Contents
The French are known for their fine ways of dining and exquisite food over the years. A standard meal that is a part of its national cuisine comprises three courses. Every region in France has its own speciality, which is probably why we have different types of famous French foods all over the world. Let’s take a look at some of the famous French foods.
Introductory Course (Entrée)
1. Croissant
It’s a crescent-shaped bread rolls. Croissant has some additional ingredients, such as butter, flour, eggs, sugar and milk. Croissants have a puff pastry appearance. Frozen croissants with their easy baking techniques are popular nowadays.
2. Quiche Lorraine
Originated from Germany but it’s famous as a French dish. Quiche means cake, derived from German word Kuchen. A quiche is a savory pie with custard, cheese, meat or vegetables filling. Quiche Lorraine with smoked bacon and custard filling is the most popular variant of quiche.
3. French Onion Soup
Onion soups were part of Roman times where poor peoples consume them. In the 18th century, the French popularized onion soup cooked with beef broth. French Onion Soup ingredients are caramelized onions served with beef broth, cheese and croutons.
4. Duchesse Potatoes
Duchesse Potatoes are one of the classic breakfast items of the French cuisine. It’s a meringue-shaped mashed potatoes baked along with egg yolks and butter. Duchesse Potatoes can be of various sizes and may be served with a protein dish.
Breads
5. Brioche
This puffy bread was made of large quantity usage of egg and butter. Sugar and brandy are also added to strengthen the taste. Brioche is usually eaten for breakfast and dessert, and served with Beef en Croute fillet.
6. Pain de Campagne
Pain de champagne’ is made from rye flour. The usage of rye flour that gives distinctive flavor of the bread has been used over the centuries. Pain de Campagne is large bread in circular shape.
7. Baguette
Baguette is a long loaf bread made of basic lean dough and is easily identified by its length and crisp appearance. Frequently used for sandwiches, baguette can be served with cheese, and dunked in hot coffee or hot chocolate.
8. Boule
A traditional boule has an open crumb, a crunchy crust and can be made into any size. Boule bread resembles a crushed or squeezed ball and it can be prepared from any kind of flour.
Cheese
9. Brie
Brie usually served with Café au lait. Brie is a soft cheese made of whole, or semi-skimmed milk of a cow. It’s pale in color with an outer rind of white mold.
10. Valencay
Well known for its truncated pyramidal shape, Valencay is made of unpasteurized goat’s milk. Valencay cheese comes from the Berry province of France. The cheese gets its blue-gray color from the molds and is later dusted with charcoal to give it a darkened appearance.
11. Camembert
A Normandic farmer made Camembert in 1791. It’s a type of soft cheese. Camembert is ripened by molds for 3 weeks before it’s cut into small and circular shapes. Camembert cheese often raw eaten with meat, wine and bread.
12. Roquefort
It’s a blue cheese made of sheep’s milk. Roquefort is a tad moist cheese and gets its taste from the addition of blue mold during the preparation process.
Main Course
13. Beef Bourgoignon
Beef Burgoignon is a type of stew. The stew is cooked from beef prepared in red Burgundy with beef broth; bouquet garni, onions and garlic to strengthen its flavor.
14. Cassoulet
Coming from the south of France, cassoulets consist of meat, pork sausages, duck or goose. It’s also sold in cans with varieties prices from its ingredients.
15. Coq au vin
Coq au vin is a braised chicken stew prepared with Burgundy wine. Coq au vin is also considered as Julia Child’s signature dish and is supposed to be one of the most popular French foods nowadays.
Dessert
16. Crepe
Originated in Brittany, crepe is a thin pancake made of wheat or buckwheat flour. Crepes are filled with different fillings; it can be sweet or savory. The sweet fillings can include sugar, honey, maple syrup and custard. The savory fillings consist of eggs, mushrooms, cheese and ham.
17. Éclair
This is a cylindrical pastry with a cream filling and icing sugar on the top. The éclair originated from France, and it’s served all over the world nowadays.
18. Tarte Tatin
Tarte Tatin is an upside-down tart consisting of fruits, butter and sugar. The fruits are caramelized in butter and sugar. Other fruits such as plums, peaches, pineapples and pears can also be baked along with Tarte Tatin.
19. Madeleine
These are shell-shaped sponge cakes prepared with flour, eggs, almonds and sugar. A Madeleine contains finely ground almonds, but many variations do exist, according to one’s taste.
20. Crème Brulee
This traditional vanilla-flavored dessert has a rich custard base with a layer of tough caramel. The British version of crème brulee is called Trinity cream.
Leave a Reply