Classic French Recipes

What food is France known for? Check out my collection of easy traditional recipes of everyday French food, some with a history. Here’s what the French often cook at home and what’s found in many Paris brasseries/bistros and around France.
Recipe timings are the grand total (incl. chilling time) – most prep times are short.

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slice of pudding in a puddle of vanilla cream custard topped with nuts and berries
Breakfast •
French Semolina Cake (Gâteau de Semoule)
Vacherin Ice Cream Cake Recipe
French Desserts •
French Ice Cream Cake (Vacherin Glacé)
bowl of cauliflower cream soup garnished with florets, parsley and by candlelight and mistletoe
Starters •
Cauliflower Cream Soup (Crème Dubarry)
slice of chocolate cake with frosting and piped cream on plate with macaron shell and Christmas tree
Teatime •
Chocolate Almond Cake (Gâteau Reine de Saba)
apple tart with toasted nuts on glass plate and cracking walnuts with a nutcracker doll
Teatime •
French Apple Tart with Nougat (Tarte aux Pommes et Nougat)
slice of apple tart with a dollop of cream on Paris plate autumn
Teatime •
Quick French Apple Tart with Calvados Cream
slice of almond chestnut tart with white glaze and topped with a candied chestnut
Picnics •
French Almond Cake with Rum (Le Saint-Germain)
pear belle helene dessert with ice cream, toasted hazelnuts and a macaron
French Desserts •
Pear Belle Helene (Poire Belle Hélène)
caramel pineapple rice pudding
French Desserts •
Caramelised Pineapple Rice Pudding (Riz Condé)
fudgy chocolate cake sliced open with chocolate macaron on top
French Desserts •
Chocolate Fondant Cake with Ginger (Fondant au Chocolat)
slice of chocolate plate with eiffel tower served with a thin custard sauce
French Desserts •
Crème Anglaise with Chai Tea (Thin French Custard)
gratin dish of sliced potato bake with autumn leaves
Mains - Vegetarian •
French Creamy Potato Bake (Gratin Dauphinois)
upturned moulded purple dessert with edible flowers, yellow macaron and shiny blueberries
French Desserts •
French Blueberry Lemon Bavarois (With Roasted Coriander)
glass dish with prunes in wine and orange wedge
French Desserts •
Mulled Wine Prunes (Pruneaux au Vin)
layers of lasagne with tomato, spinach and cheese
Light Lunches •
Corsican Cheese Lasagne (Cannelloni au Brocciu)
potato gratin savoyard
Mains - Vegetarian •
French Potato Bake Without Cream (Gratin Savoyard)
French Desserts •
Apple Rose Tarte Tatin
Corsican Veal Stew Peppers
Mains - Meat •
Corsican Veal Stew with Red Peppers
stirring up nuts and caramel
French Desserts •
Caramelised Roasted Nuts (Nougatine)
cabbage parcel tied up with string
Mains - Meat •
Stuffed Cabbage (Chou Farci)