List of recipes from category Starters: 233 recipes

Quick courgette soup with cheese

Salad greens and small omelette

Seb's Italian-style aperitif slices

A short selection of recipes from this list

List of recipes from category Starters

Amuses-bouches (small appetisers): 19 recipes
Creams and foams: 4 recipes
Eggs and omelettes: 9 recipes
Fish: 2 recipes
Miscellanous: 10 recipes
Salads: 116 recipes
Sandwiches: 5 recipes
Savoury tarts: 10 recipes
Shellfish: 2 recipes
Small cakes: 3 recipes
Soups: 32 recipes
Terrines and pate: 5 recipes
Traditional recipes of French cooking: 1 recipe
Vegetables: 8 recipes
Verrines: 7 recipes

View this list in full images List of all the recipes

Amuses-bouches (small appetisers)

Quail egg canapés

This starter is a small canapé consiting of a toasted and buttered bread slice covered with a slice of smoked ham topped with a fried quail egg.
February 21^th 2011327 K5 55 min.

Small cheese and bacon rolls

These small aperitif snacks can be prepared in advance and heated at the last minute, or served cold.
September 7^th 2018353 K5 1 hour 25 min.

Small foie gras pasties

Dainty pasties, filled with a morsel of seasoned foie gras.
September 7^th 2018315 K4.6 2 hours

Gougères

Gougères are small cheese choux pastries, sometimes (like here) with bits of ham.
February 21^th 2011240 K 13.8 60 min.

Little vegetable omelettes

As an appetiser or starter, little thick soft omelettes, with diced tomato, courgette and smoked ham.
June 11^th 2011298 K4 1 hour 10 min.

Sacristain (sexton in English, a strange name though common in French cooking) is a small pastry twist, made with puff pastry. There are many recipes with different flavours, sweet or savoury. Here is one with smoked salmon, ideal as an aperitif.
February 21^th 2011227 K 33.9 1 hour 30 min.

"Buttonhole" quail eggs

This little appetizer consists of a small finger of toast, a slice of cured ham and three quail egg yolks arranged on a rectangle of egg white. It is a bit tricky to make, but very attractive to serve, and delicious, of course.
June 26^th 2011173 K5 60 min.

Dauphinoise potatoes with Serano ham

These tasty, bite-sized rosettes can be served as an aperitif snack or to accompany a meal.
January 23^th 2013103 K4.6 40 min.

Ham spirals

These puff pastry spirals made with smoked ham are delicious and quick to make.
September 7^th 2018121 K3.8 60 min.

Olive twists

These savoury puff-pastry twists (rather like smoked salmon sacristains) make an ideal aperitif snack. The pastry is simply spread with tapenade.
September 7^th 201865 K3.7 1 hour 40 min.

Savoury mini-madeleines with 2 cheeses

These moist-textured savoury madeleines have a delicious combination of 2 cheeses: Cheddar and Parmesan. They make an ideal aperitif snack.
May 8^th 201685 K4.4 40 min.

Bread with Tomato

This tomato-flavoured bread, the famous "pan con tomate" of our Spanish friends, is ridiculously simple, but such a treat! It only takes a few minutes to prepare and makes a delicious aperitif snack.
November 8^th 201551 K4 6 min.

Spicy hot toasted cashew nuts

Toasting cashews greatly improves both their flavour and texture over the plain raw nuts. This is also the ideal opportunity to spice them up a little, like in this very simple recipe.
September 20^th 202045 K 30 min.

Red endive appetizers

Red endive (radicchio) leaves can be filled to make very elegant snacks. The filling shown here combines cheese with sardines.
May 13^th 202048 K 20 min.

Mini cheese and mustard toasts

For an aperitif snack with a difference, try these little toasted slices of baguette topped with cheese and mustard. Easy to make and can be served in a jiffy.
June 28^th 202063 K 25 min.

Bisto-style canapés

This recipe captures the hearty and slightly raffish style of French bistro cuisine: fried rounds of baguette with egg, fried ham and a topping of melted cheese.
March 17^th 202130 K 40 min.

Bouchées montagnardes

Literally "mountain mouthfuls" in French, these canapés combine ingredients from the mountainous region of eastern France: Morteau sausage, Morbier cheese and mushrooms. They make a hearty aperitif snack or are ideal for an informal supper.
May 18^th 202220 K 30 min.

Seb's Italian-style aperitif slices

These Italian-inspired snacks are ideal for a light supper or with an aperitif: a thin slice of bread spread with pesto, sliced potatos, hard-boiled egg and a generous sliver of Parmesan. Pop them in the oven just long enough to melt the cheese.
January 12^th 202222 K 50 min.

Smoky canapés

These tasty morsels combine the freshness of a pistachio and spinach pesto with the smoky flavours of Morteau sausage and cheese. They make original aperitif snacks or starters.
February 16^th 202222 K 50 min.

Creams and foams

Crème de foie gras

This is a rather tricky recipe in which foie gras is used to make a savoury cream, similar to a crème brulée but - of course - without sugar and without caramelizing the top. Instead, it is topped with an espuma (a light hot foam) of potatoes, garnished with crispy morsels of serrano ham.
December 17^th 2023141 K3.8 1 hour 35 min.

Tzatziki

Tzatziki is an ideal summer recipe: a cooling combination of Greek yoghurt, onion, garlic, cucumber and herbs. It is normally served as a side dish or condiment. This is a Greek recipe, but similar dishes exist in other eastern and middle-eastern countries, under different names.
September 8^th 201555 K4.7 20 min.

Cervelle de Canut

In French, this curious name means "silk-weaver's brain", but don't be alarmed, this tasty "brain" consists of cottage cheese mixed with herbs, vinegar and finely chopped shallots. The Canuts were the silk weavers in the area around Lyon, France. In the nineteenth century this was one of their...
August 1^st 202124 K 1 hour 25 min.

Avocado mousse with sorrel

Avocado is rarely paired with sorrel, yet they go well together as the slight acidity of the sorrel balances the smooth richness of the avocado nicely. In this recipe they are combined in a cool, fresh avocado and sorrel mousse, served here with eggy bread fingers.
July 6^th 202220 K 45 min.

