Meals in Stardew Valley
After another day of planting crops, taking care of barn animals, and keeping up with your friends, you deserve a big serving of scrumptious meals in return for your day of hard work. Other than that, it also replenishes your energy and health depending on the food you consume.
But who would have thought that meals in Stardew Valley could also give you strength that you can use in fighting with monsters from The Mines and Skull Cavern? Although these food items will not give you any superpowers to easily defeat enemies, various foods can give you buffs that can help you leave the combat unscathed.
All you have to do is obtain its recipe from various sources including the rewards of friendships, by leveling up your skills, or by purchasing it. Once you have the recipe, it’s already up to you how you can collect and complete the needed ingredients.
As mentioned, meals in Starew Valley can provide you valuable buffs that you can take advantage of depending on what you want to accomplish. One of the most important buffs that you can get is for combat.
Buffs for Combat in Stardew Valley
The concept and mechanics of food buffs in Stardew Valley are pretty simple and easy to understand. The basic knowledge about food buff is that it can only be used one at a time.
Each buff has a duration and chances are that the previous buff has not worn off yet and you consumed another food with a different buff, it will be replaced with the new buff. However, if you eat a food item without a buff, the previous buff will still take effect until the end of its duration.
Top 15 Best Meals for Combat in Stardew Valley
Combat is one of the most important activities that you have to do in Stardew Valley whether you like it or not.
By fighting different enemies, you will be able to collect loot and other valuable drops. The problem is that higher-quality items are usually obtained after defeating deadly and dangerous enemies which will obviously make things harder for you. That being said, you might need a little help from these food buffs.
We listed the 15 best meals for combat, including their buffs and where you can get the recipe.
Stuffing
Ahh…the smell of warm bread and sage.
A tasty snack made from 1x Bread, 1x Cranberry, and 1x Hazelnut is a good preparation meal for combat. Upon consuming a Stuffing, you will gain an additional 2 Defense for 5 minutes and 35 seconds. Aside from that, you will replenish 170 energy and 76 health.
To obtain the recipe for Stuffing, you will have to reach 7 friendship hearts with Pam. Once reached, you will receive a mail including the recipe.
Mango Sticky Rice
Sweet mango and coconut transform this rice into something very special.
This delectable tropical food item can provide you with 3 additional Defenses for 5 minutes and 1 second. All you have to do is use 1x Mango, 1x Coconut, and 1x Rice to produce this dessert. Besides the defense buff, you will also be able to refill 113 energy and 50 health.
You will be eligible to make this sweet dessert after you receive a mail for reaching the 7-hearts friendship with Leo.
Pumpkin Soup
A seasonal favorite.
Don’t wait for Halloween just to try the Pumpkin Soup! Once you feel the need to go on a battle, prepare 1x Pumpkin and 1x of any milk available. With just these two ingredients, you will be granted +2 Defense and +2 Luck for 7 minutes and 41 seconds which will both come in handy when you are facing dangerous monsters. Other than that, this meal can also replenish 200 of your energy and 90 of your health.
Once you reach the 7-hearts friendship with Robin, you will receive a mail from her with the recipe attached.
Red Plate
Full of antioxidants.
With just 1x Red Cabbage and 1x Radish, you can recreate this healthy Red Plate to fully recharge you, literally, as it can provide you maximum energy for 3 minutes and 30 seconds. If you love you mindlessly swing your sword during battle, this is the best meal for you. Not only that, but it can also give you an additional 240 energy and 108 health.
This recipe can be obtained through the mail after reaching 7 hearts of friendship with Emily.
Roots Platter
This’ll get you digging for more.
Foraging is one of the main activities and skills that you will be able to hone in Stardew Valley. Regardless of the season and weather, it is still needed to go out and forage some more.
The Roots Platter will totally benefit from your foraging as it requires 1x Cave Carrot and 1x Winter Root. This food can give you a +3 Attack for 5 minutes and 35 seconds. This meal can also give you 125 energy and 56 health.
Increase your Combat skill level to 3 and receive this recipe as the reward.
Lucky Lunch
A special little meal.
