by Katerina Lorenzatos Makris

When it comes down to it, almost anything edible and moderately nutritious might serve as an aphrodisiac. Like most animals, we humans adore eating, and we generally feel more amorous when we’re healthy and well-fed. The vigor that comes with proper nutrition tends to lead to happy lovemaking.

Nevertheless, through the ages some foods have a achieved a higher romantic rating than others, at least in legend and folklore.

We studied several lists of aphrodisiac ingredients, dreamed about dishes we wanted to make, and came up with a list of our own, plus a whole romantic vegan feast’s worth of recipes.

Below you’ll find the lusty list in alphabetical order, accompanied by our justifications for each ingredient’s possible erotic contributions. Alongside each ingredient you’ll find links to our corresponding romantic recipes.

At the bottom of this article you’ll find our Romantic Feast Menu with links to each recipe.

Ready? Hold onto your bonnets!

🙂 Diva Tip: Want all the recipes for a yummy, healthy, romantic vegan feast? Click here for a four-course menu, recipes links, and a little article about who inspired it. Hint: Rescue Diva’s hunni and hero.  😉

24 APHRODISIAC INGREDIENTS FOR A ROMANTIC VEGAN FEAST

Almond

An ancient symbol of fertility, almond carries a sweet, fresh scent that some say causes arousal in women. Well, maybe. For sure, eating almonds offers great health benefits, including high amounts of vitamin E that help keep skin and other tissues supple; manganese that promotes healthy bone density, sugar levels, and metabolism; magnesium that’s good for the muscles, nervous system, hydration, and better sleep. Almond also packs powerful portions of protein and fiber for energy and stamina. Since most women around the world are chronically overworked and overwhelmed, the almond’s boost of energy and stamina would be arousing indeed.

Romantic recipe:  Silky Chocolate Almond Banana Fudge Meltdown (vegan)

Avocado

The Aztecs originally called this “ahuacatl,” which means “testicle fruit.” Ahem. Subtle, eh? But can you blame them? That is sort of how the avocado looks when dangling from the tree. Nowadays, here’s another view of this gift from nature… It offers high amounts of folate, potassium, antioxidants, vitamin C, E, and K, and some of the B vitamins, along with oleic acid to guard the heart, reduce inflammation, and possibly ward off cancer. Although it appears rough and tough on the outside, this fruit’s surprising inside is butter-smooth, nutrient-rich, and health-giving, Then there’s that strong, sturdy heart of a pit that anchors its center. Isn’t that how we might describe some of our favorite guys, too?

Romantic recipe:  Zesty Aphrodisiac Appetizer Dip Platter (vegan)

Banana

Do we really have to explain why banana belongs on this list? Umm… well… could a fruit’s shape get any more provocative? For the sake of science we’ll mention the fact that this sweet, creamy, and easily digestible treat provides not only a quick hit of healthy energy, but also high levels of potassium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, manganese, and other nutrients to support nerves, bones, muscles, and fluid balance. We’ll also note that potassium aids in production of romantic hormones. Moreover, it can help prevent muscle cramps after exercise. Which might come in handy after certain types of vigorous exertion. We shall refrain from elaborating.

Romantic recipe: Silky Chocolate Banana Almond Fudge Meltdown (vegan)

Basil

A particularly pretty herb with broad, bright green leaves, basil smells heavenly, and is said to soothe the nerves and mind, alleviating depression, fatigue, and memory disorders. Some people claim it boosts blood flow to the body’s romantic organs too. But even if it only helps calm and clear the mental and neurological pathways, that’s plenty of aphrodisiac action there, since the most satisfying romance depends largely on creativity and imagination, no?

Romantic recipe:  Sultry Stack of Eggplant, Squash, and Mushroom with Sundried Tomato Basil Pesto-Coulis (vegan)

Carrot

The ancient Greeks took one look at the shape of this root veggie and for obvious reasons decided it must be a romance enhancer. They might have been onto something, since carrot happens to be rich in vitamin A, which helps in the production of the hormone progesterone, which in turn plays quite a role in arousal. Carrot is wonderfully versatile, comes in a rainbow of hues, and can be cleverly sneaked into every type of dish from appetizer to dessert. So your sweetheart might never know what hit ’em.