Eggs and omelettes

Cocotte eggs with Comté

A light delicious and quickly prepared dish, an easy and elegant answer to the frequent question "what are we going to eat this evening?". Here is version with Comté (a famous cheese from eastern France, like gruyère, but much better), but it can be made prepared many different ways.
February 21^th 2011347 K4.3 1 hour

Mimosa eggs

Mimosa eggs are hard boiled eggs where the yolks are removed, chopped and mixed with a herb mayonnaise, then this mix is used to refill the whites. It's a classic recipe of traditional French bistro cooking.
February 21^th 2011288 K 25 50 min.

Eggs Benedict

Soft-boiled eggs, served on toast with a slice of fried smoked ham, and the whole covered with Hollandaise sauce.
April 8^th 2023222 K4 1 hour 4 min.

Surprise eggs

These look like perfectly normal boiled eggs, but when the shell is cracked open - surprise! They contain a mixture of scrambled egg, cured ham, fried prawns and chives.
September 26^th 2010177 K5 55 min.

Eggs "en cocotte" with spinach

A buttered ramekin, a layer of mushroom duxelles, a layer of spinach, a bit of cream, and an egg, in two layers, on top.
May 10^th 2023135 K5 1 hour 15 min.

Eggs en Cocotte à la Française

Eggs cooked in small ramekins with a tasty mix of peas, bacon, onion and cream - even more French than the classic version!
April 27^th 2020117 K4.5 35 min.

Eggs with mayonnaise

Simply known as "œufs-mayo" in French bistros, these hard-boiled eggs are garnished with mayonnaise and are best served with sharply flavoured crudités to balance their creaminess. For this recipe, I have chosen a salad of grated carrot with shallot.
October 5^th 201466 K5 35 min.

Eggs Arsène

Eggs Arsène is a rather more rustic version (and definitely more Comtoise in style) of eggs Benedict , that indispensible breakfast dish in Ian Fleming's novels. And you're right, there is a nod to James Bond here.
October 25^th 201848 K5 1 hour 2 min.

Baked eggs with chicken and spinach

A classic recipe for baked eggs (œufs cocotte), cooked in ramekins with a base layer of spinach and diced chicken.
March 29^th 202035 K4 30 min.

Fish

Mexican ceviche

Ceviche is typical of South American cuisine, made with avocados, tomatoes and fish fillet cured in lime juice. This is a personal version of Mexican-style ceviche.
October 13^th 2010358 K 15 3 hours 9 min.

Avocado with gravlax

Diced avocado with morsels of gravlax salmon and cream cheese with herbs for a simple yet delicious starter.
July 31^th 201653 K4.5 20 min.

Miscellanous

Ramekins of duchess potatoes

Duchess potatoes are a mix of mashed potato and egg yolks, cooked in the oven, in a decorative shape and delicious. In this recipe they top a ramekin containing a layer of mashed potato, cooked leek, and thinly sliced bacon.
March 4^th 2020293 K 24.6 2 hours 5 min.

Icelandic-style fish and vegetable pie

This recipe is made from vegetables cut small and blanched, mixed with pieces of salt-cod and cream, then baked in small soup dishes with a puff pastry lid.
September 7^th 2018274 K3.9 4 hours 35 min.

Artichoke hearts forestier

This recipe is not very complicated, but does involve some work: an artichoke heart with a layer of mushroom duxelle, a layer of fried bacon, topped with a poached egg and cream sauce. Everything can be prepared in advance (the day before for example), but the final assembly should be done just...
May 10^th 2023263 K5 1 hour 50 min.

Crispy cheese parcels

Small crisp parcels filled with cheese and linseeds, hot and crunchy on the outside, melting in the middle. They can be served with a light green salad.
December 18^th 2011136 K4.1 40 min.

Foie gras fingers

An elegant canapé which consists of a crisp layer of shortcrust pastry topped with a layer of foie gras.
December 21^th 2011132 K4.6 2 hours 50 min.

Ham à la Russe

Ham "à la Russe" is a slice of cooked ham rolled up around a macédoine of vegetables in mayonnaise.
September 10^th 2014102 K4.3 8 min.

Purée of Jerusalem artichokes with foie gras

This recipe features a rather unexpected combination that works really well: the distinctive flavour of Jerusalem artichoke with the richness of foie gras. The Jerusalem artichokes are puréed with potatoes. This is serves hot mixed with very cold diced foie gras. The combination of flavours and...
January 11^th 202363 K4.1 20 min.

Avocado with Tuna

Here is a quick recipe for a simple starter: avocado, tuna, chopped herbs and mayonnaise.
April 29^th 201581 K5 15 min.

Mixed salad stack

A stack ("pressé" in French) can be made of sliced vegetables or other ingredients piled up and pressed in a ring mould to keep them in shape. The ring is removed before serving. This stack consists of tomato, avocado, red onion, hard-boiled egg and anchovy fillets. Serve surrounded with with a...
November 25^th 201560 K5 30 min.

Green hummus

You are probably already familiar with classic hummus. Here's a "green" version, still mainly chickpeas, but with added herbs and vegetables.
November 29^th 202030 K 20 min.

Salads

Alsatian-style salad

This salad is based on a traditional Alsatian recipe: cabbage julienne, warm potatoes, bacon, parsley and vinaigrette.
January 3^rd 2014277 K4.4 1 hour 15 min.

Celeriac Rémoulade

A classic recipe of traditional French bistro cooking (winter salad).
December 21^th 2020397 K5 20 min.

Broad bean salad with Parmesan

A salad that combines crunchy almonds, tender broad beans, with the flavours of balsamic vinegar, parmesan and herbs.
February 21^th 2011270 K3.8 25 min.

Mixed salad

Mixed salad is one of those simple but delicious summer recipes which go so well with a barbeque. It's a mix of several fresh vegetables, herbs and French dressing (vinaigrette).
February 21^th 2011287 K4.6 1 hour

Greek salad

This is a classy version of that perfect summer food, Greek salad. The only difficult part is the care and patience needed for dicing the vegetables.
July 13^th 2010194 K 14.9 60 min.

Piedmont salad

Piedmont salad is a mix of potaotes, tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, gherkins and cervelas sausage dressed with mayonnaise.
September 29^th 2012271 K 14.5 1 hour 20 min.

