Cooking for two may seem like a piece of cake to many, especially for someone who does it everyday, but for those who don't cook or have gotten used to cooking for a large number of people, cooking for just two people becomes tricky. This is where dinner recipes that can be prepared quickly will come in handy. Before we get onto some interesting and easy recipes, let's understand what a dinner for two entails. When it's just two people, you are dependent on each other to keep the conversation going, that means you can't keep running to the kitchen to fix meals, and as the food for two will be in small quantities, it is best to learn about your guest's food preferences. You don't want your guest to leave hoping that they rather eat somewhere else!
Easy and Quick Dinner Recipes for 2
Green Salad
Ingredients
- Chopped canned artichokes, ½ cup
- Canned chickpeas, ½ cup
- Cherry or grape tomatoes, ½ cup
- Chopped celery, ½ cup
- Peeled and pitted, ¼
- Bite size pieces green leaf lettuce, 4 cups
- De-veined cooked shrimp, 6 ounces
- Anchovy paste, ½ tsp
- Tarragon vinegar, 1 tsp
- Skimmed buttermilk, 2 tbsp
- Chopped fresh chives, 1 tbsp
One of the easier and healthier quick dinner recipe for two, in this you need to puree avocado, buttermilk, chives, tarragon vinegar and anchovy paste in a blender, until smooth and refrigerate for a day. Divide the remaining ingredients and place them in two plates, drizzle the dressing over the salad.
Chicken Soup
Ingredients
- Frozen mixed vegetables, 8 ounces
- Cubed cooked chicken breast, 1 cup
- Reduced fat condensed cream of chicken soup, 1 can
- Reduced sodium chicken broth,1 can
- Minced onion, ½ tbsp
In a large saucepan, bring the chicken broth and onion to a boil. Reduce heat, and frozen vegetables. Cover and let it simmer, until crisp-tender. Stir in the chicken cubes and cream of chicken soup. Simmer for another couple of minutes. Pour equal quantities in two soup plates and serve hot.
Baked Fish with Potatoes
Ingredients
- White fish fillets, ½ pound
- Cut into ½ inch slices, baking potatoes, 1
- Chopped red bell pepper, ½
- Thickly sliced zucchini, ½
- Deeded and chopped tomatoes, ½
- Chopped leek bulb, ½
- Celery, cut into thin long slices, 1 stalk
- Minced garlic, 2 cloves
- Fresh parsley or fennel, 2 sprigs
- Olive oil, 2 tbsp
- Water, 4 tbsp
- Salt and pepper, to taste
This is one of the easiest dinner recipes. Toss the potatoes with half olive oil, coat it evenly and season with salt and pepper. Spread potatoes in a lightly oiled baking dish with 2 tablespoons of water. Cover, and bake in a pre-heated oven to 425° F for 15 minutes. In another bowl, mix bell peppers, garlic, zucchini, leek, celery and the remaining olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, and mix with potatoes, sprinkle 2 tablespoons water. Cover and bake for 10 to 15 minutes. Cut fish fillets into one inch cubes and spread over vegetables. Cover and bake again, until fish begins to flake. Serve hot with tomato and parsley garnish.
Dutch Apple Pie
Ingredients for Pie
- All-purpose flour, 2 cups
- Brown sugar, 1 cup
- Quick-cooking oats, ½ cup
- Butter, ¾ cup
Ingredients for Pie Filling
- Diced peeled tart apples, 3 cups
- Sugar, 2/3 cup
- Vanilla extract, 1 tsp
- Cornstarch, 3 tbsp
- Cold water, 1¼ cup
In this pie recipe, take a large bowl and mix together flour, brown sugar, oats and butter. Remove about 1 cup for topping and press remaining crumb mixture onto an pie plate. In a saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch and water, in a large bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes, until smooth and thickened. Remove from the heat, and stir in diced tart apples and vanilla. Pour it on the pie crust, top with reserved crumb mixture evenly. Bake in a pre-heated oven to 350° F, until crust is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack and serve with some whipped cream.
Once you are done with your food preparation using some of the above mentioned quick dinner ideas for two, work towards setting up the right ambiance using some candles and soft music!