Romantic recipe: Zesty Aphrodisiac Appetizer Dip Platter (vegan)

Chocolate

This one requires little explanation. Anyone who’s ever indulged in this divine substance gets the picture, yes? But if you insist, the scientific truth is… well… there’s disagreement on the scientific truth. Some researchers found that the phenylethylamine in chocolate causes the brain to feel the same euphoria we experience when we’re in love. Other studies found nothing of the sort. So we might not know whether the chocolate/love connection is the real deal or a heap of hype concocted by candy companies. We just know that if a special someone offers us this dark delight, we won’t say “no.” Au contraire. We will probably say “yes.” Repeatedly.

Romantic recipe: Silky Chocolate Banana Almond Fudge Meltdown (vegan)

Cardamom

It’s impossible to take a whiff of this spice and not feel an immediate lift. In technical terms, it’s a rich source of the phytochemical cineole, claimed to offer a calming and restorative effect, and even to be a cure for impotence. Cardamom’s sensuous reputation goes way back. Tales such as The Arabian Nights and how-to guides like the Kama Sutra tout it as an aid to seduction. Ancient Greeks and Romans liked it so much that they put it in perfumes, presumably to make themselves more alluring. Rumor has it that Cleopatra used cardamom in a potion with rose and cinnamon to seduce Marc Antony. Naughty girl, but hey, she got her way.

Romantic recipe: Perky Sweet Potato Soup with Caramelized Onions, Ginger, and Curry (vegan)

Cinnamon

Various cultures prize cinnamon for its aphrodisiac properties, because it is believed to heat up the body, creating a romantic internal climate. Medically speaking, it is reported to be high in antioxidants, and to lower blood pressure, bad cholesterol, and the risk of heart disease and diabetes. For sure, cinnamon smells and tastes delightful, and sprinkling it into dishes and baked goods can help bring on a warm and cozy mood that’s right for romance.

Romantic recipe: Perky Sweet Potato Soup with Caramelized Onions, Ginger, and Curry (vegan)

Romantic recipe: Silky Chocolate Banana Almond Fudge Meltdown (vegan)

Fig

Getting back to naughty Cleopatra, figs are said to have been her fave food. One can imagine that she might have seductively fed them by hand to Julius Caesar, Marc Antony and/or other targeted lovers, since many cultures believe that this fruit looks a lot like a certain female organ. Hint hint. It’s also highly nutritious, offering generous amounts of calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and potassium, plus antioxidant vitamins A, E and K. So of course Cleo only had Julius’s and Marc’s very best interests at heart.

Romantic recipe: Zesty Aphrodisiac Appetizer Dip Platter (vegan)

Garlic

For something with such a strong—and some say noxious—odor, this little bulb sure has a topnotch reputation in the romance department. Going back to ancient times, it has been said to inspire and facilitate lovemaking. One explanation for this might be its invigorating effect on the circulation. Some say that it “heats” the body, and thus, in turn, the libido. Other purported salutatory benefits include antibiotic properties, boosting immunity, and lowering blood pressure. In India it even has been used to kill internal parasites and worms. To the extent that being free of parasites and worms is attractive, then this would be aphrodisiac indeed. Now, this is all assuming that your partner doesn’t mind the unique perfume of the so-called “stinking rose.” One way around the problem is if you both eat it. Then the fumes cancel each other out.

Romantic recipe:  Sultry Stack of Eggplant, Squash, and Mushroom with Sundried Tomato Basil Pesto-Coulis (vegan)

Ginger

Blood flow. Bottom line, that’s what it’s all about. Healthy romantic function relies on good circulation, and ginger is purported to stimulate it. Also, when your body is made warm and tingly by gingery goodness, you feel sort of like you do during romantic activity, which makes you think about having some romantic activity. There ya go. Not to mention that ginger adds a zesty thrill to many different types of dishes. A prescription from one of the world’s first medical schools, the University of Salerno in Italy, recommends that the elderly “eat ginger, and you will love and be loved as in your youth.”