Warm lentil salad

Lentils boiled until just tender, then mixed with fried smoked bacon, onion, chives and dressed with a good vinaigrette.
September 5^th 2010179 K4.6 55 min.

Cucumber and salmon salad

For this summer salad: slices of cucumber, morsels of smoked salmon, diced avocado and a little tuna, dressed in a herb mayonnaise.
August 15^th 2010172 K4.6 30 min.

Crunchy salad

Crunchy vegetables, pine nuts and rice with a rémoulade dressing.
April 3^rd 2011148 K 14.6 40 min.

Raw beetroot salad

This is a very simple salad. It contains raw beetroot (of course), but also walnuts, parmesan shavings and a vinaigrette made with balsamic vinegar.
November 2^nd 2015150 K4.1 35 min.

Poivrade artichoke Salad

"Poivrade" artichokes are the small purple ones, often eaten raw in salads. Choose the smallest ones, as they are the tenderest and have practically no fibrous "choke". For this recipe, they are combined as a salad with herbs, spring onion and Parmesan shavings in an olive oil and lemon dressing.
August 26^th 201597 K5 25 min.

Corn salad with croutons

Corn salad (or lamb's lettuce) leaves mixed with chopped hard-boiled eggs, mushrooms, spring onions, butter-fried croutons, and - of course - a good vinaigrette dressing.
April 8^th 2012125 K5 55 min.

Warm chicken salad

This salad is a mixture of fresh, crunchy ingredients (spring onions, radishes and lettuce) with ribbons of pan-fried chicken, added while still warm.
June 24^th 2012120 K4.2 30 min.

Multicoloured cucumber-tomato salad

This salad is a good way to enjoy tomatoes at the height of their season, and all the different varieties available with their different flavours and colours.
September 16^th 2012107 K4.3 1 hour 3 min.

Prawn salad with a crunch

This salad combines contrasting crunchy ingredients (radish, cucumber, gherkins, onions) with the softer textures of cold rice and tomatoes. The oven-roasted prawns are addded hot. The salad is brought together with herbs and a vinaigrette dressing.
September 15^th 201399 K3.5 1 hour 55 min.

Warm salad of potatoes and purple artichokes

This salad combines red onion, purple artichokes cut small and slices of warm potato, dressed with a good vinaigrette.
October 14^th 201298 K3.8 55 min.

Cervelas salad

This bistro-style salad combines potatoes and gherkins with, of course, the famous cervelas sausage.
December 5^th 201397 K4.4 55 min.

Valay salad

This salad combines ratte potatoes, lettuce, radishes and chicken with a herb dressing.
August 9^th 201592 K3.9 1 hour 3 min.

Cubed salad

For this fun salad, all the ingredients are cut into small dice, hence the name.
August 4^th 201488 K4.3 50 min.

Salade Niçoise

Salade Niçoise is a typical Mediterranean dish that originated around the French city of Nice. As there is no real "official" recipe, everyone has their own personal version. This is mine.
June 7^th 201897 K4.9 40 min.

Endive and walnut salad

This salad has a double dose of walnut flavour: walnut oil in the vinaigrette and crunchy walnut kernels.
May 11^th 201475 K4.9 25 min.

Green Piedmont Salad

In this version of Piedmont salad, the usual tomato has been replaced by raw courgette.
July 16^th 201483 K3.9 35 min.

White asparagus salad

This spring salad combines warm white asparagus, hard-boiled eggs and small croutons, dressed with a tasty herb vinaigrette.
May 21^th 2014120 K4.3 50 min.

Lebanese Tabbouleh

Lebanese tabbouleh is different from the classic version. It is made from bulgur wheat (burghul), rather than semolina and, most characteristically, includes a lot of parsley.
September 28^th 201479 K3.9 50 min.

Red cabbage salad with chives

This simple winter salad recipe combines red cabbage with spring onions (or chives) in a good vinaigrette.
February 18^th 201566 K5 20 min.

Warm scallop and cabbage salad

This salad combines the crunchiness of raw white cabbage, the softness of fried scallops and yielding cooked potatoes, bound in a good herb vinaigrette.
January 11^th 201559 K5 30 min.

Chickpea salad

This quick salad includes chickpeas, of course, but with spring onions, radishes and chopped coriander, too.
May 28^th 201467 K4.7 15 min.

Lentil and cold-meat salad

This salad combines lentils, chunks of cooked meat, sliced hard-boiled eggs, shallot and herbs, with a good vinaigrette dressing.
December 7^th 201469 K3.8 45 min.

Salad paysanne

This rustic traditional dish (literally "peasant salad") combines cold sliced potatoes and green beans (cooked separately) with chopped red onion and fried lardons. The salad is finished with a vinaigrette dressing and parsley, or your choice of herbs.
October 21^th 202039 K1.5 20 min.

Warm broccoli and Tuna Salad

In this recipe, the broccoli is served only just cooked and still warm with tuna, chopped shallot and cherry tomatoes in a good vinaigrette dressing.
March 3^rd 201661 K4 25 min.

Beetroot and fried chicken salad

A raw beetroot salad, enriched with toasted almonds, diced fried chicken and potatoes. As beetroot tends to colour everything it touches, you can be sure that your diced chicken will be an unusual but attractive bright pink - children love this!
October 16^th 201649 K4.2 40 min.

Crunchy spring salad

Fresh and crunchy, this colourful spring salad combines baby courgettes, radishes, cauliflower, beetroot and spring onions with chopped herbs in a good vinaigrette.
May 22^th 201652 K4.6 30 min.

Crunchy Cauliflower Salad with Lemon

Crunchy slices of cauliflower and radish in a delicately flavoured lemon mayonnaise.
March 11^th 201854 K4.6 20 min.

Mixed tomato salad

This end-of-summer recipe is very simple: just fresh tomatoes with chopped shallot and herbs in a vinaigrette, but we can play up the variety of flavours and colours to make it something with real eye appeal and, above all, delicious!
September 21^th 201647 K4.3 20 min.

French bean salad with vinaigrette

A very simple recipe for a salad of green (or yellow) French beans: The beans are boiled first, then thoroughly drained and served mixed with herbs, chopped shallot and a good vinaigrette (french dressing).
October 27^th 201661 K4.6 9 min.

