List of recipes from category Basic recipes: 120 recipes (gluten free)

List of recipes from category Basic recipes

Aromatic preparations

Preserved lemons
Preserved lemons
For this recipe, the lemons are sliced first (this makes them easier to use later), then salted to drain off the juice before being bottled in herb-flavoured olive oil. These preserved lemons can be used in all sorts of dishes, especially with fish and poultry.
December 2nd 2012119K 15 12 hours 36 min.
Vanilla sugar
Vanilla sugar
Almost essential in patisserie, you can find it in expensive little sachets of about 10g. It's necessary to distinguish between the vanilla sugar which really contains vanilla, and vanillin sugar, purely chemical which has never seen a vanilla pod. Here is how to quickly make a whole jar full of...
August 12th 2018409K 15 26 min.
Feta in olive oil with herbs
Feta in olive oil with herbs
This recipe tells you how to preserve cubes of feta with herbs. It will keep for a long time and improves with keeping. Using this feta in a salad, such as Greek salad, adds an amazing flavour.
August 2nd 201594K4.6 14 min.
Herb salad
Herb salad
Herb salad is a small salad made with leaves of all kinds of aromatic herbs, it's highly flavoured, and should be considered almost as a condiment. It really is a salad, the leaves are not chopped.
October 13th 2010222K4.6 22 min.
Noisette butter
Noisette butter
"Noisette" means hazelnut in French. Noisette butter is made by melting butter, then boiling and raising it to a high temperature until it takes on both a light brown hazelnut colour and also a characteristic nutty smell. Compared with simple clarified butter, this noisette butter has a delicate...
December 30th 2019118K4.5 15 min.
Vegetable stock
Vegetable stock
Vegetable stock is a very easy and versatile basic recipe. It can be used in many different ways: for cooking rice, making soups, sauces, etc. It's a good idea to keep a supply of vegetable stock in your fridge or freezer.
October 5th 2011258K4.3 1 hour
Herb olive oil
Herb olive oil
This flavoured olive oil, easy to prepare, goes very well with Mediterranean cuisine: pizzas, pastas, pan bagnat, etc...
February 21th 2011301K3.8 21 min.
Bouquet garni
Bouquet garni
Used very frequently in French cuisine, a secret of French chefs, it adds flavour to a lot of recipes, and it's easy to prepare. The basic principle is to make a small bundle of herbs, bind them in green leek leaves and to tie it up, so that the whole thing can be removed and discarded easily after...
March 21th 2017408K3.5 12 min.
Praline
Praline
Praline is a preparation of caramelized nuts (in this case almonds), with a very characteristic flavour. Either crushed or as a paste, it is used to fill or flavour all manner of things like creams, chocolates, biscuits, etc.
August 3rd 2012257K3.5 55 min.
Pickled gherkins
Pickled gherkins
Preparing your own gherkins in vinegar is quite straightforward, if you know how to avoid a few pitfalls. Here's a recipe which works every time.
August 21th 2013761K 73.1 4 hours 36 min.
Beurre d'escargot
Beurre d'escargot
Beurre d'escargot is the typically French flavoured butter added to snails before they go into the oven. In principal, this a simple mixture of butter, chopped parsley and garlic, but here is a more sophisticated gastronomic version with a flavour that simply oozes French savoir-faire.
November 7th 201860K3 51 min.
Home-made chilli oil
Home-made chilli oil
It is very simple and economical to make your own chilli oil. Here's how to do it.
March 30th 202224K 15 min.
Mushroom duxelles
Mushroom duxelles
A duxelles consists of finely sliced mushrooms cooked in butter with shallots. It is more of a preparation than a dish in its own right, which can be used in other recipes.
May 10th 202347K 24 min.
Red mixed pickle
Red mixed pickle
This mixed pickle is made with a variety of vegetables left to mature for 2 weeks in diluted vinegar. The result is similar to gherkins and can be added to lots of recipes, or eaten with a snack or sandwich. This red version gets its name from beetroot and red cabbage, which eventually colour...
April 29th 202039K 1 hour 29 min.

Confectionery

Nougatine
Nougatine
Nougatine is a delicious nut toffee: caramel mixed with toasted flaked almonds. Not a dessert in itself, it is often used to decorate cakes and pastries. But those who enjoy good things are sure to want to eat it on its own!
March 29th 2018320K4 32 min.

