Vegetables & Sides

Fall is just around the corner! And after fresh, juicy vegetables all Summer long, it’s that delicious time of the year to relish in all kinds of root vegetables… and today’s recipe is all about beets! In this Fall-perfect dish, beets are braised in white wine until sweet and tender, mingled with chopped kale, goat cheese and crusty bread.  It is a simple, unfussy side-dish or light dinner, and it’s a wonderfully different way to enjoy beets.   A dish inspired by the “Betteraves à la Poitevine” The inspiration for …

If you’re attending a barbecue or outdoor get-together in the thick of Summer in France, there’s a good chance you’ll stumble on these Provence-Style Tomatoes topped with Breadcrumbs and Herbs. Known as “Tomates à la Provençale”, this typical warm-weather dish from Provence calls for fresh, seasonal tomatoes slowly confit’d on the stove-top (meaning they’re slowly cooked in their own juice). The confit tomatoes are then finished off in the oven topped with breadcrumbs, garlic and Herbes de Provence, and cooked until crisp and golden. Like most rustic French recipes, it …

Light, fragrant, and easy to prepare, this French Couscous Salad, also known as Taboulé, is a beloved staple of French summertime cooking. Unlike its Levantine cousin Tabbouleh, this version features fluffy couscous, crisp vegetables, sweet raisins, and a zesty lemon dressing — making it the perfect cold salad for picnics, potlucks, and casual lunches. What is French Couscous Salad (aka French Taboulé)? If you’ve ever browsed the deli section of a French supermarket, chances are you’ve spotted little individual tubs labeled “Taboulé.”: one of the French’s favorite salads on the …

Out of the numerous little bites that came out of my kitchen so far this year, these have to be in my top 3. Inspired from Mediterranean cuisine where eggplant holds a prominent role, these Eggplant Slices with Goat Cheese and Walnuts are as simple to make as they are delicious. A great, delicious recipe to celebrate this late-Summer, plum purple vegetable. An appetizer, a salad topping or a side dish. This is a simple and versatile eggplant recipe, that can be on the table in less than 30 minutes. …

Summer is here, and what better way to make do with an abundance of Summer vegetables than with a layered vegetable Tian? This traditional dish from Provence alternates slices of tomatoes, zucchini, and eggplants to create a colorful, veggie-focused dish. In my take on this beloved French recipe, the Tian gets encased in a buttery shortcrust that is spiked with dried herbs and olive oil. This makes for a vibrant Summer dish that showcases seasonal vegetables in a perfect way, and that’s as pretty as it is tasty!

Known in French as Aubergines à la Bonifacienne, these cheesy stuffed eggplant boats are a specialty from the town of Bonifacio, at the Southern tip of the island of Corsica, in France. As with many traditional recipes from the island, they features wonderful Mediterranean flavors, all while making  great use of leftover bread and cheese. They’re plump, cheesy, satisfying and a perfect Summer dish.

A French “jardinière” is a colorful mixed vegetable side dish, usually served along with a big feast of meat –such as a Beef Sirloin Tip Roast. I love that there is no strict rules when composing a Jardinière: you can use vegetables according to what is in season – or in your garden (jardinière meaning a female gardener in French) By deduction, Spring is a wonderful season to compose a jardinière, and I love to play with seasonal vegetables such as spring peas, green beans, wax beans and carrots to create …

Leftover Croissants…? Yes, this could happen! In fact, it has been happening to me a lot lately, as I’ve working on developing three different versions (1-day, 2-day and 3-day) of my Classic French Croissant recipes. So I have been left with dozens of croissants on the counter, and even though I am very much fond of them, going through 36 in a day became a bit too much. And you’ll probably agree that days-old croissants simply do not have the same oomph as freshly baked ones. So I have been …

Known in French as “Petits Pois à la Nivernaise”, this recipe for French Peas with Lettuce, Carrots and Pearl Onions is a very traditional and classic way to cook peas in France. This is the kind of go-to recipe that most French cooks have in their repertoire and that you’ll find featured on Holiday tables alongside the classic meat and potatoes.

Known in French as “Haricots Verts à l’Albigeoise“, this quick and easy French green bean recipe is a delicious specialty hailing from Albi, a small town in Southern France, near Toulouse. It features bacon, eggs and crème fraîche which I feel is an unusual way to dress up vegetables – but it makes them scrumptious, comforting and perfect for colder days. It’s the kind of recipe that could even lure the pickiest little ones to eat their veggies (and ask for seconds! ) It makes for a great weekday dinner for …