17 fromage recipes

Traditional French farmhouse head cheese (fromage de tete): pork head simmered with vegetables, herbs, and aromatics, then molded with shallots and parsley into a sliceable charcuterie classic.

Apricot ice cream with low-fat yogurt and fromage frais instead of cream. A lighter frozen dessert built on dried apricot puree, perfect for hot afternoons without the heaviness of dairy ice cream.

Savory filo cheese cups, crisp phyllo shells brushed with hazelnut oil and filled with a herbed goat cheese and fromage blanc custard, then baked until golden and puffed. An elegant vegetarian party bite.

Gefilte fish from a jar upgraded with fresh beets, carrots, and onions layered and simmered for 45 minutes. Bubbe's shortcut for holiday fish that tastes almost homemade.

Simple frozen dessert made with ice cream and a splash of sherry, frozen in a tray. A no-bake, 2-ingredient base you can customize with nuts, chocolate, or fruit.

Smoked haddock potato pie with a fluffy mash topping, flaked fish, and tangy fromage frais in place of butter. Grilled until the cheese turns golden and crunchy on top. A lighter take on classic fish pie.

Gooseberry burnt creams are a British dessert with tart gooseberry puree topped with whipped fromage blanc and double cream, finished with a crackable caramel sugar shell. A fruit-forward creme brulee.

Mango brulee with a custard made from double cream, fromage frais, and egg yolks topped with caramelized demerara sugar. A lighter take on classic creme brulee.

Overnight soaked bulgur breakfast with dried apples and fromage frais for a make-ahead healthy porridge alternative that's diabetic-friendly and customizable.

Light mixed bean salad with green beans, broad beans, kidney beans, and firm tofu tossed in lemon juice and served with a fresh herb fromage frais dressing. A low-fat vegetarian side dish ready in 15 minutes.

Kipper pate slices layer creamy smoked fish on golden puff pastry, finished with a cool cucumber-mint dressing. A British appetizer that handles a dinner party with quiet confidence.

British rhubarb fool with stewed rhubarb, orange, and a light fromage frais or yogurt fold-in. Tart-sweet pink dessert that's lighter than a traditional cream fool. Spring on a spoon.

Sourdough pancakes from an active whole wheat starter, with baking soda stirred in for tang and a tall, fluffy rise. The weekend way to put your bubbling starter to good use.

Sourdough muffins made from an overnight sponge starter mixed with flour, sugar, and melted shortening. A simple way to use sourdough starter in muffin form.

Marinated flank steak (London broil) in red wine, soy sauce, oregano, and marjoram, broiled hot and sliced thin against the grain. Tender, flavorful weeknight steak from an affordable cut.

Thick and spicy spaghetti sauce gets its character from an unconventional spice rack: basil, paprika, cinnamon, curry powder, hot sauce, and burgundy wine simmered slow into a deep, complex pasta sauce.