French cuisine is internationally known for its sophisticated combination of flavors, finesse and aesthetically pleasing ingredient arrangements. However, as intimidating as French cuisine sounds, the most famous French dishes are actually quite simple and relatively easy to prepare.
Croissants are a type of pastry made from croissant dough, which is layered with butter and folded over many times. The result is a croissant’s distinctive shape and a soft, flaky texture. The secret to a perfect croissant is in the laminated texture, created by folding butter into the croissant dough and then rolling it out again. Croissants can be filled with a variety of fillings, such as chocolate, almond paste or cream cheese. They are often served with jam or honey.
Quiche is a savory egg custard pie with many variations on ingredients. It originated in France as quiche Lorraine, named after the region where it was first cooked, with bacon or ham, cheese (usually Swiss) and eggs baked into a flaky pastry crust. The dough used for making croissants can also be used as the crust of a quiche, which offers that flaky croissant like texture.
Ratatouille is a vegetable stew originating in Provence, made with eggplant, zucchini squash, bell peppers and tomatoes. The dish involves several time consuming techniques which includes sautéing each vegetable individually to bring out the best flavor.
Croque monsieur is a popular French sandwich made with ham and cheese. It’s usually toasted and served with béchamel sauce or Mornay sauce.
Oeufs à la coque is another simple, yet classic French dish. This breakfast favorite features soft-boiled eggs placed in egg cups and then eaten by cracking the top off with small spoons or forks.
Cassoulet is a rich, slow-cooked French dish made with white beans, meats (pork, lamb and duck) and vegetables. The dish is named for the pot or casserole in which it is cooked.
French onion soup is a traditional French hearty soup made from beef broth, onions, croutons and cheese. The onions are slowly caramelized to give the soup its characteristic flavor and sweetness.
Beef bourguignon is a traditional French dish made by braising beef in red wine, cognac and stock with carrots, bacon lardons and mushrooms.
Poulet roti or roast chicken has been called the national dish of France. While it may be simple to prepare, this meal is anything but ordinary. The chicken is rubbed with herbs and spices before being roasted in the oven.
Steak au poivre is a classic French dish of steak served with a pepper sauce. The steak is pan-seared and then finished in the oven.
Flamiche is a baked French dish similar to quiche but has less liquid filling. Ingredients typically used in flamiche are eggs, cream, cheese and meat such as ham or bacon.
Bouillabaisse is a seafood stew from Marseille, France. This dish is made with various types of fresh fish and shellfish, tomatoes, garlic and herbs.
Gratin dauphinois is a baked dish of sliced potatoes in cream topped with cheese. This side dish is very popular in France, but also found around Europe.
Quite sophisticated, magret de canard, or duck confit, is a slow-cooked dish of duck legs that have been salted and prepared in their own fat. The end result is very tender and flavorful meat served as a main course or appetizer.
Fish lovers will appreciate meunière fish – sautéed fish fillet served with brown butter and lemon juice.
A traditional French classic, coq-au-vin, is a country-style dish of chicken braised in red wine. The wine gives it a unique flavor and slight sweetness. Other ingredients here include bacon, mushrooms and onions.
Decadent and expensive, foie gras is a French speciality made from duck or goose liver, after it has been specially fattened. This luxurious pâté is usually enjoyed as appetizer or dessert.
When it comes to desserts, France does not disappoint: pain au chocolat, éclairs, tarts, macarons… the list goes on and on. One of the most popular, macarons, are made from almond flour filled with ganache or butter cream. They are quite crispy on the outside, but light and chewy on the inside.
Another delicious dessert, Tarte tatin is an upside-down pie made from puff pastry or croissant dough filled with caramelized apples. This dessert gets its name from the fact that it’s traditionally cooked in a cast iron skillet.
Creme brûlée, or burnt cream, is a classic French dessert made of a rich custard topped with a crispy caramelized sugar crust.
Created in 1910, Paris Brest is a sweet, French dessert named for the bicycle race it was designed to commemorate. Paris Brest features two round pieces of choux pastry filled with praline cream and topped with sliced almonds.
The buttery biscuit sablé is a French shortbread cookie popular during Christmas time. It’s made with various flavors such as chocolate, coffee or pistachio.
Clafoutis is a traditional French dessert made with fresh fruit covered in a slightly sweetened egg custard. The name comes from the Spanish word “to fill”.
Crème caramel is a popular French custard dessert very similar to flan or crème brûlée, except it’s baked instead of cooked on top of the stove.
French cuisine is typically accompanied by wine, and France offers a plethora of different wines, some of the most popular being Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne.
French wineries are mostly located in the Bordeaux region, known for its sweet white wines.
Burgundy is also home to many grape growers and wineries. The most popular wine from this region is Pinot Noir.
Champagne, a sparkling white wine made in the Champagne region of France, was created by Benedictine Monks back in 1531. In order to keep up with demand for their bubbly beverage, many wineries have been built across France, some of the most famous houses being Moët & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot.
