21 Easy Classic French Recipes To Wow Your Guests
French cooking has a reputation for being fancy, over-the-top, and almost impossible to master unless you're a highly-qualified professional chef. However, that stereotype isn't necessarily justified. There are of course certain dishes which require incredibly complex technical skills, and hours and hours of practice, but there are many French, and French-inspired recipes, that any keen home cook can master.
Bouillabaisse
Bouillabaisse is a traditional fish stew, which originated in the port city Marseille. Use your favorite white fish and shellfish, and alter the vegetables according to what's in season.
Buckwheat Crêpes
Buckwheat crêpes have a much deeper, nuttier flavor than the typical, white flour version. These crêpes, originally from Brittany, are perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Celery Rémoulade
This simple French salad is a wonderful accompaniment to all of those rich meat and fish dishes for which France is so famous.
Cherry-Almond Clafoutis
Make the most of summer's ripe red cherries by serving them covered in a light batter to make an airy, summertime clafoutis.
Classic French Ratatouille
Making a perfect Provençal ratatouille isn't as challenging as you may think. A beautiful spiral of summer vegetables makes for a healthy and tasty dish.
Coq au Vin
Marinate your chicken overnight, sauté all the meat and vegetables, and finally add the liquid and let it simmer for just over an hour for a hearty, flavor-packed dinner.
Dark Chocolate Mousse
A rich, smooth dark chocolate mousse is one the most well-loved French desserts. Use the darkest, highest quality chocolate you can for the most intensely flavored mousse.
French Onion Soup
We're not sure there's anything more wonderful than a bowl filled with caramelized onion soup, topped with a slice of baguette and a generous portion of melted Gruyère.
Gargantuan Gougères
These cheesy gougères are an impressive party appetizer, and are not nearly as challenging to bake as you might believe.
Mini Croques Monsieur
These appetizer-sized croques monsieur are easy, delicious, and the perfect way to kick off a French dinner party.
Oeufs en Cocotte
Serve these creamy baked eggs either as a dinner party appetizer or as an indulgent weekend brunch dish.
Pissaladière
Use store-bought puff pastry instead of homemade bread dough to make this crispy, south-of-France style pizza, topped with caramelized onions, anchovies, olives, and plenty of garlic.
Pistachio and Almond Financier
These fluffy and pretty mini almond and pistachio cakes are the perfect accompaniment to a strong cup of coffee.
Quiche Lorraine
This classic French quiche is always popular. Use a pre-made pie crust to turn this dish into an incredibly easy homemade meal.
Salade Lyonnaise
Bitter, crunchy salad leaves are balanced out with mustard vinaigrette, crunchy bites of bacon, and poached eggs: The ultimate simple, but satisfying lunch or dinner.
For the Salade Lyonnaise recipe, click here.
Salade Niçoise
Salade Niçoise makes such a pretty entrée, and is filled with so many wonderful ingredients, that it makes a wonderful meal on its own, without the need for any extra sides.
Skillet Cassoulet
Cassoulet normally takes hours to cook, but this cheat's recipe means you can have this hearty French meal on the dinner table in less than 30 minutes.
Sole Meunière
Sole meunière is fairly simple to prepare, and is one of the ultimate elegant dinner party dishes. The sole is drizzled with brown butter sauce, and served with parsley and lemon: French entrées don't get any more chic than this.
Soupe au Pistou
A simple, minestrone-style vegetable soup topped with a salty, flavor-packed pistou, is a warming, healthy, and traditional French meal.
Tarte Flambée
Tarte Flambée is Alsace's answer to pizza: Bread dough is rolled out until thinly, then topped with crème fraîche, sliced onions, and whatever other tasty additions you fancy.
Tartiflette Savoyarde
This classic Alpine cheese-bacon-and-potato dish is wonderfully rich and comforting. Serve it with a simple green salad for a hearty, indulgent dinner.