Creams and foams

Almond cream or frangipane
Almond cream or frangipane
Light and delicious, it is used in a lot of desserts like tarts, cakes and pies (epiphany galette).
January 23th 2022445K 25 44 min.
Chantilly cream
Chantilly cream
Chantilly cream, it's simply whipped liquid cream with sugar. It is use in many desserts, but already delicious simply with strawberries or other fruits.
September 17th 2013659K5 18 min.
Chocolate Chantilly
Chocolate Chantilly
If we look at the more scientific side of Chantilly cream we can see that it's mainly cream, and cream is a mix of very small droplets of milk fat and water, which is called an emulsion. When we whip this emulsion, we incorporate air into it and so create a mousse or foam. In the end Chantilly is a...
September 25th 2013168K5 15 min.
Lime (or lemon) curd
Lime (or lemon) curd
Lime curd is a delicious conserve and variation on the traditional lemon curd, made with limes, eggs and butter. It's the perfect filling for either large or small tarts.
July 10th 2011155K5 54 min.
Paris flan filling
Paris flan filling
This is how to prepare the custard filling for a classic Parisian "flan". This is not the whole recipe, just the filling mixture, which can be used in lots of other flan-style recipes on this site.
February 25th 202359K5 41 min.
Stewed apple (compote)
Stewed apple (compote)
Here is a very basic but delicious recipe, and the pitfalls to avoid.
November 8th 20172.4M 14.8 1 hour 13 min.
Pistachio confectioner's custard
Pistachio confectioner's custard
This is very similar to the classic confectioner's custard (crème pâtissière, or french pastry cream), but its marked pistachio taste brings a distinctive flavour to a whole range of desserts.
November 21th 2018198K4.7 31 min.
Royal icing
Royal icing
Royal icing is a mixture of egg white and icing sugar. From its pasty consistency when fresh, it dries to give a lovely white crust.
February 12th 2012191K4.7 13 min.
Butter cream
Butter cream
Butter cream is made with egg yolk, sugar syrup and, of course, butter. These days it has fallen rather out of fashion, probably because it's very rich, but it still has its aficionados. Here is the classic plain version, which you can lighten and flavour as you wish.
October 13th 2010316K4.6 58 min.
Foie gras Chantilly
Foie gras Chantilly
Chantilly is a method which is applied to cream of course, but also to other surprising ingredients. If we look at the more scientific side of Chantilly we can see that it's mainly cream, and cream is a mix of very small droplets of milk fat and water, which is called an emulsion. When we whip this...
September 17th 2013110K4.6 28 min.
Apple confectioner's custard
Apple confectioner's custard
For this strongly apple-flavoured version of confectioner's custard (crème pâtissière, or french pastry cream), apple juice is used instead of milk and the quantity of sugar is reduced.
July 23th 2014124K4.6 21 min.
Stewed rhubarb
Stewed rhubarb
This is perhaps the best known use of rhubarb, and can be used as the basis for other recipes.
October 13th 2010286K4.4 55 min.
Lemon Confectioner's Custard
Lemon Confectioner's Custard
This recipe is for a confectioner's custard with a difference: it's a little less sweet than the classic confectioner's custard (crème pâtissière, or french pastry cream) and has double lemon flavour, using both zest and juice, for plenty of tangy lemon taste. It's the perfect filling for lemon...
May 9th 2018192K4.4 23 min.
Italian Meringue
Italian Meringue
Italian meringue is made with sugar cooked to 120°C or 248°F. This is different from the French, which is made from caster sugar. The cooked sugar gives a softer meringue which can be added to other preparations or use as it is.
June 2nd 2015466K4.3 30 min.
Panna cotta
Panna cotta
Panna cotta is an Italian dessert which means "cooked cream". It's a set vanilla cream, similar to blancmange, which is frequently served with other things like fruit coulis (fruit purée), caramel etc.. Here is the basic panna cotta recipe.
February 21th 2011341K4.3 25 min.
Pear compote
Pear compote
Stewed pears are not as easy to prepare as stewed apples, as they contain more juice and you risk ending up with more of a coulis than a compote. So here are two simple methods to help you succeed.
April 26th 2012456K4.3 37 min.
Real custard sauce (crème anglaise)
Real custard sauce (crème anglaise)
Real custard or vanilla sauce consists of egg yolks beaten with sugar and cooked slowly in vanilla milk. It is the base or the accompaniment for many desserts.
January 17th 2018408K 24.3 44 min.
Pistachio cream
Pistachio cream
