This Valentine’s Day, take your other half to the kitchen to fill your hearts, and your bellies, with this Chimichurri-steak combo recipe.

Finding your missing piece or your other half — that’s what Valentine’s Day is about. When it comes to food, couples are not that different from the wonderful combinations that can come together in the kitchen. Ingredients can be combined to create incredible flavor profiles in dishes that taste almost as good as being with your boo feels. Sometimes, opposites attract, like in the classic salty and sweet combinations. Other times, harmonious blends can be made from tastes that just make sense together, such as caramel and chocolate. 

Why not celebrate this holiday with your significant other by having a romantic dinner you cooked together? 

These recipes highlight the importance of teamwork and celebrate the beauty of components that perfectly complement each other. The main idea here is chimichurri sauce, which originates in Argentina, and can finish off any kind of grilled meat or fish, creating a wholesome and delicious meal. While one partner creates the sauce, the other can focus on preparing the protein, so by the time you’re both finished, you will have a dinner to enjoy together. The tasks can be assigned according to each person’s skills and interests, signifying how individuals remain unique and can come together to create complex and balanced relationships. You can also adapt to both of your preferences and choose any meat or fish of your choice. This recipe is for steak, but the sauce goes great with chicken, fish or shrimp.

Chimichurri Sauce

Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4 

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch of flat-leaf Italian parsley, stems removed
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh oregano leaves
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 

Instructions

1. Combine parsley, cilantro, oil, oregano, garlic, salt, cumin, red pepper flakes and black pepper in a blender.
2. Pulse 2-3 times and scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula. Repeat pulsing and scraping until a thick sauce forms (about 12 times).

Grilled Steak

Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 2

Ingredients 

• 2 boneless New York strip steaks (about 12 oz each)
• 1 tsp salt
• Vegetable oil for the grill 
• Flaky salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Prepare an outdoor grill for direct, high heat (about 450℉). Meanwhile, let the steaks sit at room temperature while the grill is heating.
2. Oil the grill with a paper towel dipped in oil. Pat the steaks dry with paper towels, then season all over with 1 teaspoon kosher salt. 
3. Place the steaks on the grill. Cover and cook until dark grill marks form on the bottom (3-4 minutes). 
4. Flip the steaks, cover again and cook until grill marks form on the second side (3-4 minutes).
5. Check the temperature: for medium-rare, an instant read thermometer inserted into the center of the steak should register 120-125℉. If the steaks are not ready, continue to grill, flipping every minute or so, until the steak reaches the right temperature. If the steaks are browning too quickly, turn a gas grill down to medium-high or move the steaks to a cooler part of a charcoal grill.
6. Transfer the steaks to a clean cutting board or serving plates and let rest for 5 minutes. 
7. Sprinkle with flaky salt and top them off with the chimichurri sauce.
8. Enjoy with your significant other! 

Hopefully engaging in this culinary adventure will bring you closer together with your special someone! Perhaps it will inspire you two to continue to cook together, teaching each other how to make your favorite recipes or exploring new ones. To make this time even more enjoyable, try creating a playlist together to play while you cook. Or, find a list of interesting questions to ask each other while you’re hanging out in the kitchen. Have fun!

A version of this article appeared on p. 12 of the February 13th, 2025 print edition of the Daily Nexus.