Valentine’s Day is less about being in love and more about sharing love, whether that’s with a partner, a family member, or your very best friends. We may be biased, but here at The CIA, we don’t think there’s a much better way to show someone you care than to make them a heartfelt, home-cooked meal.
Unless, of course, you make it together. Cooking as a duo is as intimate as dancing, and that finished dish is truly a distillation of everything that marks a happy relationship: communication, synchronization, and shared passions.
When choosing a recipe, don’t think as much about the finished dish you would like to eat, but more about what is going to be a fun project (without getting in over your head). Things like making homemade dumplings or fried chicken have enough steps to keep you engaged, with minimal time spent waiting around for the next step.
But we think the ultimate Valentine’s Day partner project is homemade pasta. Here’s why:
- You not only can, but should drink wine while you make it. It’s also a good excuse to mix some cool on-trend cocktails, like a negroni.
- It’s messy enough to be fun, but not so messy that you have 10 hours of clean-up to ruin your night.
- It’s easy and surprisingly quick. If you have some gadgets you’ve been dying to use, cool! But hand cut pastas are seriously fast.
- Even if it doesn’t turn out professional-level good, mediocre pasta is still great. Just be sure to knead the dough until it is nice and smooth. Once that’s done, it’s hard to mess it up.
If you’re an over-achiever – or, if this is young love – you may want to have a sauce prepared so the process doesn’t drag out for ages. Or you can opt for a simple recipe that comes together quickly. We’re going to give you our basic pasta recipes, some low and slow sauces (definitely start them early), and some easier recipes that come together quickly.
Have fun, you two!
Basic Pasta Dough – use this to make with your basic red sauces, meat ragouts, and creamy sauces. Use a pasta cutter or just a knife to cut strips whatever thickness you like. You’re the boss.
Ragú Bolognese – You might want to make this sauce the day ahead, but then it will be ready to toss with your beautiful hand-made pasta!
Troccoli with Lamb and Pepper Sauce – This is a simple dish that uses Troccoli, a hand-cut semolina noodle.
Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe – This recipe uses dried pasta, so you’re off the hook if home-made isn’t up your alley. This is basically mature Italian macaroni and cheese. Admittedly, there’s a bit of a learning curve with this dish, so only pick it if you and your beau can laugh it off if things don’t go as planned.
Polenta Dumplings with Truffled Cheese Fondue – so, technically this isn’t homemade pasta, but it’s pasta-adjacent and just screams Valentine’s Day (if your idea of Valentine’s Day is cheese and truffles, which…. Isn’t it?).