Very similar to almond cream, pistachio cream is ideal for filling or topping all kinds of cakes and tarts. Just like almond cream, it swells during cooking.
October 4th 2012294K 64.1 33 min.
Rich hazelnut buttercream
Rich hazelnut buttercream
This delicious preparation is an alternative to almond frangipane: a nutty buttercream enriched with eggs, designed to be cooked into various pastries.
November 15th 2017147K4.1 40 min.
Swiss meringues
Swiss meringues
Swiss meringues are a variant of the classic French meringue. The eggs whites and sugar are beaten together in a bain-marie at first, then beaten stiff as normal. This makes for a firmer meringue which can be used to make small items or figures to decorate cakes or ice creams (such as mushrooms,...
June 2nd 2015114K3.8 1 hour 17 min.
Confectioner's custard (Crème pâtissière, or French pastry cream)
Confectioner's custard (Crème pâtissière, or French pastry cream)
Quite similar to crème anglaise but much thicker. It is used in many pastries like choux pastry (pâte à choux) or millefeuille.
January 27th 2017741K 313.7 36 min.
Chocolate ganache
Chocolate ganache
A chocolate ganache is a mixture of cream and chocolate made while hot. This gives a kind of paste which solidifies somewhat as it cools but remains fairly soft. This is the filling used in many chocolates.
January 25th 2022320K 13.7 15 min.
Stewed apricots
Stewed apricots
Here is how to make delicious stewed apricots, both an easy and a more sophisticated way.
July 12th 2023769K 143.6 1 hour 17 min.
Lime confectioner's custard (pastry cream)
Lime confectioner's custard (pastry cream)
Taking its inspiration from lemon confectioner's custard, this version has a distinctive lime flavour. Both juice and zest are used to combine the juice's slight acidity with a hint of bitterness from the zest.
July 21th 201992K3.5 56 min.
Quince and apple compote
Quince and apple compote
This compote is a tricky balancing act between the characteristic quince flavour and just enough apples to sweeten it. You should end up with a compote that has a delicate quince flavour rounded out by the apples and brown sugar.
December 30th 2019106K3 59 min.
Stewed plums
Stewed plums
Quick and simple, stewed plums can also be spread like jam.
June 27th 2010456K2.6 38 min.
Fruit crémeux
Fruit crémeux
This kind of "crémeux" (it means "creamy", but contains no actual cream) is a basic recipe in the repertoire of French pastry chefs. It is smoother but less frothy than a mousse and uses gelatin to set it as it cools. Often used as a tart filling or in other desserts, crémeux is usually poured to...
September 12th 2020169K2.5 40 min.
Clementine Creamy
Clementine Creamy
A clementine cremeux is a little different from cremeux based on pulpy fruits (such as blackcurrant or raspberry), this time more juice is used and the zest.
January 18th 202318K2 2 hours 36 min.
Lime crémeux
Lime crémeux
This "crémeux" is a creamy mixture ideal for filling tarts, either on its own or as a bottom layer topped with fruit, for example.
April 14th 202162K1 46 min.
Bavaroise cream
Bavaroise cream
A "bavaroise" is made with custard, set with gelatin after cooking, and with whipped cream added once it has cooled. This makes a delicious, smooth cream that can be used to create many different desserts.
May 8th 202220K 40 min.
Clementine Chantilly
Clementine Chantilly
As the Clementine season is now in full swing, I would like to tempt you to try this surprisingly different clementine-flavoured Chantilly. The recipe is very simple but delicious.
February 2nd 202228K 20 min.
Clementine confectioner's custard
Clementine confectioner's custard
This clementine confectioner's custard makes the most of the delicious fruity flavour by using both the juice and zest.
January 23th 202230K 30 min.
Clementine diplomat cream
Clementine diplomat cream
Diplomat cream, as delicious as ever, in a double clementine-flavoured version. It can be used in lots of desserts and pastries.
February 13th 202231K 28 min.
Coffee custard
Coffee custard
You are probably familiar with the classic real custard (crème anglaise). Here's a coffee-flavoured version.
May 4th 202224K 29 min.
Diplomat cream
Diplomat cream
Diplomat cream or "crème Madame" (a much prettier name) is one of many creams in French pâtisserie based on confectioner's custard. The classic confectioner's custard (crème pâtissière, or french pastry cream) has gelatin added while hot, then whipped cream is folded in when cold. This gives a...
October 30th 201961K 1 hour 47 min.
Quince compote
Quince compote
Quinces make an excellent compote, full of their delightful perfume and flavour. However, preparing the fruit is hard work, so here's a recipe to show you how to manage this.
November 11th 202034K 55 min.

