Let me know in the comments if you’ve made one (or several) of them, and which one is your favorite. Enjoy, and bon appétit !

Classic French Strawberry Tart (Tarte aux Fraises)

The traditional “Tarte aux Fraises” combines a buttery pastry crust with juicy ripe strawberries arranged on a layer of velvety crème pâtissière. A French bakery staple!

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Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

With a sweet tangy filling bubbling underneath a buttery oat crumble, this Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp is a snap to prepare, it doesn’t have to look perfect and it’s a delicious crowd pleaser. 

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Almond Milk Blanc-Manger with Honey Stewed Strawberries

A Blanc-Manger is made from milk, cream, sugar and gelatine to reach a consistency that’s milky, smooth, but just firm enough (with a gentle wobble). The creaminess of a Blanc-Manger pairs wonderfully with the chewy chunks of tangy strawberries.

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Strawberry Flaugnarde

Just like a Clafoutis, this classic French dessert is a custardy baked flan nestled with seasonal fruits. It’s tender and creamy in the center, with satisfyingly puffy and chewy rims.

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Strawberry Oat Bars (Carrés aux fraises)

Known as “carrés aux fraises”, these strawberry oat bars belong to the long list of baked goods the French love to whip up in the Spring and Summer. They yield a tangy homemade filling made of fresh strawberries sandwiched between a crisp and buttery oat crumble.

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Strawberry Charlotte Cake

When it comes to strawberry season,  it doesn’t get any more traditional than a Strawberry Charlotte Cake, in France. 

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Strawberry Rhubarb Galette

Easier than pie but just as delicious, this Strawberry Rhubarb Galette features a flaky all-butter crust, folded in a free form manner over a sweet filling of ripe strawberries and tangy rhubarb. 

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Fresh Strawberry Moelleux Cake

A “moelleux” is a very casual yet scrumptious French cakemade with the simplest of ingredients and a generous amount of butter, for a melt-in-your-mouth texture. 

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Giant Strawberry Almond Financier – A French “Financier” is a notoriously delicate little almond cake (usually bite-size), made with ground almonds and flavored with “beurre-noisette” (brown butter). 

Giant Strawberry Almond Financier

A French “Financier” is a notoriously delicate little almond cake (usually bite-size), made with ground almonds and flavored with “beurre-noisette” (brown butter). 

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Breton Pound Cake with Summer Berries

What could be a better pairing for berries than a hefty slice of pound cake with a generous dollop of whipped cream? But not just any pound cake, a Breton Pound Cake.

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Strawberry Jam

3 steps, 3 ingredients and 30 minutes is all you need for this easy and delicious strawberry jam (no pectin added).

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Strawberry & Cream Breton Tart

The buttery Gâteau Breton crust, the velvety crème pâtissière, the juicy strawberries… this classic dessert tart from Brittany is a bliss of perfectly combined textures and flavors. Find this recipe in my cookbook Rustic French Cooking Made Easy. 

The post Best Strawberry Recipes To Make This Summer appeared first on Pardon Your French.

So here is a roundup of some favorite French soup recipes from the blog – and my cookbook – to give you some inspiration. Let me know in the comments if you’ve made one (or several) of them, and which one is your favorite!

Smoked Ham Hock Bean Cabbage Soup (Garbure)

The Garbure is a rustic soup from the Gascony region consisting of smoked ham hock, beans, cabbage and seasonal vegetables slowly stewed. It’s rich, full of smokey flavor and intentionally thick: it’s said a Garbure is ready when the ladle can stand upright in the pot. This robust soup is a great classic of French mountain cooking and best enjoyed on a blistery Winter day.

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Roasted Carrot Soup

If you’re like me, a heartwarming soup made with seasonal vegetables never disappoints over Winter. And from my weekly rotation, this Roasted Carrot Soup has to be one of my favorites. Simple to make and affordable, this soup is creamy, satisfying and boasts delicious sweet flavors from roasted carrots. It’s also a great make-ahead and freezer friendly recipe.

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French Onion Soup

If you’re craving a warm, comforting dish that’s bursting with flavor, look no further than this French Onion Soup recipe. This timeless French bistro classic is loved for its rich caramelized onions, savory broth and bubbly, cheesy topping.

