and Ideas for Valentine’s Day!  And especially, how to make a Romantic Valentine’s Dinner at home!

A white dish filled with spaghetti with tomato sauce and shrimp.

Make Valentine’s Dinner Special…

Here are a few tips to help make your Valentine’s dinner a little less stressful:

1.  First, plan a menu that is simple and sincere. You want to be relaxed and engaged with your loved one rather than feeling anxious or stressed over preparing a fancy dinner.

2.  Use really good quality ingredients when cooking traditional dishes.  It makes the meal so much more special.  Also, use fresh herbs to garnish some of the dishes; fresh basil and fresh parsley always make a pretty presentation.

3.  Set a simple table and light some candles to help create a romantic ambiance.

4.  Play some soft romantic music in the background.  We happen to love the music from the movie soundtrack to “Sabrina,“  and on that soundtrack is even a ballad sung by Sting.  So Romantic!  …Take my word for it, it’s a fabulous soundtrack!

5.  Start with a simple green salad, and dress up the salad with a few dried cranberries, crushed walnuts or almonds, and crumbled goat cheese on top.  Place some warm bread on the table.

6.  Serve red wine at the table. Take a look at our 11 Wines to Pair with Food for some help!  Red wine is romantic, and it’s best served at room temperature, so no need to worry about chilling it beforehand.

7.  Cook a simple dish like spaghetti with marinara sauce or spaghetti with shrimp marinara.  You can even add a little heavy cream (about 1/4 cup) to the sauce to make it a “pink” sauce, and garnish it with some fresh basil on top. If desired, serve with some grated Pecorino or Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese at the table.

A white plate with spaghetti tossed with shrimp in a tomato sauce.

8.  And finally, don’t forget the dessert.  It should be chocolate!

 

Ideas for Valentines Day Spaghetti with Shrimp Marinara by 2sistesrsrecipes.com

Easy Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries will do!  Or try some vanilla ice cream, dress it up with fresh raspberries on top, a fresh mint leaf, and some chocolate sauce on the side.

Keep it simple and elegant! Serve Spaghetti with Shrimp Marinara and enjoy!

No matter how many times I make this shrimp dish, it always turns out perfectly cooked. It’s a simple technique that is really hard to screw up, so cooks of any skill level can master this spaghetti with shrimp marinara easily!

Make it a great one! 

More Links for Valentine’s Treats & Ideas:

Have a sweet Valentine’s Day this weekend!

Cheers!

Thanks for stopping by!
Warmly,
Anna and Liz

 

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26 Comments

    1. Thanks Roz, I spent the entire week with the kids, and just had a blast! Now I am back in Charleston and think I brought the cold back down with me. Hope you are staying warm in this frigid weather we are having!
      xoxo Anna

      Reply

  3. We always stay in for Valentine's Day- it's too crowded in restaurants on that day anyway. 🙂 This looks like a great stress free and delicious dish to serve. I know I will enjoy this recipe. thanks again! 🙂

    Reply

  4. Your little Valentine is adorable!! I love the bow-tie 🙂 The east coast is certainly getting more than it's fair share this winter. Thanks for sharing this fabulous recipe while you're gone. It looks delightful!

    Reply

    1. Thanks Sue! They predict more snow this weekend, yikes! We wish you and your family a very warm Valentine's Day this weekend! xo

      Reply

  6. Hope you're having a wonderful trip! Bring some snow down our way please – or let's get on with spring! I love the simplicity of this dish – and it looks wonderful! Not sure how I missed it!!! We are such fuddy-duddies we never go out for Valentine's Day. We wing it and do the best we can 🙂 What a gorgeous happy handsome baby! 6 months already 🙂 Enjoy as I know you will!

    Reply

  7. My husband and I usually have Valentine's Day dinner at home in order to avoid the crowds. This looks delicious! I love that it's light so I can spend my calories on the dessert afterwards.

    Reply

    1. Thank you Tina! We do too! I have such a sweet tooth, sometimes I could skip dinner and just to the dessert, lol…. Have a wonderful Valentine's day!

      Reply

  9. I think we are having penne a la vodka this year…a touch fancy while still being totally doable! These are some great tips!

    Reply