Fruits

Clear strawberry juice
Clear strawberry juice
In French this is called a "clarification". The method for making a clear strawberry juice is simple, with little added sugar. The delicious juice obtained can be used in lots of recipes: mousse, cream, jelly, etc.
July 25th 202128K5 59 min.
Dried apricots
Dried apricots
Making your own dried apricots at home is perfectly feasible. It's really quite simple, though it takes a long time. Basically, the apricots need to be cut in half, destoned, then the halves put to dry slowly for several hours in a cool oven.
July 12th 2023125K3.9 6 hours 6 min.
Poached pears
Poached pears
Poached pears are used in a number of desserts. Here's a method for poaching them that you can use in all your recipes.
November 22th 20238,186 28 min.

Gratins

Polenta
Polenta
Polenta is made from maize meal and can be prepared in a number of ways. In this recipe, it is cooked in milk, then moulded and set before being fried.
May 24th 2022200K5 1 hour 27 min.

How to...

How to cook potato grenaille
How to cook potato grenaille
The French call very small potatoes "grenaille". This is a typical way of cooking them: the tiny potatoes are pan-fried in their skins and make an excellent accompanient for meat. Grenaille can be made with any kind of potato; it is a question of size, rather than variety, though I think that...
September 16th 2015445K4.5 43 min.
How to prepare apricots
How to prepare apricots
Here's how to prepare apricots for use in a recipe, from washing to slicing.
July 12th 2023733K3.7 32 min.
How to peel hazelnuts
How to peel hazelnuts
The skin of whole hazelnuts, unlike that of almonds, doesn't improve their taste - on the contrary. So you need to remove it before using them, and here's how.
August 4th 20242,670

Meat

Sausagemeat
Sausagemeat
Sausagemeat is a mixture of fatty pork (belly bacon here) with leaner meat, all minced and seasoned. In this version I have used veal as the additional meat.
October 3rd 2019203K3.8 15 min.

Miscellanous

Caramelised walnuts
Caramelised walnuts
These delicious nuts can be used in several cakes, but you can also put them on ice-cream, pancakes, fruit salad, or eat them just as they are.
February 21th 2011360K5 22 min.
Poached eggs
Poached eggs
Poached eggs are cooked, without the shell, in barely simmering (nearly boiling) water. White should be firm and yolk soft, that's the difficulty. This recipe teaches you how to succeed with three important points.
January 8th 2013306K5 2 hours 40 min.
Scrambled eggs (Oeufs brouillés)
Scrambled eggs (Oeufs brouillés)
French-style scrambled eggs are rather special. It's not very difficult, just a bit long because it's cooked slowly in a bain-marie. Eventually you will get a delicious, refined and delicate preparation which can be eaten "as it is" or added to another recipe.
February 21th 2011263K5 30 min.
Toasted flaked almonds
Toasted flaked almonds
Toasted flaked almonds are the perfect finishing touch for desserts, ice creams in particular, because of their delightful crunch.
March 9th 2020305K4.8 27 min.
Preserved tomatoes
Preserved tomatoes
Softer than dried tomatoes, they can be used as a kind of chutney in pasta dishes for instance, or simply served to accompany an aperitif.
February 21th 2011335K4.8 5 hours 6 min.
Potimarron (Japanese chestnut pumpkin) purée
Potimarron (Japanese chestnut pumpkin) purée
Potimarron can be easily made into purée, you don't need to peel it, which makes for a quick and delicious recipe.
October 13th 2010320K4.6 1 hour 12 min.
Clarified butter
Clarified butter
This is a way of melting butter to eliminate all the impurities. The clarified butter can then be heated without spoiling, and is more digestible. It is ideal for cooking at high temperatures where small black specks would spoil the appearance, or for emulsified sauces like béarnaise or mousseline.
June 21th 2017452K4.2 2 hours 14 min.
Citrus crunch
Citrus crunch
These are fine crumbs of candied citrus peel. It can be used to sprinkle a dessert or other preparation to add both crunch and the flavour of the chosen citrus fruit. It is easy to prepare well in advance, and will keep in an airtight jar. This recipe is given for clementines, but can be made with...
February 2nd 2016225K3.7 1 hour 16 min.
Quiche filling mixture
Quiche filling mixture
The basic mixture for filling quiches is made with seasoned eggs, cream and/or milk. It can be used in many kinds of savoury quiches and tarts, with different ingredients added (lardons, cheese, salmon, etc.).
April 17th 202271K 4 min.