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Classic French Lentil Soup

A warm, cozy yet healthy-ish meal is what we often yearn for during the colder seasons – and this French Lentil Soup is just that. Made with heaps of lentils, carrots, celery, ham and spices for good measure, this soup is a simple recipe that delivers big flavors. It’s hearty, filling and with a texture that is both creamy and chunky. This is a delicious staple for a weekday dinner to cozy up to. 

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Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup

A classic Breton recipe, this Cauliflower Soup uses a whole head of cauliflower, chopped and roasted, to create a thick texture that’s very satisfying and with an incredible depth of flavor. It requires staple ingredients and no cream, but tastes perfectly rich and creamy thanks to the blended cauliflower. Serve it as a side or a meal on its own, to keep you warm on crisp evenings. 

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French Cabbage and Sausage Soup

Known in French as Soupe Paysanne, this Cabbage and Sausage Soup is a rustic recipe that takes centre stage on French family tables throughout Winter. This one is loaded with cabbage, carrots, leek, smoked pork sausage and potatoes in a flavourful broth. It is a perfectly hearty, stick-to-your-ribs soup that satisfies and warms you up during colder days.

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Watercress Soup (Soupe de Cresson)

This Watercress Soup, known as “Soupe de Cresson” in French, is a typical recette de grand–mère, aka a “grandmother’s recipe”. Made of onions, potatoes for extra body, and bright peppery-tasting watercress, this soup offers healthy comfort for the soul. But you can still dress it up with a dollop of crème fraiche for a touch of richness.

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Classic French Carrot Soup (Potage Crecy)

A classic from the French repertoire, this Carrot Soup (also known as Potage Crécy) mixes carrots and rice to create a deliciously thick and sweet soup. It is then enriched with crème fraiche for extra richness and body, making it perfect for dinner or packed up for a quick lunch. 

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Split Pea Bacon Soup (Potage Saint Germain)

Known as “Potage Saint-Germain”, this Split Pea Bacon Soup is a staple French recipe that combines earthy green split peas with vegetables, pureed until smooth, and topped with crispy bacon for good smoky flavor. This is an easy and affordable soup to make. It’s thick, creamy and very satisfying. Another classic recipe for your French repertoire – it will surely be a family favorite.

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Provencal Garlic Soup (Aïgo Boulido)

Translating in Provencal dialect as “boiled water”, the Aïgo Boulido is an unassuming broth of garlic and sage, enriched with eggs. It is delicately aromatic and believed to have powerful curative properties. This soup is widely consumed in the South of France to aid digestion, ward off winter ills, as a detox soup after days of feasting – and as a salving cure for hangovers too.

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Tomato Velouté Soup

Velvety smooth and full of flavor, a Tomato Velouté Soup is a delicious bowl of comfort and the best way to use up fresh tomatoes from your garden in the Summer. In the Winter, when tomatoes aren’t in season, I use canned diced tomatoes instead – choose a “no salt added” brand. This is a simple recipe made in under 30 minutes. You’ll  never want to reach for canned soup again!

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Creamy Leek and Potato Soup (Soupe Vichyssoise)

Known in French as Soupe Vichyssoise (or sometimes “Potage Parmentier), this soup is made of puréed leeks and potatoes, enriched with cream. This is a simple soup that’s absolutely comforting when enjoyed warm on a chilly day.

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Creamy Chestnut Soup

This creamy chestnut soup, or “Soupe Aux Marrons” is a wholesome soup and a French favorite all throughout Winter. Fresh chestnuts are simmered in an aromatic broth and then pureed until smooth, creating a luxuriously thick, creamy texture with the full-on sweet buttery taste of fresh chestnuts.

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2 bonus recipes you can find in my cookbook… 

Winter Vegetable and Crushed Ham Soup (La Bréjaude)

This Bréjaude soup, from the Limousin region in central France, takes it name from the word bréjer which means “to crush” in the local dialect. In addition to crushed pork, it features chunky vegetables and is traditional poured over bread, which makes for a robust bowl of soup that’s perfect for cold winter days. You can find this recipe in my cookbook Rustic French Cooking Made Easy. 

One-Pot French Onion Soup (Gratinée à l’Oignon)

Bread, cheese and wine. Clearly, this quintessential French soup was bound to become one the most sought-after dishes from the French repertoire. This deliciously iconic soup is a breeze to re-create at home, and with just a few ingredients. You can find this recipe in my cookbook Rustic French Cooking Made Easy. 

The post French Soups for the cold season appeared first on Pardon Your French.

