In the lead up to the fast approaching Paris Olympics, there’s no better time to celebrate not only the athletic prowess on display but also French culinary heritage. As one of the world’s most loved cuisines, French fare is renowned for its elegance and uplifted soulful dishes.
Whether you would like to search for these dishes in your city or try your hand at making them yourself in anticipation of the Games, we’ve put together a list of comforting French dishes you need to know.
Read more: Vegetable bourguignon? The Paris Olympics 2024 is going vegetarian
Coq au Vin
Coq au vin made with red wine (Photo: Instagram / @vindulge)
A classic French dish that is no less comforting than it is delicious, coq au vin is chicken stewed in red wine alongside mushrooms, onions, herbs, and bacon. It is intensely decadent and best eaten when shared with friends or family as the centrepiece of any spread.
Bouillabaisse
Seafood bouillabaisse (Photo: Instagram / @thestrandinn)
Hailing from the coastal city of Marseille, bouillabaisse is a fragrant seafood soup. Originally made using bony rockfish by Marseille fishermen, iterations of the dish now see turbot, hake, mussels, octopus, and so on. What sets this apart from other seafood soups is the inclusion of Mediterranean spices, infusing the dish with saffron, garlic, and cayenne pepper.
It is most traditionally served with rouille, a spiced sauce spread on slices of toast.
Ratatouille
Ratatouille made with eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes (Photo: Instagram / @saltandshaikh)
Perhaps one of the most well-known French dishes thanks to its eponymous 2007 animated film, this vegetable medley is both nourishing and versatile. The dish is most commonly made with eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes simmered in olive oil and herbs till the tomatoes soften and form a sort of sauce.
Some preparations of the dish suggest each vegetable should be cooked separately before being slow-cooked together until they achieve a tender, silken texture.
Quiche Lorraine
Quiche Lorraine (Photo: Unsplash)
A dish that embodies elegance in simplicity is quiche Lorraine. While quiches are not hard to come by in the slightest, its most traditional form sees a filling of savoury egg custard, bacon, and cheese encased in a buttery pastry. It’s the perfect way to elevate a helping of eggs for breakfast or brunch and can be easily customised.
Tarte Tatin
A pot of boeuf bourguignon (Photo: Instagram / @mamiebrasserie)
No French feast would be complete without this upside-down tart. Most commonly served as dessert, the dish calls for caramelised apples to be placed below a layer of pastry before being baked, the sweet is then flipped to reveal a perfectly sticky topping and flaky pastry.
Some iterations of tarte tatin also feature savoury fillings, from caramelised tomatoes to goat cheese and red onion.
Boeuf Bourguignon
A tarte tatin topped with caramelised apples (Photo: Instagram / @thevenetianpantry)
A quintessential French dish, boeuf bourguignon is a hearty beef stew braised in red wine and beef broth and flavoured with onion, garlic, and bouquet garni—a bundle of herbs tied together with string. This dish is a great option when seeking to impress dinner party guests without too much effort, especially if hosting an Olympics watch party.
Cassoulet
Cassoulet with sausages and beans (Photo: Instagram / @palomamontreal)
A rich, slow-cooked casserole originating from the south of France, cassoulet is typically made with poultry, beans, pork, sausage, and duck fat. The dish was historically made with pantry staples, swapping out modern day inclusions of chicken for preserved duck or goose.
Soupe à l'Oignon
Bowls of French onion soup (Photo: Unsplash)
A dish you will find on most restaurant menus, French onion soup is one of the most comforting broths you can have. Made with caramelised onions and beef stock, the soup us topped with a slice of baguette or croutons and melted cheese to amplify its decadence.
Crêpes
Crêpes served with oranges and honey (Photo: Unsplash)
One of the easiest French dishes to try making at home, crêpes are the cuisine’s answer to pancakes. These differ from fluffy buttermilk-infused stacks and are instead made with a thinner batter and fried till lightly golden. They can be eaten sweet or savoury and as a dessert or for breakfast.
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