Pasta and rice

Pilau rice
Pilau rice
Pilau rice (also called "restaurant rice" in France) is a way of cooking rice that's very different from using a rice-cooker. In this recipe, the rice is first "pearled" with onion in olive oil, then chicken stock is added, and the whole lot is put in the oven. This produces a very tasty moist rice,...
February 21th 2011378K 14.4 33 min.

Pastries

Almond dacquoise
Almond dacquoise
A dacquoise is a sort of almond meringue that can be eaten like a biscuit or can be used as the base of more sophisticated desserts.
June 28th 2011196K5 44 min.
Armagnac marzipan
Armagnac marzipan
Almost the same as plain marzipan, but this almond paste is flavoured with a hint of Armagnac or Cognac.
September 12th 201843K4.8 9 min.
Marzipan (almond paste)
Marzipan (almond paste)
Very easy to do if you have a food processor which can slice or grate a lot of things.
December 19th 2021624K 34.5 11 min.
Buckwheat pancakes
Buckwheat pancakes
Buckwheat pancakes (galettes de sarasin in French) are typical of Brittany and are often served as a savoury dish. They are made with buckwheat flour (a cereal-like seed which is gluten free).
July 21th 2015166K 24.3 15 min.
Coconut paste
Coconut paste
Similar to marzipan or walnut paste, coconut paste can be used in a variety of cake or sweet recipes, but you can enjoy munching it just as it is.
October 13th 2010283K 14 15 min.
Pistachio powder or paste
Pistachio powder or paste
Pistachio paste has a similar texture to almond paste, but the similarity ends there, as its flavour and colour are quite characteristic.
October 13th 2010364K 154 48 min.
Walnut paste
Walnut paste
Very similar to marzipan (almond paste) in method, walnut paste is very tasty.
February 21th 2011295K 63.5 14 min.
Macaronade mixture
Macaronade mixture
Macaronade is the sweet almond and egg-white mixture (inspired by macarons (the original french macaroons) that French pâtissiers use as a topping on cakes and brioches. It forms a delicious crust when baked.
November 25th 202060K 2 min.