Do not hesitate to share your favorite recipe(s) from Provence in the comments!

Eggplant Caviar Dip (Caviar d’Aubergine). A creamy and incredibly flavorful dip made from roasted eggplants, garlic and shallots with herbs and spices. Like many Mediterranean staples, it bears strong influences from the Middle East and reminds one of Baba-ganoush. But if you ask me, it is easier to make and it feels less rich, since it does not include tahini. It simply lets the beautiful flavours of roasted eggplant shine through.

Black Olive Tapenade with Crostini. What better way to help Summer linger than embracing every chance left to sit outside with a  chilled drink and, of course, some delectable nibbles on the side? And for that, the Provençal people undoubtedly have it all nailed down, with their utterly beloved and popular Black Olive Tapenade. This spread of black olives and capers is a culinary icon in the region and a perfect drinking companion – as all salty snacks are.

Classic Vegetable Tian from Provence. A Classic Vegetable Tian embodies the essence of Provençal cooking during Summer: it’s simple and makes do with the abundance of vegetables available from this sun-drenched region of France. This iconic dish that alternates slices of tomatoes, zucchini and eggplants, is colorful, full of flavor and the perfect side dish for your Summer feasts.

Cod Provençal with Tomatoes, Capers and Olives. An easy, one-pan fish dish that can be ready for the table in less than 30 minutes is always a good recipe to have in your repertoire. This classic Cod Provençal recipe boasts meaty cod loins, simmered in a spicy tomato sauce nestled with salty capers and black olives. This is a quick, simple and healthy one-pan dish that is incredibly flavorful and perfect for busy weeknight dinners.

Provençal Eggplant Tomato Gratin. This typical Southern French recipe includes tender slices of eggplants baked in-between layers of  tomato sauce, spiked with Herbs de Provence and loads of Parmesan cheese. This is a fuss-free recipe that makes a great side or a perfect vegetarian dinner.

Classic“Tomates Farcies” (Baked Ground Meat-Stuffed Tomatoes). A typical recipe from Provence, these Classic “Tomates Farcies” are the perfect addition to any Summer table. This unfussy recipe of ripe tomatoes, carved and filled with a stuffing of ground meat, herbs, bread and cheese is a staple dish in any French household – and a personal childhood favorite of mine. Naturally, this dish is best made at the peak of tomato season, when they are juicy, sweet and full of flavor.

Chicken Provençal with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes. With bold sun-kissed flavors, this classic Chicken Provençal is an uncomplicated recipe reminiscing of warm summers in the South of France. It features wine-braised crispy-skinned chicken with loads of melty garlic and shallots, briny bites of green olives, tender artichoke hearts and sweet cherry tomatoes – all showered under fragrant Herbes de Provence.

Provençal Chickpea Salad with Olives, Anchovies and Celery. This Provençal Chickpea Salad is quick and simple, budget-friendly and made with pantry staples. It oozes salty flavors with the addition of anchovies and black olives, and a nice crunch from the celery. Because of the protein from the chickpeas, it’s nutritious enough to be a meal on its own. But really, it can also double as a the perfect side or starter to any Spring or Summer table.

French Pistou Sauce. If you don’t know it, the French Pistou is a Provençal sauce made from cloves of garlic, fresh basil, olive oil (and Parmesan, occasionally). It is quite similar to Ligurian pesto, but it omits pine nuts, which makes it most affordable and lets the basil really shine. It is creamy and so fragrant, and has nothing to envy from its Italian counterpart.

Provence-Style Tomatoes with Breadcrumbs and Herbs (“Tomates à la Provençale”). 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 this staple dish.  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.

Chocolate Almond Twice-Baked Cookies from Provence (“Croquants”). Known in French as “croquants”, these little twice-baked cookies may remind you of the Italian biscotti, but I promise they are French through and through. They are very popular in the South of France, and especially in Provence, where almonds grow abundantly. Just like biscotti, they are quick and easy to assemble, cut cross-ways and twice baked for an incomparable crispness. And they are very hard to stop at one!

 Lavender Sablé Cookies. Floral, zesty, buttery. these Lavender Sablé Cookies are the perfect little Summer treat. They are very popular in Provence, in the South of France, a region known for its abundance of lavender fields and lavender-forward cooking repertoire.

The post Classic Provençal Recipes To Try appeared first on Pardon Your French.