Guy-Approved Romantic Meals

Valentine's Day Recipes

Men love food only slightly less than men love women, so if you combine the two—your natural womanliness 

with a meal prepared especially for us—then you've just turned a man into a lapdog. Why is this? Psychologists might tell you it has something to do with feel-good hormones like dopamine or latent memories of nurturing mothers, but those are only halt-truths. The real reason men are more likely to fall in love over food is far more simple: An eating man is a sitting man, and a sitting man is an easy target for cupid's arrow.

Okay, there's probably not a psychologist on the planet who will back that claim, but anecdotally, we know that relationships tend to develop over good meals. So with that in mind, we reached out to five guys to see what dishes they hope their ladies will be preparing for Valentine's Day. Stick to the recipes here, and you're guaranteed to have an arrow-struck lover at the dinner table.

Michael Steger

Actor, 90210

Ideal Meal: Homemade Pizza

If your guy has a favorite food, then you have a roadmap to his heart. For Michael, as with many men, that favorite food is pizza. "Pizza takes me back to when I was a kid," he says. Making it from scratch—as per the recipe below—is an excellent way to show you care, but if you're uneasy about the crust—or you're crunched for time—then feel free to sub in a pre-made crust. (Boboli makes a good one.)

PIZZA WITH ARUGULA, CHERRY TOMATOES, AND PROSCIUTTO

CRUST

1 package instant yeast

1 cup hot water

½ tsp salt

1 tbsp sugar or honey

½ tbsp olive oil

2 ½ cups flour, plus more for kneading and rolling

SAUCE

1 can (28 oz) whole peeled tomatoes, drained

½ tsp salt

1 tbsp olive oil

1 clove garlic, finely minced

PLUS

Cherry tomatoes

Arugula

Proscuitto

1. Crust: Combine yeast with the water, salt, and sugar or honey. Allow to sit for 10 minutes while the hot water activates the yeast. Stir in olive oil and flour, using a wooden spoon. When the dough is no longer sticky, place on a cutting board, cover with more flour, and knead for 5 minutes. Return to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let the dough rise at room temperature for at least 90 minutes. (Keeps covered in the refrigerator for up to two days.)

2. Sauce: Place the sauce ingredients in a blender and purée for a few seconds, until the tomatoes have broken down but still retain some chunky texture.

3. Preheat the oven to 500°F. If you have a pizza stone, place it on the bottom rack of the oven.

4. If you're using dough, divide it into two equal pieces. On a well-floured surface, use the rolling pin to work it into two thin circles, about 12 inches in diameter.

5. If you're using a pizza stone, place a circle of dough on a pizza peel or large cutting board, cover with a light layer of pizza sauce, then top with half the mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. Slide directly onto the pizza stone and bake for about 8 minutes, until the edge of the dough is lightly browned. If you don't have a pizza stone, cook the pizzas on a baking sheet instead.

6. Remove the pizza to a cutting board and immediately top with half the arugula (which will wilt lightly from the heat), half the prosciutto, and a good measure of shaved or grated Parmesan. (If you have a large block of Parmesan, simply use a vegetable peeler to shave thin slices of cheese over the top.) Cut the pizza into six or eight slices. Repeat process with other half of dough.

Mark Deklin

Actor, new ABC series, GCB

Ideal Meal: Fresh Sea Scallops

Mark admits that he doesn't consider Valentine's Day an occasion for pampering, but like most guys, he's not one to turn down a great meal. For him, sea scallops suit the occasion, and he might be on to something: The protein-heavy mollusks marry fresh flavor with buttery richness, they pair perfectly with white wine, and if you follow the recipe here, you'll have dinner on the table in under 20 minutes. That should free you up for more important activities.

SEA SCALLOPS WITH WHITE BEANS AND BACON

1 lb large sea scallops

2 strips bacon, chopped into small pieces

½ red onion, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 ½ cans (14 oz each) white beans, rinsed and drained

4 cups baby spinach

1 tbsp butter

Juice of one lemon

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Heat a medium saucepan over low heat. Cook the bacon until it begins to crisp. Add the onion and garlic, and sauté until the onion is soft and translucent (about 2 to 3 minutes). Add the white beans and spinach and simmer until the beans are hot and the spinach is wilted. Keep warm.

2. Heat a large cast-iron skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Blot the scallops dry with a paper towel and season them with salt and pepper on both sides. Add the butter and the scallops to the pan and sear the scallops for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until deeply caramelized.

3. Before serving, add the lemon juice to the beans and season with salt and pepper.

Image: Geoff Moore