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    Home » World Recipes

    French cuisine

    French cuisine is sometimes seen as a culinary peak - complex, elegant and something that needs years to perfect. But that's not entirely true - traditional French cooking that people actually cook at home is a whole lot simpler, practical and just as (if not more) tasty. Here you'll find a whole range of ideas to enjoy traditional French fare at home.

    Try some favorite French desserts and treats

    True, French patisserie can be a little intimidating, but there's more to the sweeter side of French cooking than pastry. And some are surprisingly easy, as these reader favorites all have in common.

    • plate of lemon madeleines
      Lemon madeleines
    • slice of French pear cake in front of rest of cake
      French pear cake
    • poached pear with chocolate sauce and ice cream aka poires belle Helene
      Poires belle Hélène - poached pears with chocolate sauce
    • French lemon yogurt cake with slices cut in front of loaf
      French lemon yogurt cake

    French side dishes

    One underrated part of French cooking is some of the simple ways the cuisine can make side dishes shine. No more boring boiled beans - try these flavorful sides that can steal the show.

    • Sautéed French green beans on plate
      Sautéed French green beans
    • bowl of vichy carrots from overhead with carrots in corner.
      Vichy carrots (French glazed carrots)
    • Petits pois a la francaise French peas on plate
      Petits pois à la française - French peas
    • plate of asparagus mimosa from side
      Asparagus mimosa

    Try more tasty French recipes:

    • spoon of coffee creme brulee sitting on top of rest in dish with coffee beans to side.
      Coffee crème brûlée
    • overhead view of pear frangipane tart dusted with powdered sugar.
      Pear frangipane tart
    • plate of salmon tartare from side.
      Salmon tartare
    • bowl of mussels in cream from overhead.
      Mussels in cream (moules à la crème)
    • plate of salade lyonnaise, lyonnaise salad, with fork below plate.
      Lyonnaise salad (salade Lyonnaise)
    • dish of endives au jambon (Belgian endive gratin) viewed from overhead.
      Endives au jambon (Belgian endive gratin with ham)
    • three ramekins of strawberry souffle with strawberries around them.
      Strawberry souffle
    • bowl of chestnut soup
      French chestnut soup
    • brie en croute on board with apple slices and crackers around.
      Brie en croûte
    • part of a ficelle picarde ham crepe sitting on top of other half showing filling inside
      Ficelle picarde - mushroom & ham crepe au gratin
    • plate of salade Nicoise with second plate of salad behind
      Classic Salade Niçoise
    • plate of gougeres cheese puffs with a few to side
      Gougères (French cheese puffs)
    • French omelette with herbs from overhead
      French omelette with herbs
    • overhead view of apple tarte tatin
      Classic apple tarte tatin
    • some marrons glaces on pieces of paper with whole chestnuts in between
      Marron glacé (candied chestnuts)
    • slice of quiche Lorraine on small plate
      Quiche Lorraine
    • plate of roasted chestnuts with more around
      How to roast chestnuts
    • dish of chicken provencal with tomatoes and artichokes to top
      Chicken Provençal
    • dish of tapenade with olives to one side and bread to other
      Tapenade
    • whole herb fougasse
      Herb fougasse
    • whole galette des bois French king cake
      Galette des rois (French king cake)
    • chicken liver pate in dish with some spread on bread to side and a little on knife to other side of bowl
      Chicken liver pâté
    • bowl of shrimp bisque
      Shrimp bisque
    • pear clafoutis in skillet part view from side
      Pear clafoutis
    • pain de campagne bread
      Pain de campagne - French country bread
    • French buckwheat crepe filled with cheese ham and egg on plate
      Buckwheat crepes
    • Coquille St Jacques (scallop gratin) from overhead
      Coquille St Jacques (scallop gratin)
    • Beef bourguignon with spoonful over dish
      Beef bourguignon
    • Flammekueche (tarte flambee from Alsace) close up
      Flammkuchen (Flammekueche/tarte flambee from Alsace)
    • slice of blueberry galette on plate
      Blueberry galette
    • plate of chocolate madeleines
      Chocolate madeleines
    • spoon in skillet of blueberry clafoutis
      Blueberry clafoutis (with gluten free option)
    • Date walnut palmiers
      Date walnut palmiers
    • Croque monsieur croissant cut in half close up.
      Croque monsieur croissant
    Caroline's Cooking

    Welcome! I'm Caroline and this is where I share recipes inspired by travels, places I want to go, or just ideas from feeding the family. Most recipes are easy to make and healthier, but there are treats too!

    Read more →

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    • baked portobello mushrooms on plate
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    • Sautéed French green beans on plate
      Sautéed French green beans
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      Catalan spinach with pine nuts and raisins (espinacas a la catalana)
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      Steak crostini (two ways!)
    • glass of Winter Pimms cup with orange behind.
      Winter Pimm's Cup

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