Chicken and Avocado Salad

A delicious salad of radishes, tomato, avocado and chicken.
October 14^th 201553 K5 35 min.

Warm cauliflower salad with two cheeses

For this recipe, the cauliflower is steamed until just tender, then mixed while still warm with diced Mimolette and Cantal cheeses and a good vinaigrette.
July 3^rd 201645 K4.5 35 min.

Cretan salad

A hint of Crete in the flavours of this salad, with a mix of crunchy and soft textures: diced tomatoes, sliced spring onions, feta and tuna.
August 29^th 201861 K 50 min.

Green avocado salad

This salad is all green and fresh, with diced avocado, lettuce, spring onion and the softness of pieces of hard-boiled egg. The flavour is brought out further with a lime and olive-oil dressing, pepped up with a touch of Tabasco.
July 8^th 201856 K 30 min.

Warm autumn salad

Not quite "surf and turf", but land meets sea in this salad which combines poached fish with cauliflower and buttery fried croutons.
November 22^th 201745 K4.3 45 min.

Warm haricot bean salad

Melt-in-the-mouth haricot beans, pan-fried lardons and croutons with chives and a good vinaigrette dressing.
November 28^th 201847 K 40 min.

Beetroot salad with cashew nuts

This pink — almost hot pink — salad gets its colour from the raw beetroot, teamed here with toasted cashew nuts and fried croutons.
July 29^th 201842 K5 35 min.

Comtoise endive salad

This endive salad has a Comtoise twist as a change from the usual pairing of endives with walnuts. The endives are finely sliced, mixed with fried smoked bacon, diced Comté cheese and a little chopped parsley, then dessed with a good vinaigrette.
March 6^th 201948 K 40 min.

Lemony chicken and radish salad

This salad combines the crunch of finely sliced radishes with tender cubes of chicken. The tang which lifts the flavour comes from fresh herbs and the dressing of lemon mayonnaise.
September 24^th 201734 K5 25 min.

Crunchy courgette and mushroom salad

This very simple salad contains a mix of crunchy raw ingredients, balanced by the softer texture of tuna, and dressed with mayonnaise.
May 10^th 202341 K 45 min.

Baby spinach salad

It might not be obvious, but spinach can be eaten raw, as in this salad, where the leaves are shredded and mixed with croutons, lardons (bacon bits) and hard-boiled eggs.
June 12^th 201985 K 45 min.

Roscoff salad

This Roscoff salad, named after the pretty little town on the Brittany coast, is a delicious mix of regional ingredients: sliced cauliflower, smoked sausages and, of course, onions.
December 30^th 201944 K 2 35 min.

Mixed salad with curry mayo

A mixed salad (avocado, artichokes, mushrooms and tuna) in a classic mayonnaise, but pepped up with a good dose of curry.
May 10^th 202351 K 30 min.

Springtime mixed salad

This salad is a way to make the most of the first baby courgettes (if you can get them). The crunchy little darlings are mixed with shredded lettuce, hard-boiled eggs, tinned tuna and diced cheese.
June 5^th 201975 K 25 min.

Red cabage salad with toasted almonds

This salad has a lovely crunch to it: not just the red cabbage, but also from thinly sliced radishes and toasted almonds.
May 26^th 201939 K5 30 min.

Paimpol salad

This warm Paimpol salad captures the flavours of Brittany with mussels and white beans. These are combined with crunchy slices of baby courgette.
August 7^th 201940 K 13 hours 25 min.

Rémoulette of celeriac

This is a variation on the popular French rémoulade (a celeriac salad, similar to coleslaw). Here, a julienne of celeriac is mixed with chopped shallot, fresh herbs and a lemony rémoulade dressing.
February 24^th 201941 K 35 min.

Two-colour cauliflower salad

Towards the end of winter you can sometimes find purple cauliflower, as well as the usual white sort, or purple-headed broccoli (calabrese). Mix the varieties for a delicious, crunchy two-tone salad.
April 7^th 201942 K 20 min.

Radish and mushroom salad

This quick salad balances the crunch of radishes with the yielding texture of mushrooms.
May 10^th 202339 K 20 min.

Endive and cheese salad with croutons

This starts out as a classic salad of shredded endives, but is pepped up with sliced spring onions, fried croutons and chunks of cheese.
May 12^th 201943 K 35 min.

Mexican salad

This Mexican-inspired salad combines red kidney beans with avocado, chopped onions and tomatoes. It is dressed with olive oil, lime and a touch of Tabasco heat.
October 9^th 201980 K5 30 min.

Souda salad

The port of Souda in Crete is the inspiration for this colourful salad, combining cucumber and tomatoes with feta cheese. This salad is best served cold from the fridge, perfect for a hot summer's day.
July 7^th 201939 K 60 min.

Tabbouleh

Tabbouleh is a Middle Eastern couscous salad., moistened with olive oil and lemon juice. Its flavour comes from plenty of fresh herbs (mint and parsley at the very least), onion and tomatoes. This refreshing dish is ideal for warm summer or autumn days.
July 6^th 202262 K 3 hours 25 min.

Cucumber, avocado and mussel salad

A bold salad idea that brings together 3 ingredients which rarely end up on the same plate: cucumber, avocado and mussels, in a rémoulade dressing.
August 9^th 202033 K 25 min.

Bistro-style beetroot salad

Beetroot salad is a well-known classic, but have you come across the "bistro" version? The beetroot is still diced, but raw and served with croutons and fried ham in a rémoulade dressing.
December 30^th 201938 K 40 min.

Jerusalem artichoke salad

This very simple salad combines thick slices of tender Jerusalem artichokes with chopped hard-boiled eggs. The salad can be served warm, with the artichokes freshly cooked, or cold later.
January 11^th 202340 K 15 min.

Avocado, artichoke and chicken salad

This fairly simple recipe combines slices of avocado, spring onions, diced chicken and artichoke hearts in a good vinaigrette dressing.
September 6^th 202037 K 25 min.

Baby courgette salad

Early in the season, it is easy to find young courgettes that are still small and delightfully crunchy raw. They are ideal for this salad recipe, combined with radishes and tuna in a lemon mayonnaise.
July 31^th 201937 K 25 min.

