Easy French Recipes
By Rebecca Franklin, About.com Guide
Appetizer Recipes
Appetizers – or hors d’oeuvres – are a great way to begin cooking French food. These recipes are usually very forgiving and can be adapted to the ingredients you prefer.
- Basic Crudités Recipe
- Brandied Mushroom Dip Recipe
- Citrus Marinated Olives Recipe
- Crudites with Lemon Oil Recipe
- Escargot Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe
- Peppered Marinated Olives Recipe
- Provencal Rosemary Almonds Recipe
- Raspberries with Balsamic Glaze Recipe
- Roasted Goat Cheese with Honey and Thyme Recipe
- Spicy Cheese Rounds Recipe
- White Bean Puree Recipe
- Zesty Tapenade Recipe
Salad Recipes
Salad recipes are customarily simple fare, usually involving chopped vegetables or fruit tossed with a simply prepared dressing or sauce. These recipes provide great nutrition for a minimum of work. They also let you get deliciously accustomed to French food – what could be better than that?
- Avocado and Romaine Salad Recipe
- Bastille Day Fruit Salad Recipe
- Citrus Chicken Salad Recipe
- Cucumber Salad Recipe
- Minted Zucchini Salad Recipe
- Mixed Belgian Endive Salad Recipe
- Pan Bagnat Recipe
- Red Pepper Bean Salad Recipe
- Warm Potato Salad Recipe
Soup Recipes
Soup recipes are a great way to get a feel for the special blends of seasoning used in French cuisine. Note the changes in aroma and taste as you prepare the soup, serve it, and then serve the leftovers a day later. The evolution of the flavor will give you a greater understanding of how seasonings develop over time, building your French cooking confidence.
- Cream of Belgian Endive Soup Recipe
- Cream of Mushroom Soup Recipe
- Cream of Watercress Soup Recipe
- Flemish Beef Stew Recipe
- Garlic Soup Recipe
- Lobster Bisque Recipe
- Provencal Tomato Rice Soup Recipe
- Pumpkin Black Bean Soup
- Pumpkin Turnip Soup Recipe
- Roasted Cauliflower Soup Recipe
- Strawberry Orange Soup Recipe
- Vanilla-Scented Melon Soup Recipe
Side Dish Recipes
Side dishes, also known as garnishes, are an important part of a French meal. They are meant to complement and enhance an entrée. Unlike American-style side dishes, French garnishes are served in small, decorative portions.
- Apple Glazed Carrots Recipe
- Balsamic Peppers Recipe
- Belgian Carrots Recipe
- Braised Broccoli Rabe Recipe
- Braised Red Cabbage Recipe
- Creamy Feta Potatoes Recipe
- Herbed Beans Provencale Recipe
- Mélange of Onions and Turnips Recipe
- Orange Vinaigrette Glazed Beets Recipe
- Orange Rice Recipe
- Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
- Roasted Sage Potatoes Recipe
- Watermelon with Toasted Fennel Salt Recipe
- Winter Squash Puree Recipe
Main Dish Recipes
Main dishes, or entrees, do not have to be elaborate to be authentic French cuisine. There are numerous country dishes and casserole recipes that are easy to prepare, even for beginning cooks.
- Apple and Sage Croque Monsieur Recipe
- Baeckeoffe Recipe
- Chicken a la Diable Recipe
- Chicken in Hard Cider Sauce Recipe
- Crab Quiche Recipe
- Croque Madame Recipe
- Croque Provencal Recipe
- Croque Tartiflette Recipe
- Duck a L'Orange Recipe
- Garlic Turkey Sausage Recipe
- Quiche Lorraine Recipe
- Sirloin Croquettes Recipe
- Snapper En Papillote Recipe
- Spinach and Onion Quiche Recipe
- Steak Au Poivre Recipe
- Tartiflette Recipe
- Traditional Croque Monsieur Recipe
Dessert Recipes
French dessert recipes hold a legendary status. Delicious and sometimes elaborate, they fool most people into believing they can only be had at bakeries and restaurants. The real trickery is that the average cook can very easily prepare most French desserts. Try these easy recipes for a stunning finish to your meal.
- Apple and Calvados Sorbet Recipe
- Baked Apricots Recipe
- Banana Tarte Tatin Recipe
- Basic Chocolate Truffles Recipe
- Blueberry Wine Coulis Recipe
- Cardamom Pear Sorbet Recipe
- Cherry Quatre Quarts Cake Recipe
- Corsican Mendiant au Chocolat Blanc
- Cranberry Quatre Quarts Cake Recipe
- Dark Chocolate Sorbet Recipe
- Figs Sauternes Recipe
- Framboise Sorbet Recipe
- Grand Marnier Truffles Recipe
- Lemon Sorbet Recipe
- Pears Belle Helene Recipe
- Pomegranate Cranberry Sorbet Recipe
- Pumpkin Mousse Recipe
- Watermelon Sorbet Recipe
Bread and Pastry Recipes
Homemade bread is a delicious accompaniment to most French meals. Try these simple French pastry and bread recipes.
Coffee and Tea Recipes
Picture Paris in your mind’s eye, and you’ll likely see a sidewalk café. Learn how to make delicious, aromatic coffee in your kitchen. These authentic French coffee recipes will put you in the mood to get up in the morning!
- Cafe Allonge Recipe
- Cafe Anise Recipe
- Cafe Au Lait Recipe
- Cafe Bonbon Recipe
- Cafe Creme Recipe
- Cafe Helene Recipe
- Cafe Napoleon Recipe
- Cafe Noisette Recipe
- Cafe Royale Recipe
- Cinnamon Tea Recipe
- Espresso Recipe
- Iced Cafe Mocha Noisette Recipe
Cocktail Recipes
No dinner party is complete without a signature French cocktail. Whip up one of these easy recipes for an unforgettable drink.