Romantic Seafood Dinner: 8 Recipes for Valentine's Day

This creamy lobster risotto made with saffron, shallots, white wine, and chunks of tender lobster meat is a savory and truly impressive dish. Risotto does take a bit of time on the stove, but the resulting dish is worth it and your patience and devotion won't go unnoticed.

There are three ingredients that are crucial to this dish: arborio rice, lobster meat, and saffron. Risotto can only be made with a short-grain rice, and the lobster and saffron are what makes this dish truly special. This recipe also calls for lobster stock, which is simple enough to make ahead using the shells from the lobster (if you purchased a whole lobster and not just the meat); you can substitute with chicken stock but it won't create the same rich flavor.

Serve this lobster risotto with a side of roasted or steamed asparagus sprinkled with coarse salt and a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Looking for something sweet for your sweetie? This elegant scallop and shrimp dish, drizzled with a strawberry-flavored balsamic glaze, tastes and looks divine—so much so, your partner may think you got take-out from the fancy restaurant in town.

The secret to the strawberries is that they are marinated in a mixture of brown sugar and balsamic vinegar beforehand, allowing the fruit to fully absorb the sweet and the tang. Then at the end, the vinegar mixture is cooked down to a thick syrup.

Just a quick sear of the scallops and shrimp in a hot oiled pan is all that is needed. Once the seafood is placed on a bit of wilted arugula and topped with the strawberries and glaze, this dish is one that you will savor together.

Veal and chicken piccata are a traditional favorite, so why not fish? This classic Italian sauce makes for a deeply satisfying dish that is light and fresh and won't leave you or your honey feeling over-stuffed. The fish fillets are dusted with a coating of flour and pan-fried until golden in a bit of oil and butter. Then white wine, shallots, fresh lemon juice, capers, and a little butter are cooked together to create the velvety sauce that is spooned over the fish. 

Serve over a bed of rice and a side of your sweetheart's favorite vegetable for a complete meal.

Fresh mussels cooked in a fragrant, Thai-inspired sauce with the added bonus of red chili is a sensual delight. Because the mussels are presented in their shells this is more of a "hands-on" meal, but sometimes that can make the dinner more fun and relaxed.

The mussels are first simmered in a fragrant wine mixture until opened and then combined with an Asian-flavored coconut sauce. Make sure to serve with plenty of crusty bread for sopping up the sauce.

Presenting almost any dish that has been stuffed with a savory filling is impressive and sets the stage for a special meal. This flounder Florentine is no exception.

This fish dish is elegant and simple at the same time. At its heart, it is a wonderfully flavorful Southern seafood main dish coupled with sautéed spinach and a decadent creamy white wine sauce. Serve over mashed potatoes and with a side salad to make this meal complete.

A wonderfully aromatic dish, featuring juicy shrimp coated with exotic spices, this Moroccan meal will kick your night up a notch. The secret is cooking the spices—paprika, ground coriander, cumin, ginger, and cayenne—in the oil to release their essence before adding in the shrimp. And with just a quick saute in the pan, the shrimp are done and full of flavor. A squeeze of lemon is all that is needed to finish them off.

Serve with a bit of steamed rice and simple green beans to complete the meal.

Make this delectable twist on the classic dish Lobster Newburg for Valentine's Day this year. Using shrimp instead of lobster not only saves you money but also the time (and often aggravation) of removing the lobster meat from the shells. 

The base of this luscious sauce is a roux, to which you add half-and-half and sherry as well as egg yolks to create a thick, velvety texture. 

Complete the dish by serving it over rice, puff pastry shells, or on toast points. Just add a salad or steamed vegetables for a fabulous meal that your sweetheart will be talking about for months!

This combination of scallops and bacon is a snap to prepare, and the presentation is impressive. Just wrap partially cooked bacon around a scallop, season, and then broil for a few minutes. You'll have a tasty, elegant appetizer you and your loved one will enjoy. Or, you can serve as the main dish alongside a frisee salad studded with crispy croutons and drizzled with a dressing using the bacon fat. A bit decadent, but it is a special occasion!