Instead of heading out for a fancy dinner for two, show off your culinary skills and whip up a delicious meal at home for that special someone. There’s no better way to ignite the fuels of love than with a dinner made from scratch and a sprinkle of passion!

Oysters

Rich in zinc and amino acids, oysters are said to trigger increased levels of sex hormones.

Must-try Recipe: Jamie Oliver’s Oyster, Chilli & Ginger

You’ll need:

½ thumb-sized piece peeled ginger

6 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

1 red chili

Some fresh coriander

Dozen oysters

Method: For ease, get the oysters opened by the place you got them. If not, you’ll need to carefully shuck them using an oyster-shucker while holding them down with a tea-towel. Once shucked, it’s time to prepare the ‘dressing’. Grate the ginger finely and mix it into the rice wine vinegar. Next deseed the chili and chop it up into fine pieces. Follow by slicing the fresh coriander up thinly. Add these to the ginger and vinegar mixture before stirring in a teaspoon of sugar until it fully dissolved. Serve the dressing over oysters as an amazing appetiser.

Asparagus

A well-known aphrodisiac during ancient times, this fleshy green spear is packed full of fiber, protein, calcium, copper, iron, folate, and vitamins A, B6, C, E, and K. This potent combo of minerals and vitamins makes the humble asparagus a superfood and mood enhancer!

Must-try recipe: Rachel Khoo’s Asparagus Twists

You’ll need:

5 anchovies

1 tbsp olive oil

200g puff pastry

12 asparagus spears

Egg wash (made from one egg mixed with a bit of water)

1 tbsp sesame seeds

Method: Turn the oven on to 180°C and line your baking tray with a sheet of baking paper. Blitz anchovies with olive oil until it turns into a paste you can spread. Alternatively you can bash the ingredients up in a pestle and mortar for better texture. On a rolled out sheet of pastry, evenly spread the paste on all areas till fully covered. Then cut into 12 x 2cm strips. Wrap these individual strips around the asparagus spears. Place the twists on the baking tray and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake until crisp and puffy – about 20 minutes.

Chili

Eating chili will result in your body copying the feelings of arousal – fast heart-rate, sweating, and the release of endorphins.

Must-try recipe: Padma Lakshmi’s Vegetarian Chili

You’ll need:

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 cup minced onions

1 green bell pepper, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 firm, ripe tomatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp garam masala

½ teaspoon lemon pepper

¼ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes

2 cups drained kidney beans

Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

½ lemon, juiced, or to taste

3 tbsp minced fresh cilantro

Method: Set a large saucepan over medium heat, Heat up the oil before popping in the peppers and onions. Cook and stir for 5 minutes. Then add garlic, tomatoes, ginger root, cumin seeds, garam masala, lemon pepper, and dried red pepper flakes to the saucepan. Simmer for ten minutes. Next add beans and season with salt and pepper. Cook for an extra 5 minutes. Finish off with lemon juice and cilantro.

Honey

Nature’s energy booster, honey also contains boron which works to regulate estrogen and testosterone. Pollination is an essential part of honey production which pretty much explains why it’s a true aphrodisiac.

Must-try recipe: Adam Liaw’s Roasted Chicken Marylands with Chili and Honey

You’ll need: 4 chicken marylands

1 tsp vegetable oil

½ tsp salt

1 lemon cut into segments

25g butter

2 tsp honey

1 tsp Sriracha

1 tsp tomato sauce

2 tbsp fish sauce or soy sauce

¼ cup finely chopped chives

Method: Preheat your oven at 180°C (fan-forced). Place the marylands on a baking tray and coat it with oil. Place them with the skin-side up on a single layer. Then season with salt and lemon juice. Once juice has been squeezed from the segments, throw them in with the chicken pieces and bake for half an hour. Next zap the honey and butter in a microwave until it turns into a liquid. Mix it with chili sauce, tomato sauce, and fish/soy sauce. Then brush half of the mixture over the chicken. Bake for another 25 minutes before glazing the pieces with the remaining half of the mix. Leave in the over to bake for another 10 minutes or until caramelised.

Cherries

Cherries contain heart-regulating melatonin. They are also a great source of vitamins A, C, and E (otherwise known as feel-good vitamins), potassium, magnesium, folate, and iron amongst others.

Must-try recipe: Nigella Lawson’s Cherry Cheesecake

You’ll need: 125g digestive biscuits, crumbed

75g butter, softened

300g cream cheese

60g icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp lemon juice

250ml double cream

1 jar of your chosen black cherry jam

Method: Place biscuits in a food processor. Once crumbly add butter to create the base of the cheesecake. Press the mixture down into a 20cm tin. Next combine icing sugar, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and cream cheese together until it reaches a smooth consistency. Whip the double cream lightly and fold it into the cream cheese mix. Use the mix to fill the top of the cheesecake base. Smooth over and refrigerate overnight. Spread black cherry jam over the top before serving.