Sauces

Greek Pesto
Greek Pesto
You may already know the pesto, this delicious Italian sauce, well here is the Greek variation of the thing: the basil is accompanied by thyme and oregano, and the Parmesan replaced by feta cheese. Greek flavors, but in an Italian spirit, a true European recipe.
July 24th 202223K5 18 min.
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise is a cold egg dressing, quite thick, served with many dishes, usually cold too: meat, fish, vegetables, etc.
February 16th 2014803K5 6 min.
Pesto
Pesto
Pesto is an Italian sauce made from pine nuts, Parmesan and basil. It's very simple but quite delicious, and goes particularly well with pasta.
July 25th 2020264K 25 15 min.
Purple Pesto
Purple Pesto
You may already be familiar with the classic green basil pesto , but here is a version with purple basil that gives a very aesthetic purple pesto with a more peppery taste, quite similar to ginger.
August 7th 202227K5 19 min.
Roquefort sauce
Roquefort sauce
This is an ideal sauce to make when you have been cooking meat, as it uses the juices left in the pan, but there's a tip for making it without meat juices.
December 19th 2010198K4.9 22 min.
Tomato pesto
Tomato pesto
This is a variation on the classic pesto sauce (basil and pine nuts), using cherry tomatoes, basil and almonds.
June 29th 2011161K4.5 13 min.
French dressing (vinaigrette)
French dressing (vinaigrette)
Here is a very simple recipe, but it could completely transform, maybe even transcend, your salad.
July 7th 20111.0M4.5 7 min.
Lemon Mayonnaise
Lemon Mayonnaise
This is almost as simple to make as a plain mayonnaise, but with the double lemon flavour of both zest and juice for a delicate, fresh tang.
February 17th 201680K4.5 5 min.
Tomato sauce (for pizzas)
Tomato sauce (for pizzas)
This is the sauce to put on pizza bases before the toppings.
October 19th 2010519K4.3 1 hour 15 min.
Green parsley sauce
Green parsley sauce
This sauce, with a great parsley taste, is perfect with steamed vegetables or fish. At the bottom you will find the coulis version of this recipe.
February 21th 2011505K 44.3 23 min.
Marchand de vin sauce
Marchand de vin sauce
The rich "marchand de vin" sauce, made with red wine and shallot, is a classic accompaniment for meats that is traditionally made in the roasting tin or dish. This is a simplified version that can be made while the meat is cooking, even beforehand, so there is no risk of it going cold.
May 31th 2012259K4.1 34 min.
Tapenade
Tapenade
Tapenade is a classic of Mediterranean cuisine, basically a purée of black olives and olive oil. This version is little more sophisticated, with a less marked olive flavour.
November 21th 2010185K 14.1 13 min.
Chocolate sauce
Chocolate sauce
This rich smooth chocolate sauce, with its full flavour, is one of the indispensable ingredients of profiteroles, but it can be used with many others desserts.
February 21th 2011297K 24 32 min.
Cocktail sauce
Cocktail sauce
Cocktail sauce is a spicy mayonnaise with cognac, Tabasco and concentrated tomato paste (or purée) added.
October 13th 2010196K4 9 min.
Cream sauce with Vin Jaune
Cream sauce with Vin Jaune
This sauce made with Vin Jaune ("yellow wine") is emblematic of Comtoise cuisine from Eastern France. It combines the smoothness of cream with the slight acidity and typical flavour of the Vin Jaune. The tricky aspect of cooking with Vin Jaune is that its fugitive flavour tends to disappear when...
October 3rd 2018196K4 46 min.
Light herb sauce
Light herb sauce
This is a very quick and easy recipe for a delicious sauce! It goes particularly well with baked potatoes, fish (such as salmon) and cold white meats.
May 20th 201586K4 8 min.
Rémoulade dressing
Rémoulade dressing
This dressing is a kind of mayonnaise with vinegar, used for some salads like celeriac rémoulade. Usually it is prepared from mayonnaise, but here is another version, simpler and just as tasty.
October 3rd 2010868K3.9 6 min.
Beurre blanc sauce
Beurre blanc sauce
Beurre blanc sauce is a great classic of French cuisine, made with vinegar, white wine and shallots. It is a wonderful accompaniment for fish and shellfish.
February 2nd 2012172K3.8 35 min.
Avocado mayonnaise
Avocado mayonnaise
This version of mayonnaise, as creamy as ever but with a delicious avocado flavor, is a perfect accompaniment to fish, vegetables and even canapés.
July 17th 20243,897 10 min.
Carrot-top pesto
Carrot-top pesto
You will no doubt be familiar with classic pesto. Here is an alternative, zero-waste version using carrot tops for a surprising pesto, full of fresh flavour.
September 16th 202037K 16 min.
Coriander and cashew nut pesto
Coriander and cashew nut pesto
You are probably familiar with the classic pesto,made with basil and pine nuts. I'd like to tempt you with a rather different (but quite delicious) version, made with coriander and cashew nuts.
December 9th 201863K 26 min.
Cream and herb dressing
Cream and herb dressing
A quick and easy recipe for a cream and herb dressing to go with all kinds of dishes, from simple jacket potatoes to fish.
June 12th 202217K 13 min.
Green parsley tahini sauce
Green parsley tahini sauce
This greeen sauce with tahini and parsley is an excellent accompaniment for lots of vegetables (raw or cooked) and also goes well with poultry.
April 8th 202043K 9 min.
Gribouille dressing
Gribouille dressing
Gribouille dressing is based on a rémoulade dressing, with shallot, herbs, hard-boiled egg and tuna added. It goes well with fish and vegetables of all kinds and makes a great sandwich filling.
February 17th 202128K 18 min.
Mint and pea pesto
Mint and pea pesto
Here's a version of pesto with mint and peas, for a very fresh take on this famous Italian sauce.
August 7th 20241,706 26 min.
Pistachio and spinach pesto
Pistachio and spinach pesto
You are no doubt familiar with classic pesto, made with basil and pine nuts. Here's a winter version with spinach and pistachios that's just as delicious.
January 16th 202221K 34 min.
Provençal remoulade sauce
Provençal remoulade sauce
The classic remoulade sauce is, in this recipe, declined in a Provençal version, where we use olive oil and to which we add chopped basil before mixing. You will obtain a classic remoulade texture, but a very typical and fresh taste.
September 18th 202216K 9 min.
Rémoulette dressing
Rémoulette dressing
This is similar to rémoulade dressing, but with lemon juice instead of vinegar and with chopped chives added. The name comes from the French for chives: "ciboulette". In technical terms, it is a cold emulsion, like mayonnaise. Not just a tasty dressing for vegetables and salads, it also goes well...
March 27th 201968K 8 min.
Sorrel pesto
Sorrel pesto
Alongside the traditional basil pesto, here's a sorrel version, very fresh, with a delicious herbaceous taste.
April 7th 20247,976 29 min.
Tartar sauce
Tartar sauce
Tartar sauce is a remoulade sauce with the addition of chopped pickles and herbs. It is an ideal accompaniment to cold dishes, such as cold meats, or hot dishes, such as fries or cooked vegetables.
March 15th 202313K 18 min.
Tomato sauce (with fresh tomatoes)
Tomato sauce (with fresh tomatoes)
When we make a classic tomato sauce, we generally use tinned crushed tomatoes, and that's already very good. But it's possible to do much better, using fresh tomatoes (when in season, of course), which are gently preserved in the oven with thyme and garlic. See how in this recipe.
July 14th 20243,397 1 hour 31 min.