Romantic recipe: Perky Sweet Potato Soup with Caramelized Onions, Ginger, and Curry (vegan)

Maca

Say what? OK, this sweet, starchy root veggie is not super well-known, but some hail it as a super food. It offers high amounts of iodine, zinc, manganese, calcium, potassium iodine, fatty acids, amino acids, and some of the B vitamins. Meanwhile folks in its native Peru have long believed it to provide amorous powers. Researchers are looking into that possibility, along with its reputed benefits to healthy hormone balance. Others claim it cures acne, alleviates PMS, prevents hair loss, improves memory, and helps you sleep. Not a lot of evidence on all those possibilities yet. But due to maca’s nutritional value, and the flavor and body it can add to many dishes, we enjoy sneaking the powdered form into all kinds of goodies ranging from sauces to cakes to our morning bowls of cereal. (CAUTION: Check with your physician before including maca in your diet, as some authorities have issued warnings about its safety for individuals with certain health issues, and might possibly cause hormone imbalance.)

Romantic recipe:  Silky Chocolate Banana Almond Fudge Meltdown (vegan)

Mushroom

We’ve all heard of “magic mushrooms” that give people trippy hallucinations, but last fall a couple of researchers claim to have found a shroom to top them all. Supposedly, women who take only a sniff of the “Tropical Dictyophora ” fungi are brought to… let’s just say… the pinnacle of joy… or the Big “O.” According to the researchers, “results suggest that the hormone-like compounds present in the volatile portion of the spore mass may have some similarity to human neurotransmitters released during [romantic] encounters.” Oddly, they said the scent of the Dictyophora has no such effect on men, who instead find it disgusting. Oh well, different strokes, as the saying goes. In other claims, a shroom dubbed Cordyceps sinensi improves circulation, which… you guessed it… is vital to romantic function. Some mushroom varieties are reputed to promote the immune system, lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and inhibit cancers. If true, that alone would be plenty magical.

Romantic recipe:  Sultry Stack of Eggplant, Squash, and Mushroom with Sundried Tomato Basil Pesto-Coulis (vegan)

Nutmeg

This plain-looking but beautifully aromatic brown spice raises body heat and sweetens breath, which puts you a step ahead on the path to love. On a subliminal level, in western countries nutmeg is associated with winter-time baked goodies and feeling warm and cozy while it’s cold outside, which makes you want to snuggle. Many cultures including those of ancient Greece, Rome, China, India, Malaysia, and Arab countries must have felt the snuggle effect, too, since they prized the spice for helping folks get in the mood. Meanwhile, in the realm of health benefits, nutmeg is said to help fight fatigue and depression, improve mental clarity, relieve pain and inflammation, calm indigestion, and detox the liver and kidneys.

Romantic recipe:  Sultry Stack of Eggplant, Squash, and Mushroom with Sun-dried Tomato Basil Pesto-Coulis (vegan)

Oats

Come on. Oats? An aphrodisiac? Seriously? Could you get any more mundane than that? But mundane or no, through the ages this humble grain was used to treat low libido, and in contemporary studies it was found to raise male testosterone levels. Who knew? Plus it’s rich in iron, zinc, folate, and antioxidants, strengthens the immune system, and helps prevent bad cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and possibly cancer. Not so mundane after all.

Romantic recipe:  Silky Chocolate Banana Almond Fudge Meltdown (vegan)

Onion

We all know better than to order onion on our sandwiches during meetings in the boardroom, but maybe we’ve overlooked some of its benefits in the bedroom. Rumor has it this potent bulb can induce such intense romantic interest that it was banned from convents and monasteries, for fear of making the residents feel too frisky. Adding zesty zing as well as sultry depth to a variety of dishes, onion is rich in vitamin C and quercetin, an antioxidant flavonoid. It is also purported to help ward off a whole barrage of ailments ranging from heart disease to osteoporosis to cancer.

