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Grapefruit and Mushroom “Scallop” Salad

Warm and tender mushroom “scallops,” sharp and tangy grapefruit, earthy sumac, and sweet basil all play together harmoniously in this first-course salad.

Tip

Revive any wilted salad greens by dunking them in a bowl of ice water for about 5 to 10 minutes. Drain and either spin dry in a salad spinner or pat dry with a clean kitchen towel.

Red Lentil and Pepper Dip

Start the evening off by taking a little dip with your Valentine. This versatile starter is quick to whip up and, best of all, can be made ahead of time. Pair it with chopped vegetables, your favourite crackers, or oven-roasted root vegetable fries.

Tip

Use extra dip as a spread for sandwiches, swirled into soups as a flavourful garnish, or thinned with some extra olive oil, water, and a little lemon juice to create a creamy salad dressing.

Cherry, Blood Orange, and Ginger Kombucha Spritz

Based on the Italian aperitif the spritz, this non-alcoholic kombucha version brings warming ginger, cherry juice, and orange together for a kid- and adult-friendly special occasion red beverage.

Blushing Latte

Send your sweetie to bed with this nightcap and they’ll be sure to have sweet dreams. Studies have shown that compounds in red beetroot have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, thus making this beautiful bevvy not only good but good for you too.

Tip

Since Valentine’s Day is a special occasion, feel free to add a splash of your favourite liquor to make this nightcap just a little bit naughty.

Sparkling Pomegranate and Grapefruit “Sangria”

Bittersweet grapefruit, tart pomegranate, and sweet maple syrup combine to make a seasonally inspired faux sangria for lovebirds of all ages.

Tips

When choosing store-bought juice, look for 100 percent pure fruit juices with no added sugar, colouring, or flavouring. Or, if you have a juicer, you can squeeze your own to avoid any unwanted additives. Any combination of sweet and tart juices will work in this sangria. Try apple cider and blueberry juice, orange juice and cranberry juice, or pineapple juice and cherry juice.

Coconut Black Forest Hot Chocolate

Valentine’s Day isn’t complete without chocolate. This drinkable dessert gets its dark red hue from cherry juice, cocoa powder, and dark chocolate, all packed with heart-healthy antioxidants.

Tip

For a pinker, head-turning take on this classic hot chocolate, use chopped white chocolate and malted milk powder in place of dark chocolate and cocoa.

Red Hot Tomato and Carrot Caesar

Spice things up with a spicy, savoury Caesar renewed with carrot juice. Tomato juice provides lycopene, taking care of your Valentine’s heart.

Tip

Keep the classic Caesar garnish and add a stem of celery for guests to stir and snack on.

Mulled Cranberry Apple Rooibos Tea

Warm, soothing, and perfectly spiced, this ruby-red mulled tea makes a sweet afternoon sip or cozy nightcap.

Kiss Me Mousse

Don’t be surprised if this dessert gets you a few extra smooches. While the chocolate mousse is delicious on its own, the extra flourishes make it truly special. Feel free to substitute any type of bean aquafaba if you don’t have a can of black beans on hand.

Tip

Don’t discard scraped-out vanilla pods—they still contain a lot of flavour. In airtight container, place the pod and 1/2 cup (125 mL) coconut sugar. Shake, and set aside for a week, shaking occasionally. Your patience will be rewarded with the loveliest vanilla-scented sugar to use however your heart desires.

Nutty Shredded Reds

Low in calories, high in fibre, shredded reds offer oodles of goodness to heart health as well as to your appetite. Topped with walnuts, this is the ultimate delicious side dish to any meal and hugely good for you too. Coupled with roasted garlic, red cabbage builds on heart health and immunity!

Wine pairing

Lean into something not too heavy. This dish is best served with something a little less dry and mildly sweet. Look for a Pinot Grigio or a Gewürztraminer.

Tip

Looking for a full-meal veggie deal? Add cooked and cooled barley to these reds. Toss and dress.