Syrups and coulis

Poaching syrup
Poaching syrup
Less sweet than normal sugar syrup, poaching syrup is specially for slow cooking fruits to be used in other recipes.
September 2nd 2012284K5 14 min.
Fruit coulis (fruit purée)
Fruit coulis (fruit purée)
Contrary to what people usually think, coulis is not just a simple fruit purée with sugar. Of course, this is the general principle, but it's possible to make something much better and more refined. This recipe is for a strawberry coulis (see below for other fruits): how to make it, but also how...
October 20th 2012765K 44 24 min.
Blackcurrant coulis
Blackcurrant coulis
Blackcurrants make a very good coulis, but it's a bit more difficult than with other fruits. Here is a simple method to help you succeed.
February 21th 2011440K 23.5 25 min.
Sugar syrup
Sugar syrup
This syrup is mainly used as a basis for all sorbet recipes, which consist of this syrup and fruit pulp, but it can be also used to soak biscuits for example, or for fruit salads.
February 21th 2011739K3.5 8 min.
Citrus syrup
Citrus syrup
This citrus-flavoured syrup blends the bitterness of the zest with the delicious acidity of the juice. It can be used to soak biscuits or cakes when making desserts. You can make this with whatever citrus fruits you prefer. It can be prepared in advance and will keep for several days.
December 30th 201962K 1 hour 13 min.

Vegetables

Potato purée
Potato purée
The French have fond childhood memories of this, and while nothing will ever be as good as "Maman" made, here's a fairly straightforward way to make it.
October 3rd 2010230K5 1 hour 35 min.
Pan-fried potatoes
Pan-fried potatoes
What could be simpler than fried potatoes? No need of a recipe for that! Quite right, but it's also very easy to end up making fried mash instead. Here are the main pitfalls to avoid.
February 3rd 2011290K4.5 1 hour 37 min.
Macédoine of vegetables
Macédoine of vegetables
A macédoine is simply vegetables diced small (carrots and turnips) or cut small (green beans) with peas. The different vegetables are cooked separately "à l'anglaise", then thoroughly drained. They are only combined at the end in a mayonnaise dressing.
September 3rd 2014155K4 1 hour 24 min.
Leek fondue
Leek fondue
Leek fondue (literally "melted") consists of finely sliced leeks cooked until barely tender then simmered gently in cream until thickened. The aim is to keep the fresh green of the just-cooked leeks but with a lovely soft, melting consistency. This can be a side dish or an ingredient in lots of...
March 4th 202070K2.5 36 min.
Green bean purée
Green bean purée
Green (or French) beans are usually served whole, for instance as an accompanying vegetable or in a salad, but they make a good purée, too. This is tasty on its own, but also goes very well with meats, and children usually prefer it to "normal" beans.
August 11th 202375K 23 min.
Onion fondue
Onion fondue
Onion fondue is a delicious classic of French cuisine: finely-sliced onions, cooked long and slow until they are melting and caramelized. This can be used in many other recipes.
March 25th 2020132K 50 min.

Work on/prepare an ingredient

Lettuce "chiffonade"
Lettuce "chiffonade"
Chiffonade is a French term meaning "made of rags.", it consists of shredding the heart of a lettuce into thin ribbons.
February 21th 2011215K 15 32 min.

Back to top of page