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.
Cheese Omelet
: Åsa Dahlgren
1/20
A magnificently indulgent omelet for two that's exactly what you make when you're feeling like reveling in something simple yet still sophisticated and is perfect at any time of day.
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Warm Goat Cheese Salad
: Asa Dahlgren
2/20
Baguette slathered with goat cheese and baked to toasty perfection with a can't-mess-it-up vinaigrette and salad. Easy peasy.
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Tarragon Chicken
: Lean Timms
3/20
Tarragon chicken. A French classic for a reason. And no one but you needs to know just how easily it comes together.
Recipe
Boeuf Bourguignon
: asya
4/20
A classic French recipe that really ought to be in your repertoire, boeuf bourguignon has countless incarnations, including this classic version by Craig Claiborne.
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Apple Cider Steamed Mussels
: Nicholas Ball
5/20
A no-brainer for autumn with a lovely French accent.
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Choucroute Garnie
: Alan Benson
6/20
Served in every beer hall in eastern France, choucroute garnie is essentially a gussied up hot dog and sauerkraut. To which we say, oui!
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French Lentil Soup
: Johnny Miller
7/20
Hearty, healthy, comforting as heck, and it comes together in a single pot and makes ample leftovers to see you through the rest of the week.
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Julia Child's Steak au Poivre
: Cenk Sönmezsoy
8/20
Julia Child updated the French classic with mixed peppercorns and allspice to lend a little intrigue. A surprisingly quick yet altogether swoon-worthy weeknight dinner.
Recipe
Perfect French Fries
: kwasny221
9/20
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
: Marcus Nilsson
10/20
Got ham? This French classic typically draws on duck confit but is just as sublime when used to disguise leftover ham.
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Tomatoes Provençal
: Eric Wolfinger
11/20
Is there anything as sweetly satisfying as heirloom tomatoes eaten raw over the sink? Probably not. But when you tire of that, there's always this deeply satiating tactic.
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Pain de Mie
: Lauren Volo
12/20
Characterized by its distinctly rectangular shape and, in true French form, buttery taste, this classic loaf is traditionally made in a Pullman pan although any old loaf pan can work.
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Chocolate Soufflé
: America’s Test Kitchen
13/20
If you’ve been hesitant to make chocolate souffle out of fear, worry not. This easy version is guaranteed to reach lofty heights. A no-stress, high-stakes dessert. We show you how.
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French Onion Soup
: JJAVA
14/20
A slightly heretical take on a French classic, this riff involves onion soup, bread, and cheese, but not quite like you've experienced it before.
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Provençale Fish Soup
: America’s Test Kitchen
15/20
A simple fish stew that’s elegant yet effortless in that maddening French manner. (You know how French women just toss that scarf and it looks so elegant? Like that.)
Recipe
Daube ~ French Beef Stew
: Emily Brooke Sandor
16/20
Just because you can't be in the South of France during this blizzard doesn't mean you can't eat like you're there. <em>Bon Appétit</em>!
Recipe
Julia Child's Coq au Vin
: Brent Hofacker
17/20
Coq au vin, aka chicken soused in wine, is a French classic that exists in countless incarnations. This rich, soulful riff is from Julia Child.
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Omelet with Chanterelles
: Paul Winch-Furness
18/20
Simple yet sophisticated in that way that only the French have with eggs. Lovely at any time of day. Preferably with a glass of white wine at your side.
Recipe
Braised Beef with Carrots
: Christopher Hirsheimer
19/20
A sigh-worthy Sunday supper sorta meal that’s inspired by classic French technique yet relies on inexpensive everyday ingredients and takes not much more effort than a PBJ. (Well, a little more effort.)
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Tarte Tatin
: HLPhoto
20/20
A tarte Tatin is nothing more than a tart turned upside down, nothing less than pastry perfection. It's a lot of caramely apple goodness atop a buttery crust.
Recipe
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