“Marry Me” Meals

Written by: Zenia Nasevich

They say the way to the heart is through the stomach, and these meals are no exception. Bursting with maximum flavor while using minimal effort, each dish is bound to evoke a marriage proposal in no time.

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Orange Chicken Thighs

This recipe was, and still is, a kitchen staple in my childhood home. The orange slice underneath the skin makes the chicken extra juicy, tender, and flavorful, and this meal is always a hit whenever I make it for my roommates!

Ingredients

4 chicken thighs

1 orange

Olive oil

Canola spray

Salt, pepper, oregano, and garlic powder to season

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375° and lightly grease a baking sheet with canola spray. 

2. Slice the orange into rounds. Pull up the skin of the chicken thighs to loosen it, and place one orange round underneath the skin of each thigh. 

3. Generously season each thigh, front and back, with salt, pepper, oregano, and garlic powder. 

4. Place the thighs on the pan and drizzle with a small amount of olive oil on top. 

5. Bake for 40 minutes, stopping to rotate the pan halfway through. 

6. Serve with a side of couscous (recommended) or rice and your choice of vegetable.

Honey Garlic Salmon Filets

This salmon recipe is so good, I genuinely make it at least once a week. The best thing about it is that it’s so versatile — it can be served on its own, or in a rice bowl with avocado and nori! Sauce recipe serves 1-2.

Ingredients

2 salmon filets, skin off 

2 tablespoons butter 

4 cloves garlic, minced 

4 tablespoons honey 

1 tablespoon water 

2 teaspoons soy sauce 

1 tablespoon lemon juice 

Salt, pepper, and paprika to season

Sesame seeds to garnish

Directions

1. Season salmon filets with salt, pepper, and paprika. Set aside.

2. Heat butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat until melted. Allow the butter to melt as the saucepan heats up, or else the sauce may burn.

3. Add garlic and sauté for a minute or until fragrant. Pour in honey, water, and soy sauce, and allow the flavors to combine before adding lemon juice.

4. Add salmon filets to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden.

5. Garnish with sesame seeds. Serve with jasmine rice and your choice of vegetable — sugar snap peas or charred broccoli are my usual picks! Alternatively, I especially love this salmon in a rice bowl, which I usually eat with snow peas, shredded carrots, and avocado with nori, sriracha, and Japanese mayo.

Penne Alla Vodka

Totally embracing the Gigi Hadid vodka pasta moment from quarantine for this one. This penne alla vodka lives rent free in my apartment!

Ingredients

½ cup olive oil 

2 cloves garlic, diced 

½ green onion 

½ cup tomato paste 

1 cup heavy cream 

2 tablespoons vodka 

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 

16 oz penne 

2 tablespoons butter 

½ cup parmesan or pecorino romano cheese

Basil, chopped for garnish 

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Heat olive oil, garlic, and onion in a large saucepan and cook until soft. Add tomato paste and cook until it appears darker. 

2. Add heavy cream and stir. Add vodka and cook until evaporated. Add pepper flakes. Keep stirring until combined, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat. 

3. Cook pasta separately. Save ¼ of the pasta water before draining. 

4. Add butter to the sauce. Then add pasta and pasta water to the sauce with cheese. 

5. Serve with basil and more cheese.