Bistro-style red endive salad

Have you tried red Belgian endives? They are similar in size to the more common white sort, just as crunchy, but slightly less bitter. They are the main feature in this salad inspired by French bistro cuisine: combined with chopped hard-boiled eggs, fried ham and croutons, in a rémoulade dressing.
March 11^th 202040 K 30 min.

Tahitian salad

This Tahitian-inspired salad combines fish cured in lemon juice with lettuce, tomatoes and raw mushrooms.
May 10^th 202330 K5 45 min.

Rice and fresh spinach salad

Spinach is usually eaten cooked. Though seen less often, it can also be eaten raw, like in this salad where it is combined with rice, crunchy radishes and tinned tuna.
January 29^th 202037 K 30 min.

Simple mushroom salad with thyme and lemon, 3 ways

This aptly named salad is a breeze because you can enjoy it three different ways: raw, marinated or cooked, all prepared exactly the same way.
May 10^th 202344 K 9 min.

Breton coleslaw

Coleslaw with a French twist from Brittany, using finely sliced raw cauliflower instead of cabbage.
January 8^th 202036 K 20 min.

Lebanese-style chickpea salad

This salad combines chickpeas with cauliflower in a light yoghurt dressing, flavoured with lemon juice and sesame paste.
February 9^th 202036 K5 25 min.

Crunchy radish and carrot salad

Quick and straightforward, this fresh, crunchy salad is ideal for early spring.
June 17^th 202044 K 20 min.

Nanou's red cabbage salad

If you are used to the usual red cabbage salad (just cabbage in a vinaigrette), I hope you will be agreeably surprised with this more sophisticated version using herbs, diced Parmesan and fried croutons.
November 22^th 202030 K 30 min.

Julia salad

This salad takes its inspiration from the famous Caesar salad, but is simpler. The combination of chicken with croutons is a delicious way to use up leftovers.
February 10^th 202129 K3 35 min.

Cauliflower and egg salad

This very simple recipe combines crunchy raw cauliflower with hard-boiled eggs and herbs in a rémoulade dressing.
July 1^st 202047 K 20 min.

Cauliflower, chicken and avocado salad

In this really simple recipe, crunchy cauliflower is balanced with the soft texture of avocado and tender morsels of diced chicken. A delicious summer salad.
July 12^th 202037 K 30 min.

Pea and avocado salad

This very green salad recipe combines the soft texture of peas, avocado and hard-boiled eggs with the crunch of flaked almonds. Shavings of Mimolette add a colourful finishing touch with both flavour and bite.
July 5^th 202038 K 30 min.

Cauliflower, red bean and avocado salad

This combination of crunchy (raw cauliflower) and soft textures (red beans and avocado), in a rémoulade dressing with fresh herbs, makes a simple yet delicious salad.
April 21^th 202125 K 20 min.

Polish-style beetroot salad

This salad combines raw beetroot with fried potato slices and morsels of smoked sausage.
February 24^th 202128 K2 45 min.

Purple sprouting broccoli and endive salad

This crunchy salad combines endives with purple sprouting broccoli and radishes in a good herb vinaigrette.
May 5^th 202124 K 35 min.

Beetroot and black radish salad

The slight bitterness of black radish goes well with the sweetness of beetroot in this very simple salad recipe.
December 8^th 202127 K 30 min.

Brussels sprout salad

It might seem unlikely, but Brussels sprouts are very good raw, like in this salad, pepped up with lemon and Parmesan.
March 28^th 202126 K 35 min.

Lemony cabbage and potato salad

This salad combines, on the one hand, finely shredded cabbage with herbs and, on the other, diced potatoes. The fresh, summery dressing is made with olive oil and lemon.
July 7^th 202129 K5 30 min.

Cauliflower and chickpea salad

Chickpeas go well with cauliflower, so here is a salad that makes the most of this with sliced radishes for extra crunch.
February 14^th 202124 K 20 min.

Seafood rice salad

This warm rice salad ("riz du pêcheur" – fisherman's rice in French) combines cooked rice with sautéed prawns, mussels and flaked salmon in a rémoulade dressing.
October 17^th 202127 K 30 min.

Rice and purple-sprouting broccoli salad

Like a classic rice salad, but with the crunch of purple-sprouting broccoli.
July 28^th 202122 K 15 min.

Bistro-style endive salad

This delicious late-winter salad is made with red endives, slivers of Mimolette* cheese and toasted walnuts. In France it is known as a "Dutch" salad and typical bistro fare. *Currently banned in the USA.
March 27^th 202222 K 30 min.

Green and red salad with sardines and eggs mimosa

This colourful salad combines green lettuce, rosy beetroot, the flavour of eggs mimosa and sardines, and crunchy croutons.
March 13^th 202220 K 30 min.

Grandma's salad

This salad harks back to the ones French grandmas used to make: green beans and potatoes (preferably still warm) mixed with diced cheese, parsley and chopped onion in a good vinaigrette dressing.
September 29^th 202133 K 55 min.

Spring radish and avocado salad

This spring salad makes the most of the season's big radishes, balancing their crunch with the soft texture of avocado, in a rémoulade dressing.
June 16^th 202121 K 30 min.

Cajun-style lentil salad

If you have leftover pulled pork, try this recipe to transform it into a delicious, Cajun-style, warm lentil salad.
December 22^th 202120 K 40 min.

Bistro-style cabbage salad

This salad, inspired by French bistro cuisine, combines cabbage with fried potatoes and lardons, and hard-boiled eggs in a vinaigrette dressing.
April 6^th 202219 K 40 min.

Raw green asparagus salad

Full of spring flavour, this salad partners raw green asparagus with sliced radishes, herbs and slivers of Cheddar.
May 11^th 202217 K 20 min.

Cornouaillaise salad

This salad combines the soft texture of haricot beans with the crunch of croutons. Translator's note: Brittany has its own equivalent of the British Cornwall (hence the similar name), showing how close the languages and cultural roots of the two regions are.
February 23^th 202220 K 12 hours 60 min.

Salad lyonnaise

Salad lyonnaise conjures up the cuisine of the French city of Lyon and the region around: traditionally a salad of dandelion leaves with croutons, lardons and poached eggs. Here is a slightly simpler version with shredded lettuce instead of dandelions.
December 29^th 202123 K 45 min.

