Do you want to know more about French cuisine? French cuisine is one of the most internationally known cuisines with its classics.

Coq au vin, Boeuf bourguignon, Bouillabaisse and Ratatouille are just a few of the famous French dishes.

Below is a list of 15 traditional French dishes, along with interesting facts about French cuisine.

rooster in wine

Coq au vin is one of France’s most famous dishes. Traditionally, the food is made from a young rooster, but nowadays more chicken is used in the recipe.

Rooster or chicken is cooked in red wine with other ingredients such as mushrooms, onions, garlic and butter. Common spices for Coq au Vin are salt, pepper, thyme and bay leaves.

beef bourguignon

Boeuf bourguignon is one of the most famous stews in the world today. It is a beef stew cooked in red wine and broth with onions, garlic, mushrooms and carrots.

It is one of the most popular dishes in France and is perfect for cooking in autumn and winter.

onion soup

Traditional French onion soup from meat broth and onions. The soup is usually served on cheese bread.

It is a simple soup and is usually eaten daily or as an appetizer in France.

Nicoise salad

This is a French salad that comes from Provence. It is usually eaten as a side dish, but it can also be served as a light main course.

Salad Nicoise contains lettuce, fresh tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, tuna, anchovies and olives.

veal stew

Blanquette de veau is a classic French veal dish. The meat is not fried until it is cooked, which means that you are cooking “en blanc”.

The food can also be made from fish and vegetables.

Ratatouille

Ratatouille is probably one of the most famous French dishes. This is a vegetarian dish that comes from Nice, in the south of the country.

Ratatouille is traditionally made with tomatoes, garlic, onions, zucchini, eggplant, peppers and local spices and herbs. This is a very good dish that must be tried in the country.

snails

Escargots is a dish made of snails marinated in butter, garlic and parsley.

Snails are one such delicacy in the country, much loved by the locals. However, some tourists are afraid to taste this food.

duck confit

Confit de canard is a fine dish traditionally made from duck. This is one of the finest dishes in France, the meat becomes really tender and delicious.

The meat is marinated in garlic, thyme and salt for about 36 hours before being cooked for a long time at a low temperature.

Confit de canard is usually served with potatoes, vegetables and a good sauce.

flamenco

Flamiche comes from northern France near the Belgian border. It is a savory dish consisting of dough filled with various vegetables and cheese – very similar to a quiche.

This is a very fresh and tasty dish.

cochlea

Moules marinires is a French version of moules potatoes that originated in Belgian cuisine.

The food is made from mussels cooked in white wine with shallots, garlic, olive oil and fish stock. Moules Marinières are usually served with parsley on top.

miller soil

Another classic dish is sol meunier. It is a fish dish made from a fritter rolled in flour and fried in butter.

Sole Meunière is served with lemon, parsley and a nice butter sauce.

Shepherd’s pie

Hachis Parmentier is often said to resemble the Shepherd’s Pie of Irish cuisine.

The dish consists of a layer of minced meat topped with mashed potatoes. It is a simple and delicious dish that is loved by locals and tourists alike.

potato gratin

Milk or cream sauce – this is a French gratin Dauphinois dish.

It’s a dish from the south of France that has a few different variations, including pommes de Terre dauphinois, potatoes la Dauphinois, and gratin de pommes la dauphinois.

Some recipes also include cheese, in which case it should preferably be Gruyre cheese.

bouillabaisse

Bouillabaisse is a French soup/stew consisting of fish or shellfish with white wine, onion, tomatoes, olive oil, saffron and various spices.

The soup is usually served with a dollop of aioli on top.

For those who love seafood, Chrysanthemum is a must try!

frog legs

Frog legs are a real delicacy in France that makes many tourists cringe.

I was a bit scared to try Cuisses de Grenouilles in France, but it was actually quite good. It’s tastier than you think!

More about French cuisine

French cuisine is ancient and has evolved through both social and political changes.

French cuisine is influenced by many different cuisines, including Belgian, German, Italian and Spanish.

Food and ingredients vary by region. However, common ingredients in French cuisine include; Potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, mushrooms, beef, chicken, pork and eggs.

France is very famous for its local wines and cheese. France has many fine wines and cheeses that are worth tasting.

Do you have more questions about French cuisine? Please leave a comment!