30 Jan Healthy Meals to Make For Valentine's Day
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and if we’re all being honest to ourselves, sometimes, Valentine’s Day plans get put on the back-burner.
If you’re a bit behind with the planning, don’t worry, as we’ve got some healthy alternatives to the nightmare that is going out for dinner on Valentine’s Day.
Featuring fresh herbs and vegetables, these dishes will leave you and your date feeling good. Here are some healthy meals to make for this Valentine’s Day.
Chicken Milanese with Spring Greens
From My Recipes
Ingredients
3/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon minced shallots
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
Dash of sugar
2 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
5 teaspoons olive oil, divided
2 cups packed spring mix salad greens
2 lemon wedges
Method
1. Combine juice, vinegar, shallots, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and sugar; let stand 15 minutes.
2. Place chicken between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap; pound to 1/2-inch thickness using a meat mallet or small heavy skillet.
3. Combine breadcrumbs and cheese in a shallow dish. Place flour in a shallow dish. Place egg white in a shallow dish. Sprinkle chicken with 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Dredge chicken in flour; dip in egg white. Dredge in breadcrumb mixture. Place chicken on a wire rack; let stand 5 minutes.
4. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 3 minutes. Turn chicken over; cook 2 minutes or until browned and done.
5. Add 2 teaspoons oil and 1/8 teaspoon pepper to shallot mixture; stir with a whisk. Add greens; toss gently. Place 1 chicken breast half and 1 cup salad on each of 2 plates. Serve with lemon wedges.
Veal Medallions with Apple-Thyme Sauce
From My Recipes
Ingredients
1 cup dry sherry
1 3/4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup thawed apple juice concentrate, undiluted
1 tablespoon water
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 cup chopped Granny Smith apple
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh or 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
VEAL:
4 (2-ounce) veal medallions
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
Method
To prepare the sauce, bring the sherry to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, and cook until reduced to 2 tablespoons (about 8 minutes). Add chicken broth and apple juice concentrate; cook until reduced to 1 cup (about 12 minutes). Combine water and cornstarch in a small bowl. Add cornstarch mixture, and bring to a boil. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in apple and thyme. Cover and keep warm.
To prepare veal, sprinkle veal with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add veal; cook 3 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Serve veal with sauce.
Carrot Couscous with Fresh Chives
From Cooking Light2/3 cup carrot juice
Ingredients
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup uncooked couscous
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Method
Bring first 4 ingredients to a simmer over medium-high heat; gradually stir in couscous. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 5 minutes. Drizzle with oil; fluff with a fork. Sprinkle with chives; toss to combine.
Rosemary Shrimp Scampi Skewers
From My Recipes
Ingredients
1 tablespoon dry white wine
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
18 large shrimp, peeled and deveined (about 3/4 pound)
6 (6-inch) rosemary sprigs
Cooking spray
Lemon wedges (optional)
Method
Combine first 6 ingredients in a zip-top plastic bag. Add shrimp to bag; seal and shake to coat. Marinate in refrigerator 30 minutes, turning bag occasionally.
Working with 1 rosemary sprig at a time, hold leafy end of sprig in 1 hand. Strip leaves off sprig with other hand, leaving 1/2 inch of leaves attached to leafy end of sprig. Repeat procedure with remaining rosemary sprigs to make 6 rosemary skewers. Thread 3 shrimp onto each rosemary skewer.
Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat both sides of shrimp skewers with cooking spray. Arrange 3 skewers on pan; cook 2 minutes on each side or until shrimp are done. Remove from pan; keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining skewers. Serve with lemon wedges, if desired.
Note: Rosemary has a long history of being associated with the heart. It has been believed by many to be a love charm, by others to be a token of remembrance and fidelity, and by some to be a potent aphrodisiac. Bamboo skewers also work quite well. Serve with steamed haricots verts.
Pan-Seared Scallops on Linguine with Tomato-Cream Sauce
From My Recipes
Ingredients
1 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup minced shallots
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
2 tablespoons whipping cream
1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces
2/3 cup chopped seeded plum tomato
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups hot cooked linguine
Cooking spray
3/4 pound large sea scallops
1/8 teaspoon salt
Chopped cilantro
Method
Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium skillet; bring to a boil. Cook until reduced to 1/2 cup (about 5 minutes). Drain mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl, reserving liquid; discard solids.
Return wine mixture to skillet. Add cream; cook over medium heat 1 minute. Add butter, stirring until butter melts. Stir in tomato, 2 tablespoons cilantro, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Add linguine; toss well. Cover and keep warm.
Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Sprinkle scallops with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Arrange scallops in pan; cook 2 minutes on each side or until done. Add scallops to pasta mixture; toss gently to combine. Garnish with cilantro, if desired.
These meals are light and delicious, perfect for those who have nutrition on their minds, but don’t want to sacrifice taste or romance.
To get the most out of your meals, try preparing these recipes with Urban Cultivator-grown herbs and vegetables. The chicken Milanese, for example, can be paired with a delightful fresh and flavorful microgreen salad.
Offering over 35 varieties of greens, Urban Cultivator gives you the power to harvest your own microgreens, herbs, and vegetables anytime of the year (which is especially important if you’re colder areas of the world.
What are your plans for Valentine’s Day? Let us know in the comments section!
Happy Valentine’s Day!