While an all-around fantastic chef and TV personality, Food Network host and author of more than one dozen cookbooks Giada De Laurentiis is our go-to expert for two things: easy, effortless Italian food and family friendly recipes. Not only does De Laurentiis have a knack for making Italian food a breeze to make, but she also knows exactly how to wrangle the entire family into the kitchen, roll up their respective sleeves, and help make dinner, dessert — you name it. So, if you’re interested in either this Valentine’s Day, De Laurentiis more than has you covered.
From refreshing cocktails, like her jalapeño-infused Spice & Smoke cocktail, and savory, sultry Valentine’s Day suppers, like De Laurentiis’ short rib rage with penne or her Calabrian chili pasta, to rich desserts for two, like her zuccotto, and a sweet-and-salty dessert the family can snack on all day, like her popular V-Day chocolate-covered chips, ahead are De Laurentiis’ best — and tastiest — Valentine’s Day recipes.
Spice & Smoke Cocktail
This cocktail mixes together some of our favorite cocktail ingredients: mezcal, grapefruit juice, and jalapeños.
Get the recipe at Giadzy.
Negroni Sbagliato
For a sweeter, sexier cocktail, choose De Laurentiis’ Negroni Sbagliato, which features Prosecco, Campari and sweet vermouth.
Get the recipe at Giadzy.
Strawberry Salad
Pretty in pink is right. This Valentine’s salad is a flavor bomb with strawberries, toasted almonds, gorgonzola cheese, white balsamic vinegar, and dijon mustard.
Get the recipe at Giadzy.
Orange Grilled Shrimp with Cocoa Nib Gremolata
Cooking for the family? This orange-grilled shrimp dish is a great appetizer to kick-start your V-Day dinner.
Get the recipe at Giadzy.
Broiled Salmon with Fennel Salad
For a healthier option, De Laurentiis’ Broiled Salmon with Fennel Salad is packed with nutrients and, more importantly, delicious.
Get the recipe at Giadzy.
Short Rib Ragu with Penne
Our mouths are watering just looking at De Laurentiis’ braised short rib and penne pasta topped with fresh parmesan — and your partner will be, too, if you make it this V-Day.
Get the recipe at Giadzy.
Calabrian Chili Pasta
Give your pasta a kick with one of De Laurentiis’ favorite Italian products: Calabrian chili paste.
“It’s quite spicy, but it does a lot more than bring on the heat — it has a lovely warm and slightly sweet flavor as well, and it can really wake any ordinary dish up,” she writes.
Get the recipe at Giadzy.
Chicken with Tomato & Chickpea Ragu
This ragu-slathered chicken dish is as Italian as it gets: It’s the brainchild of three famous Italian chefs, De Laurentiis, Alex Guarnaschelli and Valerie Bertinelli.
Get the recipe at Giadzy.
Valentine’s Double Chocolate Bark
Gather the kiddos — and a variety of sprinkles and various other heart-shaped candies and toppings — to make this Valentine’s Day chocolate bark.
Get the recipe at Giadzy.
Classic Tiramisu
Serve up a classic Italian dessert this Valentine’s Day: tiramisu. For it, you’ll need mascarpone cheese, espresso, dark rum, ladyfingers, and bittersweet chocolate shavings.
Get the recipe at Giadzy.
V-Day Chocolate-Covered Chips
Another easy, kid-friendly De Laurentiis dessert are these chocolate-covered chips. Don’t stop at chips, either; dip pretzels, Doritos, you name it.
Get the recipe at Giadzy.
Zuccotto
But wait! We have one more classic Italian dessert: zuccotto. This semi-frozen, chilled dessert is chockfull of irresistible ingredients, like pound cake, brandy, chocolate, toasted almonds, and much more.
Get the recipe at Giadzy.
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