Kalamata Salad

The Kalamata salad (a Greek city in the Peloponese) is made of tomatoes, feta cheese and pine nuts roasted with a lemon, olive oil and oregano sauce.
August 14^th 202220 K 50 min.

Panzanella

Panzanella is a recipe from the Tuscany region of Italy, originally a tomato and stale bread salad, but here's a fancier version.
October 16^th 202218 K 30 min.

Spring courgette and tuna salad

Crunchy baby courgettes, spring onion, fresh herbs and tuna in a rémoulade dressing combine to make a true spring salad.
June 5^th 202217 K 20 min.

Zucchini and tomato remoulade

A quick summer salad with Provencal flavors: zucchini, tomatoes and shallots, bound with a remoulade and basil sauce.
September 11^th 202217 K 35 min.

Cherry tomato and green bean salad

Here is a quick recipe for a very simple but delicious summer or late summer salad.
October 30^th 202216 K 35 min.

Warm white bean salad with smoked trout

"Land and sea" flavors for this salad featuring white beans and smoked trout.
June 11^th 202313 K 1 hour 30 min.

Cherry tomato and two cabbage salad

Green and red cabbage with cherry tomatoes make up this quick fall salad.
November 20^th 202215 K 25 min.

Celery and avocado salad

For this recipe, very simple, we mix celeriac and avocado and we bind them with a remoulade sauce. The association celery and avocado is not common, but you will see that it works very well.
March 26^th 202314 K 20 min.

Creamy cauliflower and avocado salad

For this simple and delicious recipe of cauliflower and avocado salad, linked by a rémoulette dressing, you will surely notice the very creamy side of the whole, due to the association of avocado and sauce. This creaminess will become more pronounced if you stir the mixture. The name "Caulicado...
February 26^th 202312 K 25 min.

Salad greens and small omelette

A very green, rather crunchy salad with chiffonade, zucchini and raw artichokes, into which we add the delicious fluffiness of a quick little omelette.
September 10^th 202312 K 50 min.

Green bean and potato salad with paprika

A warm salad featuring green beans, grilled potatoes and diced Comté cheese, all tossed in a paprika mayonnaise.
November 1^st 202311 K 60 min.

Greek salad with chicken

This Greek-inspired recipe, in which tomatoes, zucchini and diced feta are accompanied by sautéed chicken pieces, is typical of simple, delicious summer salads.
August 20^th 202311 K 45 min.

Bistro celery salad

A typical bistro-style salad with grated celery, mimosa eggs, diced cheese, croutons and grilled ham, tied together with a good remoulade sauce.
December 3^rd 202310 K 45 min.

Very green mixed salad

A delicious blend of crunchy and tender for this salad, featuring mushrooms, baked green beans and hard-boiled eggs.
July 2^nd 202311 K 25 min.

Rice and zucchini salad with paprika

For this very quick salad recipe, we tie together cooked rice and diced zucchini with a paprika mayonnaise.
October 22^th 20239,679 20 min.

Avocado and celery remoulade

Avocado, grated celery and remoulade sauce are combined in this delicious winter salad.
March 3^rd 20248,813 20 min.

Brussels sprouts salad with smoked trout and Comté cheese

An elegant winter salad with sliced Brussels sprouts, smoked trout and Comté cheese.
January 24^th 20249,198 40 min.

Ardennes Salad

Ardennes salad is made with potatoes, bacon, onions and cooked green salad.
February 25^th 20249,374 1 hour 10 min.

Winter cauliflower tabbouleh

Here's a recipe for tabbouleh made with cauliflower, best served in winter, when it's in full season.
February 4^th 20249,929 25 min.

Harichou salad

A salad combining white beans, green cabbage, toasted croutons and Parmesan shavings.
September 29^th 20245,530 45 min.

Shiro-goma salad

Sesame-marinated chicken, soy sauce, lime and vegetables for this Japanese-inspired salad.
September 4^th 20245,199 55 min.

Lambé salad

Lambé's salad is a rather original salad with chickpeas, mimosa eggs, cheese and, above all, a crunchy buckwheat pancake, broken into small pieces and added at the last moment.
September 22^th 20245,014 30 min.

Comtoise endive salad

An endive salad given a hearty boost with fried croutons, diced Comté cheese and Morteau sausage.
March 10^th 202131 K 30 min.

Sandwiches

Croque-monsieur

A classic of French "street food" or bistros: a slice of ham between two slices of bread spread with béchamel sauce. The sandwich is then sprinkled with cheese and toasted in the oven.
August 1^st 2010253 K4 50 min.

Like a Boursin with garlic and herbs

It is quite easy to make your own garlic and herb cream cheese, rather like the well-know Boursin. It's fresh, much better, of course, and delicious, especially with a piece of toast.
June 12^th 2011191 K3.9 35 min.

Pan bagnat

Pan Bagnat is a traditional recipe from the Nice area. The name means "soaked bread", as it consists of a round bread roll that has been drenched with a mix of oil and vinegar then filled vegetables and fish. Years ago this was the snack that fisherman took with them on their boats, but this is a...
October 18^th 2020153 K4.1 45 min.

Chicken club sandwich

In this club sandwich: chicken marinated in lime, fried bacon, lettuce, red onion and mayonnaise.
November 19^th 2012118 K4.1 1 hour 45 min.

Italian toast

These Italian toasts are slices of fried bread with pesto, omelette and cooked tomatoes, garnished with a basil leaf.
December 1^st 201397 K 14 50 min.

Savoury tarts

Salmon and spinach quiche

This quiche recipe uses a traditional filling mixture, but adds slices of smoked salmon and blanched spinach.
April 17^th 2022406 K 14 1 hour 15 min.

Tomato tart

This tart is very easy and quick to prepare.
January 13^th 2011275 K4.8 1 hour 20 min.

Vegetable rosette tart

Blanched courgettes and carrots arranged in a rosette with a feta filling.
October 6^th 2010173 K3.8 1 hour 55 min.

Tomato and courgette tart

This summer tart has a puff pastry base topped with a rosette of sliced tomatoes and sautéd courgettes. For a more substantial dish, add some diced feta on top before cooking.
July 18^th 2010224 K4.2 2 hours 5 min.

