496 french classic recipes

Classic French onion soup with slowly caramelized onions in beef broth, a splash of port wine, and broiled Swiss and Parmesan cheese on toasted baguette. Make ahead and finish under the broiler.

Green beans amandine made in the microwave with toasted slivered almonds, melted butter, and a squeeze of lemon juice. A classic French side dish simplified for two, ready in 15 minutes flat.

Classic Alsatian apple charlotte with milk-soaked bread, cinnamon-spiced apples, chopped almonds, and a splash of kirsch. Baked in a bundt pan until golden, this rustic French dessert is pure comfort.

Mousseline of redfish Nantua, a classic French seafood mousse from New Orleans master chefs. Silky puréed fish bound with egg white and cream, baked in a water bath and crowned with crayfish-rich Sauce Nantua.

Classic pate brisee: the four-ingredient French shortcrust pastry that forms the base of every great quiche, tart, or pot pie. Flour, butter, salt, and ice water cut and chilled into flaky perfection.

Classic green bean casserole with cream of mushroom soup, milk, a splash of soy sauce, and crispy French fried onions baked on top. The Thanksgiving side dish that earns its spot every year.

Sole fillets rolled around a buttery shrimp and mushroom stuffing, poached in white wine and dill, then napped with a silky cream sauce thickened with egg yolk. A classic French-style seafood dinner.

Classic French truite au bleu: whole trout gently poached in a white wine court bouillon with shallots, herbs, and tarragon vinegar. Serve hot with herb butter or cold as an elegant first course.

A pureed onion soup with deeply caramelized onions, beef stock, fresh nutmeg, and a beer-and-aged-cheddar finish stirred in for tang and richness. A rustic French-Canadian twist on the classic.

Fried bananas almandine sautes split bananas with sliced almonds in clarified butter, served over warm chocolate sauce spiked with Grand Marnier. A classic French-leaning dessert that comes together in under 20 minutes.

Oysters au champagne is a classic French appetizer: fresh oysters poached in champagne and oyster liquor with garlic butter, plated over a bed of wilted spinach, and cloaked in a silky roux sauce.

Classic French quiche Lorraine with a buttery pate brisee crust, bacon and Swiss cheese baked in a scalded-cream custard seasoned with nutmeg and chives. The original quiche, no spinach or tomatoes in sight.

Soupe a l'oignon is the classic French onion soup with deeply caramelized onions, beef stock, vermouth, and cognac, topped with garlic-rubbed bread and broiled Swiss cheese. The bistro standard, done the long way.

Mom's best tourtiere is the classic French-Canadian pork pie: spiced ground pork with mace, sage and a little raisin, bound with grated potato in a flaky double crust. A treasured Quebec Christmas tradition.

Potage Saint-Germain: a classic French green pea soup with carrots, leeks, lettuce, and a finishing splash of cream and milk. Pureed silky-smooth and finished with a dollop of sour cream or sherry.

Four-onion soup made with yellow onion, red onion, leeks, and scallions in beef broth, topped with toasted baguette slices and broiled Swiss and Parmesan. A deeper, more complex twist on classic French onion soup.