Craving something with a little je ne sais quoi? These classic French recipes will help you understand exactly why French cuisine is such a revered tradition.
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Cheese Omelet
This cheese omelet is fluffy and filled with fresh herbs, goat cheese, Gruyère, and sour cream. A classic that’s easy, simple, and satisfying any time of day. Here’s how to make it.
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This warm goat cheese salad, made with baguette, goat cheese, baby greens, and a simple honey, olive oil, and white balsamic vinaigrette, is perfect for entertaining.
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Tarragon chicken is a French classic. Chicken legs are seared in butter and then roasted with tarragon and onions until golden brown. A sauce made from the pan drippings and crème fraîche captures every last lingering nuance of flavor. Easy and elegant.
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Beef Bourguignon might take a little while but let me tell you–it's so worth it. It's a classic for a reason. It's sophisticated, rich, and the mark of a serious cook.
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Apple cider steamed mussels are a no-brainer for the autumn. Plump mussels are steamed with cider, a bit of cream, and onions. And frites on the side.
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Choucroute garnie is soul-satisfying French comfort food made with smoked pork butt, bacon, sausage, potatoes, sauerkraut, and spices. Need we say more?
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This French lentil soup is filled with creamy lentils, sweet butternut squash, and tender chard. It comes together as a one-pot meal that makes ample leftovers to take to work the rest of the week—and which reheat beautifully.
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This steak au poivre from Julia Child is a French classic made with steak encrusted with black, green, white peppercorns, and allspice and drizzled with a Cognac pan sauce.
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We’re not kidding about these being perfect French fries. We’re also not going to lie to you. Perfection takes time. We swear it’s worth the wait.
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Ham and potatoes sarladaise is just a fancy French way of saying “Hey, got leftover ham? This is a fantastically comforting thing to make with it!” The addition of parsley and garlic make it rustic and quick to prep.
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Tomatoes Provencal are stuffed tomatoes, heirloom or otherwise, made with bread crumbs, cheese, herbs, and olive oil. So simple. So spectacular.
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Pain de mie is a bread that’s perfectly rectangular, perfectly lovely for sandwiches, and perfectly doable with any old loaf pan. (It’s traditionally made in a Pullman pan but we show you how to use any old pan.)
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This chocolate soufflé, made with eggs, sugar, chocolate, and orange-flavored liqueur, is light and airy and far easier than you may imagine. We show you exactly how to make it.
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This French onion soup tastes just like the classic, with plenty of onions and leeks in a rich homemade broth. Here's how to make it.
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This Provençale fish soup is made with a fragrant vegetable-infused clam juice broth and tender poached fish. It's easy and healthy, though you'd never guess from the abundance of flavor.
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This French stew, called a daube, is simply chunks of beef, carrots, onion, mushrooms, and olives in a rich red wine sauce. Serve it by itself, over pasta, or with a thick slice of hearty peasant bread. Perfect blizzard food.
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This coq au vin recipe strays a little from the original but I don't think that's to its detriment. This updated version of the simple French chicken stew uses a robust brown chicken stock, mushrooms, onions, bacon, and red wine.
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This omelet with chanterelles is one of my favorite easy weeknight dinners that feels fancy, even though it's stunningly easy. Truly French, the combination of chanterelles, eggs, thyme, and Gruyère just can't be beaten.
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This French-inspired meal of slowly braised beef with carrots feels comforting and indulgent but won't break the bank.
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This tarte Tatin is my mother's caramel apple all dressed up, French style. It’s essentially apples, enveloped with caramel and butter, resting on a thin crust of pastry. A fancy upside-down tart.
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