Courgette tart with mint

Fried rounds of courgette in a puff pastry case with a feta and mint filling. You will find that this combination of feta with mint gives an agreeable fresh lift to this tart.
June 11^th 2011163 K4.1 1 hour 25 min.

Tomato tatin

A savoury shortcrust pastry with Parmesan is used to cover tomatoes cooked in two stages, first in the pan, then in the oven. As for a classic tart tatin, the whole thing is then turned upside down.
December 5^th 2010142 K4.8 2 hours 35 min.

Mexican tart

This unusual tart features two star ingredients of South American cuisine: red kidney beans and avocado. The shortcrust pastry case is filled with a red bean and onion purée, then topped with sliced avocado dressed with lime and garnished with fresh coriander.
December 30^th 201962 K 1 hour 20 min.

Avocado "tarte fine"

The French "tarte fine" (pronounced "feen") is a literally a thin tart, made on a precooked flat base of puff pastry. This delicious, crisp, savoury tart is topped with cream cheese, slices of avocado, a trickle of lime juice and fresh coriander.
July 15^th 202047 K 60 min.

Thin tomato jelly and avocado tart

For this sophisticated recipe, we'll be preparing a disc of tomato jelly to sit on a puff pastry base. This is topped with slices of avocado in a lime dressing.
September 30^th 202032 K 5 hours 20 min.

Thin summer tart "à la grecque"

A fresh, summery tart with a thin base of pre-cooked puff pastry, spread with a cream-feta mixture, and topped with slices of tomato and cucumber.
July 18^th 202121 K 55 min.

Shellfish

Sesame fried scampi

Scampi, coated with a sesame crust, fried quickly, and served with a herb salad.
November 11^th 2012295 K5 35 min.

Avocado with Sautéed Prawns

Just a classic prawn cocktail with avocado? Oh, no! The prawns in this recipe are sautéed briefly to enhance the flavour, then mixed with a curry mayonnaise.
March 6^th 201663 K4.3 30 min.

Small cakes

Crackers

These crisp savoury biscuits are ideal for dipping into a sauce as an aperitif snack. It is quite easy to make your own crackers at home and they are much healthier and even more delicious than the commercial kind.
December 9^th 2012117 K 14.8 1 hour 40 min.

Pesto crackers

These are delicious little aperitif biscuits, really crisp and with the full-on flavour of pesto. They can be eaten on their own with dips, such as hot tomato or houmous.
July 24^th 202150 K 24.1 1 hour 45 min.

Cashew-nut and Parmesan biscuits

For an ideal aperitif snack, why not try these delicious savoury biscuits made with cashew nuts and Parmesan?
March 31^th 202128 K 12 1 hour 55 min.

Soups

Turnip and sesame puree (tahina) soup

For this quick soup, 15 minutes, an original turnip taste with sesame purée (tahina).
February 29^th 2012226 K4.3 35 min.

Smooth mixed vegetable soup

Any vegetables you have, cut into small pieces, mixed with a shallot cooked in butter, cooked together then blended. Even better when it's cold outside.
January 3^rd 2014341 K4.4 2 hours 3 min.

Du Barry soup

Du Barry is a creamy cauliflower soup, including small whole pieces of cauliflower.
October 17^th 2018261 K4.5 1 hour 1 min.

Pumpkin (or potimarron) soup

A smooth and fragrant soup, it's much better with potimarron (Japanese chestnut pumpkin) than ordinary pumpkin.
October 13^th 2010334 K4.1 1 hour 10 min.

Quick courgette soup with cheese

This really is an express recipe, less than 30 minutes from washing courgettes to serving soup.
October 13^th 2010262 K5 30 min.

Sorrel soup

Smooth with a slight sharpness, this soup has a very particular taste.
May 8^th 2011393 K3.8 1 hour 4 min.

Leek and potato soup

A classic of French family cooking.
October 3^rd 2010481 K5 45 min.

Celeriac soup with mustard

This delicious creamy soup is very quick to make.
May 4^th 2012148 K4.6 45 min.

Mushroom velouté

This smooth, creamy soup with its lovely mushroom flavour is quick and easy to make.
May 10^th 2023145 K4 55 min.

Country vegetable soup

In this "country" (paysanne) style soup, the vegetables are left in small pieces, rather than blended.
April 2^nd 201492 K 14.3 1 hour 15 min.

Chinese Soup

This delicious soup is a flavoursome mix of herbs, mushrooms, soya noodles and small diced vegetables briefly cooked in vegetable stock. It takes a while to make and there are lots of ingredients, but the result is worth it.
April 6^th 2017112 K 24.5 1 hour 15 min.

Endive and beer soup

For this soup, the endives (chicory) and onions are cooked gently together first before adding the vegetable stock and beer. The endives and beer give the soup a hint of bitterness and a unique flavour.
January 12^th 201481 K4.4 1 hour 5 min.

Creamy Winter Vegetable Soup

This is a very simple recipe: lots of winter vegetables cooked in chicken stock, then blended. The soup's special finishing touch comes from cream and a spoonful of mustard.
January 14^th 201578 K5 1 hour 25 min.

Late Winter Soup with Fresh Spinach

This is a delicious recipe for an end-of-winter soup. It combines fresh spinach with diced potato and smoked sausage.
May 10^th 201570 K4.9 50 min.

Light Broccoli Soup

This soup is simple and light but tasty, made with a delicate vegetable stock and broccoli.
December 16^th 201564 K4.6 30 min.

Potimarron and leek soup

This autumnal soup combines the flavours of Japanese chestnut pumpkin (potimarron) and leeks - they go so well together. The resulting soup is velvety smooth and delicious.
November 29^th 201788 K 13.9 1 hour 7 min.

French onion soup

This warming onion soup is an emblematic French dish, both in bistro cuisine and home cooking. This is a very classic version. The long, slow cooking is the secret to revealing its full flavour.
December 30^th 201960 K3.8 2 hours 30 min.

"Day After Pork Belly" Soup

If you have made cured pork belly with lentils, you will no doubt have some of the stock left from cooking the meat and lentils. This will be full of flavour, so can be turned into a quick and delicious soup. Here's how to do it.
November 15^th 201554 K4.1 35 min.