Romantic recipe:  Sultry Stack of Eggplant, Squash, and Mushroom with Sundried Tomato Basil Pesto-Coulis (vegan)

Oregano

Greek myth holds that this aromatic and pungent-tasting herb was created as a symbol of joy by Aphrodite, goddess of romantic love, thus giving it an exalted position among purported aphrodisiacs. In traditional Greek weddings the bride and groom were crowned with garlands of oregano to promote the couple’s future happiness. Hopefully this would include marital bliss in the bedroom. It’s not only a happy herb but a hardworking one, too, known to dieticians as a “functional food.” Adding a savory kick to soups, salad dressing, and entrees, it offers stellar amounts of antioxidants to fight aging and disease, as well as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and zinc. Oregano also has a reputation for antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Some folks use its oil as a home remedy for ailments ranging from sinus congestion to dandruff to athlete’s foot.

Romantic recipe: Zesty Aphrodisiac Appetizer Dip Platter (vegan)

Pine nuts

The abundant zinc in these buttery little seeds from the pine tree are said to spike male potency. One serving carries a hefty 62 percent of your daily requirement for vitamin E, which helps maintain healthy mucous membranes, including those that grace a lady’s romantic organs. Definitely an example of that old saying, “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”

Romantic recipe:  Sultry Stack of Eggplant, Squash, and Mushroom with Sundried Tomato Basil Pesto-Coulis (vegan)

Pineapple

Manganese deficiency can create a sad situation for men, reducing their interest in bedroom activities. Enter the pineapple. Beneath its somewhat intimidating spiky and leathery exterior lies this fruit’s sweet, tangy, golden inner flesh, a veritable treasure not only of manganese, but also vitamin C to help with hormone production, thiamine for energy, and antioxidants to keep us looking and feeling fresh and young. Peeling off this South American native’s rough facade can be a challenge, but well worthwhile when you reach the luscious rewards inside. Reminds us of some of the best romantic partners, too, n’est pas?

Romantic recipe: Zesty Aphrodisiac Appetizer Dip Platter (vegan)

Pomegranate

A case of mistaken identity? Some postulate that the forbidden fruit Eve offered Adam was not an apple at all but a pomegranate, and that the name just got garbled through the many Bible translations. The two fruits are somewhat alike—both round, both red, and both quite tempting. What’s certain is that long before Biblical times, the pomegranate was the ancient Greeks’ symbol for the extremely randy goddess Aphrodite, who took the concepts of love and lust way beyond anything that relatively naïve Eve could ever have imagined. Another plus is that pomegranate purportedly packs a powerful punch of three different types of natural anti-aging, disease-kicking antioxidants, along with generous doses of vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and potassium, all of which can help us modern-day Eves and Aphrodites looking and feeling just as vibrant, lusty, and alluring as they did.

Romantic recipe: Zesty Aphrodisiac Appetizer Dip Platter (vegan)

Soybeans and soy products

Not surprisingly, the much-maligned soybean, humble butt of a large percentage of anti-vegan jokes, is absent from most lists of aphrodisiacs. But an argument can certainly be made in its favor. It contains enormous amounts of many nutrients essential to healthy function of the love organs. For men, it offers isoflavones for the prostate gland, selenium for the testes, zinc for libido, and vitamins B1, B2, B6 and Vitamin E for robust hormone production. It’s also rich in protein, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, and all the essential amino acids. These add up to high energy, heart health, and a host of other benefits for both guys and gals. So unless allergies preclude, soy would seem to be a welcome visitor to la table tete-a-tete.