Big Red Vegetarian Pasta Sauce

How can something so satisfying also be good for you? The full flavour begins with a mirepoix that is gently sautéed until vegetables are very soft and almost caramelized. And the rich red tomatoes and tomato paste are excellent for heart-healthy eating. Double up the recipe and store extras in the freezer for a speedy mid-week supper.

Wine pairing

Look for a red wine that is a little more acidic, such as a bottle of Chianti or a Pinot Noir. And if you’re really feeling flush and want to splurge or impress, crack open a bottle of aged Barolo.

Tip

This dish is excellent for vegan diets. Serve with an egg-free pasta or spoon ladles of the Bolognese over wedges of roasted butternut squash for extra yum!

Sweet Beet Butter Spread

Rosy red for heart health—is there anything more visual and heart friendly than beets? They’re stunningly beautiful on a plate all by themselves, and they add amazing colour to a beverage. In this spread, they’re a rosy, healthy topper. Coupled with almond butter, they’re creamy and delicious with a splash of maple syrup. Use Sweet Beet Butter Spread in appetizers, desserts, and even for breakfast.

Wine pairing

Sweet Beet Butter Spread lends itself well to Rosé. Choose a light, sparkling dry Rosé—not too sweet.

Tip

Sweet Beet Butter Spread is also delicious piped into little tart shells, topped with a drizzle of chocolate, and served for dessert. Or pipe into endive leaves and top with toasted walnuts for an appetizer.

Sheet Pan Citrus Salmon with Roasted Onions and Peppers

They’re as easy as turning on the oven: sheet pan suppers leave little for cleanup. This one offers simplicity while focusing on wholesome ingredients. Salmon is an excellent source of essential omega-3s, and red bell peppers ring in with oodles of healthy lycopene for a heart-healthy, easy-peasy dish.

Wine pairing

Wine to serve with salmon is typically mild, crisp, light, and smooth. In this recipe, we’ve added a complexity of flavours such as smoked paprika with lime, the huskiness of cumin, and the light hint of honey. Altogether, it comprises warmth with lime edginess and a bit of heat. Look for a Gewürztraminer or a Riesling to marry with this dish.

Tip

Add any vegetable to the sheet pan when roasting peppers, such as broccoli or cauliflower florets.

Moong Dal with Red Hot Tadka

Red hot? Or full-flavoured with a little warmth? It depends on your taste buds. Moong dal is ultimate comfort in a bowl. Add in a tumble of cherry tomatoes coupled with some hot red chilies, and it’s the perfect antidote to a chilly February evening. Roll up some roti and scoop in!

Wine pairing

Lean into something not too heavy. This dish is best served with something a little less dry and mildly sweet. Look for a Pinot Grigio or a Gewürztraminer.

Tip

Substitute yellow moong dal with split peas or chana dal. The flavour is slightly different, but the texture will be the same.

No-Bake Orange Berry Crumble

Who thinks fruit crisps need to be baked? This rich red dessert certainly doesn’t. And by not baking, there’s less risk of nutrient loss. This crumble is easy to assemble and guaranteed to impress. More importantly, it’s chock full of antioxidants—the darling essential for heart-healthy goodness.

Wine pairing

Avoid after-dinner wines that are overly sweet, as they’ll overpower the berry crumble, causing fruit to be too tart. Choose a sparkling wine that is light and not too cloying, such as a Canadian Muscat produced from grapes grown selectively in areas such as BC, Ontario, and Nova Scotia.

Tip

Pack a little twist of additional flavour into your berry crumble with a little drizzle of blackberry ginger-flavoured balsamic. And if you have a penchant for vanilla, replace plain yogurt with vanilla yogurt or ice cream.

Pomegranate Chicken with Warm Kisir

Mediterranean dishes are known for their amazing heart-health qualities with their healthy oils and bright-coloured vegetables. This dish is no exception with its inclusion of pomegranates. When in season, pomegranates are widely available. Typically, kisir, a traditional Turkish side dish, is made with bulgur. We’ve adapted it using millet, a healthy gluten-free alternative.