Just by hearing the food’s name, you can instantly think of all the good things it can give you for this day. In fact, eating this will give you 3 additional Luck for 11 minutes and 11 seconds. To prepare this food, you will need 1x Sea Cucumber, 1x Tortilla, and 1x Blue Jazz. Plus, an additional 100 energy and 45 health will also be given to you upon consumption.
You can learn its recipe from The Queen of Sauce during the 28th of Spring on the second year.
Fried Mushroom
Earthy and aromatic.
Its natural smell and taste will surely give you enough strength to combat different monsters. With the +2 Attack that will last for 7 minutes, defeating the enemies will just be a piece of cake for you. Moreover, 135 energy and 67 health regen will be helpful too.
Upon reaching the 3-hearts friendship with Demetrius, you will be able to receive this recipe through your mail.
Fruit Salad
A delicious combination of summer fruits.
A platter of juicy fruits would be a perfect choice for starting a fresh journey and adventure towards the dangerous places in the town. Using 1x Blueberry, 1x Melon, and 1x Apricot, you can make a delicious Fruit Salad that can provide you with a good amount of replenishment – 263 energy and 118 health.
You can get its recipe from The Queen of Sauce during Fall 7 in Year 2.
Fiddlehead Risotto
A creamy rice dish served with sauteed fern heads. It’s a little bland.
Despite its bland taste, this meal will come in handy especially if you are already on the brink of passing out. Eating this will replenish 225 energy and 101 health. Just prepare 1x Oil, 1x Fiddlehead Fern, and 1x Garlic and you will be able to make this.
You can learn this recipe from The Queen of Sauce on Fall 28 in Year 2.
Pale Broth
A delicate broth with a hint of sulfur.
Although it is pale and only has one required ingredient which is 2x White Algae, this Pale Broth has all the nourishment you need in an emergency situation. Consuming this will replenish 125 of your energy and 56 health.
This recipe can be learned by reaching 3 hearts of friendship with Marnie.
Eggplant Parmesan
Tangy, cheesy, and wonderful.
Eggplant Parmesan is the best meal to eat if you are expected to face dangerous enemies while mining. Having this as a meal is like hitting two birds with one stone as it can give you a +1 Mining and +3 Defense for 4 minutes and 39 seconds. Aside from these, it can also give you 175 energy and 78 health. The only ingredients you need are 1x Eggplant and 1x Tomato.
To learn this recipe, you have to reach the 7 hearts of friendship with Lewis.
Iridium-Quality Cheese
It’s your basic cheese.
Although it is indeed a basic cheese, aging this product in a cask for 14 days will increase its quality to an iridium one. Doing this will significantly increase the effects it can give you upon consumption.
Once you make this an iridium quality, it will be the best stat replenishment you can find with 325 energy and 146 health. All you need for this are 1x milk or large milk and a Cheese Press.
Crab Cakes
Crab, bread crumbs, and egg formed into patties then fried to a golden brown.
Another delicacy that you can be proud of is the Crab Cakes. With only 1x Crab, 1x Wheat Flour, 1x Egg, and 1x Oil, you will be blessed with +1 Speed and +1 Defense in a span of 16 minutes and 47 seconds. It can also replenish 225 of your energy and 101 of your health.
You can learn this recipe from The Queen of Sauce on Fall 21, Year 2.
Spicy Eel
It’s really spicy! Be careful.
The strong and hot flavor of the Spicy Eel can also make you stronger and hotter on the battlefield. With only 1x Eel and 1x Hot Pepper, you can make this dish to give you +1 Luck and +1 Speed for 7 minutes. It also gives you 115 energy and 51 health.
By reaching 7 hearts of friendship with George, you will be able to learn this recipe.
Banana Pudding
A creamy dessert with a wonderful tropical flavor.
Another sweet and tropical dessert that you can easily make with 1xx Banana, 1x any milk, and 1x Sugar is included in the list. With just these simple ingredients, you can increase your combat stats. Specifically, these are +1 Mining, +1 Luck, and +1 Defense which will last for 5 minutes and 1 second.
You can get this recipe from the Island Trader. However, you have to trade 30x Bone Fragments in exchange for the recipe.
