Recipe 1: Clafoutis
French desserts are known to be complicated, but clafoutis makes an exception. It is surprisingly easy to make, and is ready in few minutes. It is usually made with fresh fruits, but dried fruits also make a great option, especially in winter when there is not a wide range of fruits to choose. Yield: 8-10 persons Preparation Time: 1 h & 30 min Ingredient List:
- 1 cup cream
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 5 eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 13 cups flour
- teaspoons salt
- cup golden raisins
- cup brown raisins
- cup dried figs cut into quarters
- cup dried apricots cut into quarters
- cup rum
- cup boiling water
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Instructions: Soak the dried fruits on boiling water and room and let them rest for 15-30 minutes. Preheat the oven at 375 F and grease a ceramic pan with batter. In a big bowl mix cream, milk, eggs, vanilla extract, flour and salt, until the mixture gets homogenous and without any lumps.
Drain the dried fruits from the soaking liquid and add them to the batter. Pour the batter in the baking pan and bake for 45-55 minutes. If the surface starts getting brown, cover with aluminum foil. When it is ready, let slightly cool and enjoy. Clafoutis tastes amazing either warm or cold.
Recipe 2: Onion Soup
A classic French soup, well-known worldwide, perfect for cold winter days.
Yield: 4 persons Preparation Time: 1 h & 15 minutes Ingredient List:
- 3 medium yellow onions
- 3 cups chicken stock
- cup flour
- cup grated hard cheese
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons cider
- 1 bunch of parsley
- 4 tablespoons butter
- Salt
- Pepper
- 4 bread slices
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Instructions: Cook the onions over medium heat with 2 tablespoons butter until translucent. Add half of the stock and cider and simmer over low heat for around 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan melt 2 tablespoons of butter and add the flour whisking constantly. Add the remaining stock to the roux whisking constantly. Add the thickened stock to the soup and whisk well. Add cream, and cheese and mix again.
Toast the bread slices and set aside. Pour the soup on serving bowl and top with the bread slices.
Recipe 3: French Roasted Pork
Potato wedges is the perfect side dish to meat or fish, or just eaten on their own with a nice sauce. Yield: 6 persons Preparation Time: 2 h Ingredient List:
- 3 lb. boneless pork loin, well-trimmed
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 2 shallots cut in quarters
- 3 apples quartered
- cup apple cider
- stick butter
- Salt
- Pepper
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Instructions: Preheat the oven at 350F. Mix mustard and honey and set aside.
Season the pork with salt and pepper, place in the roasting pan and pour honey and mustard mixture over it. Add small chunks of butter over the pork. Arrange rosemary, thyme, onions and apples around the pork. Pour the cider and bake for 1 h & 10 minutes. Let the pork rest for around 20 minutes, then cut and serve.
Recipe 4: French Spring Vegetables
Spring brings all the veggies, so why not combine them in a beautiful French style salad.
Yield: 6 persons Preparation Time: 30 min Ingredient List:
- 6 baby carrots
- 10 asparagus
- 3 spring onions
- cup fresh peas
- Salt
- Pepper
- Grounded coriander
- 2 cups vegetable stock
- cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Instructions: Clean the vegetables and set them aside. Prepare a vegetable steamer and steam the vegetables in batches. Put them in a big pot, season with salt, pepper and coriander and add the stock. Simmer for around 10-15 min. Enjoy warm.
Recipe 5: Baked Apple Terrine
A wholesome cream filled with apples, plus a touch of calvados is a must try French cuisine delicacy.
Yield: 6-8 persons Preparation Time: 1 h & 30 min Ingredient List:
- 1 stick butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 5 sweet apples
- Juice of half lemon
- 3 tablespoons calvados
- 6 large eggs
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Instructions: Clean, peel, core and cut apples in cubes. Add them in a large pan with cup sugar, lemon juice and the butter and cook until caramelized, for around 25 minutes. Remove the apples from the heat, add calvados and set aside to cool. Preheat oven at 375 F. In a big bowl beat the eggs with cup sugar until light, fluffy and doubled in size. Add the caramelized apples to the egg mixture and mix.