641 french recipes

Gingered flounder in parchment seals flounder fillets with snow peas, red pepper, carrots, and scallions in heart-shaped paper packets, then steams them in a soy-ginger marinade. A French en papillote technique with Asian flavors.

Simple chicken saute is a lean 30-minute dinner for two: lightly pounded chicken breasts pan-seared in olive oil, then topped with a quick lemon, green onion, and mushroom pan sauce. Weeknight French bistro technique.

Creamy tuna dip spiked with brandy, made with cream cheese, sour cream, and a dash of hot sauce. Whip it up in 20 minutes and serve with crackers, French bread, or fresh veggies. The ultimate party-ready appetizer.

Turbot fillets gently poached in milk infused with anise-scented Pernod, then napped with a velvety egg yolk sauce. This elegant French-style fish dish needs just a handful of ingredients and an hour of your time.

Easy poached fish gently simmers fillets in a court-bouillon of water, white wine, lemon juice, sliced onion, peppercorns, allspice, and bay leaf. A lean, classic French method that keeps any fish moist and ready for sauces or salads.

Hamburgers au poivre take the French steak au poivre treatment and apply it to ground beef patties: black pepper-crusted burgers seared hard, served on a toasted bun with a red wine, Dijon, green peppercorn, and tarragon cream sauce.

Cold soups make for excellent summer fare. The best vichyssoise I ever had in my life was at a French restaurant during a Montreal summer. Humor me. Try the soup in the traditional manner but then, if you must heat it up, (sigh), go ahead.

This no-cook French-inspired tuna salad packs briny capers, sliced black olives, roma tomatoes, and red onion with a red wine vinaigrette. Serve on whole grain bread with peppery watercress, or go full Nicoise-style over mixed greens with potatoes, eggs, and green beans.

People who do not like ordinary pate seem to love this one. Vary the herbs and substitute the vegetables as you wish. Serve with water crackers, thick slices of crusty French bread, thin slices of whole wheat bread, or unsalted whole wheat crackers. May be frozen.

Tortillas stuffed with cheese, ham, and sweet bell peppers covered in a savory mixture of eggs and salsa are allowed to mingle overnight, like a Mexican French toast. Easy to prepare and just pop it into the oven in the morning with your feet up, sipping a coffee.

Serves a large group and can be prepared the morning of the party and is assembled at the site of the party, 10 minutes before serving.

Butter in India is called makkhan. Clarified butter, instead of being called makkhan ghee, is called usli ghee (usli means "real" or "pure," which in this context refers to the real or original fat of the ancient Indians). Clarified butter or usli ghee is essentially French brown butter with the brown residue strained off. Usli ghee has a light caramel color and a heavenly aroma. Since there is no moisture present, it keeps well covered, at room temperature, for several months.

A delicious summer standard at our place. Easy to make with a mix of Southern European and Middle Eastern flavours. I use my Cucumber Raita (posted separately) to dress the lamb salad or you can use the quick yoghurt dressing provided here.

Cuban yucca con mojo boils tender yuca root and drenches it in a sizzling garlic-lime mojo sauce. A traditional Caribbean side with tangy-sharp flavor over starchy root.

Pan bagnat is the South of France's answer to the packed lunch: a crusty roll stuffed with tomatoes, peppers, onions, olives, hard-boiled egg, and anchovies, drenched with olive oil and vinegar. Beach-food classic.

Corn on the cob drenched in a from-scratch British barbecue sauce with malt vinegar, Worcestershire, ginger, green chili, and a splash of dry sherry. Tangy, smoky, and utterly different.