Wine pairing

Wines are always personal. No one has the same taste buds. While some might lean toward whites, others glom onto reds. This dish deserves something light and fruity—either red or white. So look for a Gamay or a Rosé. Even a Pinot Grigio works well with this dish.

Tip

Pomegranate molasses or syrup can be found in specialty food shops or Middle Eastern grocery stores. To make your own, boil pomegranate juice until thickened. Refrigerate for up to 1 month. Use tablespoonfuls to flavour a myriad of dishes.

Lemony Whole Roasted Cauliflower

The situation: you’ve got guests coming for dinner. You want to impress them, but you’re short on time. The answer? This fun vegan centerpiece that’s an absolute showstopper—and ridiculously easy to make. As a bonus, cauliflower contains heaps of vitamins, fiber and a variety of minerals.

Miso Soup With Greens

Miso is an ancient superfood you’ll want to indulge in often for its potential benefits in relieving fatigue and aiding digestion. This miso soup has a leg up on its sushi restaurant counterpart thanks to the addition of kale.

Vegan Golden Milk

No time to stand in line for your soy vanilla latte? Go one better for your health with a warm cup of golden milk. Golden milk is an Ayurvedic beverage made with turmeric powder. Curcumin, an active compound in turmeric, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Piperine, a component of black pepper, increases curcumin’s availability in the body (so it can do its good work). That’s why there’s a pinch of pepper in this drink.

Gingered Sweet Potato and Mung Bean Curry with Coconut

With a couple of cellar vegetables, some spices and a little added freshness, you have the most restorative, feel-good stew imaginable. The coconut milk adds just the right amount of richness to tame the sharp ginger and spices. There’s so much flavor going on here, but this warming pot of nourishment couldn’t be simpler to make. I list spinach for the greens here, but chopped kale, chard, collards or mustard greens would all be excellent in its place.

Creamy Zucchini and Walnut Gratin

The walnuts in the sauce and topping of this creamy gratin make for a satisfying dose of good fats and protein. This cozy dish is perfect with a little side salad. My gratin method here works with all kinds of thinly sliced vegetables, including potatoes and sweet potatoes, and even small florets of broccoli and cauliflower. Nutritional yeast (an inactive yeast) is what brings the slightly cheesy and savory flavor. It can be found in spice aisles of supermarkets.

Shaved Root Salad with Crispy Lentils

This is a gorgeous winter salad with some textural interest from cooked lentils that are roasted until crispy and chewy. I turn to root vegetable and cabbage-based salads and slaws in the cold months because I find I’m less likely to crave a leafy, water-heavy salad. It seems that the body naturally craves foods that will help it to seasonally adapt. You can use any mix of root vegetables you like or have on hand.

Broccoli Caesar with Smoky Tempeh Bits

On a trip to Montreal with friends, we shared a broccoli-based “Caesar” salad as a starter plate. It featured a whole broccoli stalk that had been charred on a grill, finished in the oven and then smothered in Caesar dressing. It was so good that I would have fought everyone at the table for the last bite. The smoky tempeh makes this a more filling vegetable course, too. I blanch the broccoli here, but I’ve also prepared this salad with roasted broccoli florets as a warm salad. Just place the florets on a baking sheet, toss with a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper and roast in a 400 F oven for about 20 minutes or so.

Vegetable and Bean Pot Pies with Potato Crusts

I find vegan pastry particularly hard to master without the use of vegetable shortening, vegan margarine and the like. I stay away from these ingredients, and an oil-based crust can be a tricky, messy beast. I skip the whole thing here and just slice sweet and regular potatoes into thin coins, fan them out on top of this vegetable and bean pot pie and roast them until crispy and crust-like. The result has all of the effect of a traditional pot pie with much less effort.