Romantic recipe: Sultry Stack of Eggplant, Squash, and Mushroom with Sundried Tomato Basil Pesto-Coulis (vegan)

Sweet potatoes

Legend has it that women of the Amazon ate these starchy roots to stimulate romantic desire. After their European conquerors exported the tasty veggie back east to the Old World, ladies over there baked sweet potato tarts for the same reason. Any erotic effects may stem from the fact that sweet potato is a superfood if ever there was one, packing a huge nutritional wallop with 400% of your daily vitamin A needs, alongside lots of antioxidants, potassium, iron, and Vitamin D. Shakespeare’s lusty, life-loving character Falstaff makes note of the perky potato phenomenon in The Merry Wives of Windsor: “Let the sky rain potatoes; let it thunder to the tune of ‘Green Sleeves’; hail kissing-comfits and snow eringoes; let there come a tempest of provocation… ” Wow. We’re with Falstaff on this one. Potatoes and provocation… bring ’em on.

Romantic recipe: Perky Sweet Potato Soup with Caramelized Onions, Ginger, and Curry (vegan)

Raspberries

In some cultures raspberries are thought of as highly erotic, since they resemble the female nipple. If you ask me, raspberry is strawberry’s unjustly neglected little sister. Most romantic menus seem to focus on chocolate-covered strawbs as the fruit of choice with which to entice one’s lover, ignoring the smaller berry that’s just as tasty and a lot more nutritious. Raspberries provide 50% more antioxidants than strawberries, and significantly more calcium, iron, vitamin A and vitamin E. It’s not as big and easy to dip in chocolate as its popular strawberry sister, but pop a razzie into your sweetheart’s mouth, let him or her experience the explosion of sweet-tart flavor, follow it up with a kiss, and who needs the chocolate?

Romantic recipe: Silky Chocolate Banana Almond Fudge Meltdown (vegan)

Vanilla

Ahh… vanilla… You know what I mean. Many of us swoon at the slightest sniff of the stuff. Some of us get such sensual pleasure from the complex, exotic, velvety scent of this bean pod and its extracts that we can almost understand the special relationship between the Hawaiian ladies and those mega-magic mushrooms (see entry for “Mushrooms” above). The ancient Totonac people of what is now Mexico seemed to have felt the same way, mixing vanilla and chocolate to create a dynamite love potion. In a Mesoamerican version of Romeo and Juliet, the Aztecs believed that Xanat, the immortal daughter of their goddess of love, fell head over heels for an off-limits mortal boy, and out of frustration turned herself into the vanilla vine so as to provide the world with eternal joy. I’m sorry she couldn’t have worked it out some other way, or distracted herself with one of her fellow hottie gods, but hey, Xanat, thanks for the vanilla. Divine.

Romantic recipe: Silky Chocolate Banana Almond Fudge Meltdown (vegan)

Bon appetit from Rescue Diva!

ROMANTIC VEGAN FEAST—MENU

(click each dish’s name for recipe)

Zesty Vegan Aphrodisiac Appetizer Dip Platter

Perky Vegan Sweet Potato Soup with Caramelized Onions, Ginger, and Curry

Sultry Vegan Stack of Eggplant, Squash, and Mushroom with Sundried Tomato Basil Pesto-Coulis

Silky Chocolate Banana Almond Fudge Meltdown

Bon appetit from Rescue Diva!

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Katerina Lorenzatos Makris is a career journalist, author, and editor. Her fiction includes 17 novels for Simon and Schuster, E.P. Dutton, Avon, and other major publishers (under the name Kathryn Makris), as well as a teleplay for CBS-TV, and a short story for The Bark magazine. She has written hundreds of articles for regional wire services and for outlets such as National Geographic Traveler, The San Francisco Chronicle, Travelers’ Tales, NBC’s Petside.com, Animal Issues Reporter.com, and Examiner.com (Animal Policy Examiner).

Together with coauthor Shelley Frost, Katerina wrote a step-by-step guide for hands-on, in-the-trenches dog rescue, Your Adopted Dog: Everything You Need to Know About Rescuing and Caring for a Best Friend in Need (The Lyons Press), coming soon in digital format!