Turnip top soup

It may no longer be widely known these days, but the leafy tops of certain root vegetables are edible, so it's a shame to waste them. Better still, the leaves can be made into interesting accompaniments for their root vegetable, or soups with amazing flavours. In this recipe, I will show you how to...
April 10^th 201953 K 45 min.

Potimarron and celeriac autumn soup

This soup has a naturally smooth and creamy texture. The blend of autumnal potimarron (Japanese chestnut pumpkin) and celeriac flavours is warmed with French mustard.
December 30^th 201959 K4.6 55 min.

Cream of cauliflower soup with smoked haddock

This soup with a difference plays up an amazing flavour combination: creamy cauliflower with morsels of smoked haddock.
March 18^th 202036 K 25 min.

Hearty leek and sprout soup

The method for this rustic winter soup is anything but typical: the sprouts are first roasted in the oven, before being mixed with the leeks (pre-cooked with onions) and simmered in chicken stock. Served with morsels of crispy ham, the full-on flavour is sure to hit the mark.
January 17^th 202130 K2 1 hour 30 min.

Super-green, super-thrifty soup

It's all too easy to just throw away the leaves or other green parts of our usual fresh vegetables. This is a real shame, because most of them can be cooked, as in this very green soup that uses up radish tops, spring onion greens and pea pods. I'm sure you'll get how it's "green" in every sense:...
June 24^th 202033 K 55 min.

Leek and Jerusalem artichoke soup

Jerusalem artichoke and leek is a much rarer combination than the classic potato and leek, but it works rather well, as you will see in this recipe.
April 28^th 202128 K 55 min.

Turnip and Jerusalem artichoke soup

This soup combines the earthy flavours of Jerusalem artichokes and turnips. This is the chance to use not only the roots, but the turnip tops as well, if possible.
January 11^th 202325 K

Soup Cornouaillaise

This rustic soup comes from Cornouailles in Brittany – France's very own Cornwall. It is made with fried bacon and onions, and thickened with a little buckwheat flour, typical of the region.
May 9^th 202125 K 45 min.

Celeriac and parsley soup

A very simple but delicious soup, this may well win you over (if need be) to the flavour of celeriac, partnered here with parsley.
March 9^th 202223 K 35 min.

Celeriac and sesame soup

Celeriac soup with a double dose of sesame flavour: tahini (sesame paste) in the smooth, creamy soup and a crunchy sesame-seed crumble scattered on top.
April 3^rd 202218 K 60 min.

Artichoke Soup

For this recipe, we will first steam the artichokes, recover all the flesh, and prepare with shallot and milk a delicious soup.
December 4^th 202216 K 50 min.

Celery soup bourguignonne style

Celery and Époisses cheese flavors for this very simple soup recipe.
January 22^th 202313 K 35 min.

Leek and celery soup

Leeks and celery aren't often found together, yet their tastes go well together, as in this delicious soup.
January 31^th 202411 K 2 50 min.

Kale and potato soup

Kale, potatoes and croutons for this simple but delicious soup.
February 11^th 20248,930 55 min.

Terrines and pate

Home-made terrine of foie gras

Preparing your own home-made foie gras from raw is immensively satisfying: good quality liver and a simply amazing flavour – much better than anything you can buy. This recipe is a bit tricky, but quite within everyone's grasp, as long as you follow the 3 most delicate stages carefully. These are,...
December 17^th 20235.23 M 64.2 4 days 15 hours 50 min.

Foie gras cured in salt

This a quite different preparation from the terrine of foie gras, this time it does not go in the oven, the liver is salted for 48 hours and it "cooks" (or cures) in this way.
December 23^th 2017558 K5 2 days 16 hours 30 min.

Terrine of foie gras

This simple way preparing a terrine of foie gras is ideal for beginners. In this recipe the liver is passed through a sieve or vegetable mill rather than kept in large pieces. The final appearance is smoother, less marbled, but just as delicious.
June 2^nd 2015247 K 15 17 hours 8 min.

Avocado and smoked salmon terrine

In this colourful terrine, layers of avocado alternate with smoked salmon and diced tomato in balsamic vinegar.
April 10^th 2011176 K5 4 hours 7 min.

Tomato and cream cheese terrine

Tomatoes marinated in olive oil and lime, then arranged in alternating layers with cream cheese: one layer with herbs and the other with walnuts.
October 30^th 2011157 K5 6 hours 15 min.

Traditional recipes of French cooking

Vol-au-vent

The classic vol-au-vent of French cuisine consists of a very light puff pastry case (supposedly so light that it could fly off in the lightest puff of wind) with a cream-based filling. There are many different recipes for fillings. This version uses bacon, chicken, mushrooms and leeks.
October 20^th 2013143 K4.3 1 hour 25 min.

Vegetables

Hummus

Hummus (or houmous), is one of the famous and delicious Lebanese "mezzes".
May 30^th 2020331 K4.7 20 min.

The total turnip

The whole turnip goes into this recipe, in which ramekins are filled with both the root vegetable and its leaves.
February 21^th 2011308 K4.4 60 min.

Guacamole

For this typically Mexican recipe there are two main methods: smooth mashed avocado (made with a blender), or simple mashed avocado (made with a fork) with small pieces. And you can add, or not, finely diced tomato. You will find the first version (smooth) below.
November 26^th 2011293 K4.1 1 hour 25 min.

Leeks in vinaigrette

A classic dish of French family and bistro cooking. It's both simple and good. The secret lies in cooking the leeks until they are only just tender, so that they keep their lovely green colour. The special vinaigrette includes herbs and hard-boiled eggs.
September 29^th 2012177 K4.3 45 min.

Cauliflower tabouleh

In this tabouleh recipe, the couscous or bulgur is replaced with grated cauliflower florets. This gives it a very fresh and amazing flavour.
April 22^th 2012123 K4.1 1 hour 40 min.

Vegetable tartare

This amazing recipe from a great chef is surprisingly straightforward to make. You will need lots of different raw vegetables. These are diced really small, then bound with mayonnaise.
October 19^th 201473 K4.4 50 min.

Tomatoes Macédoine

Tomatoes macédoine are stuffed salad tomatoes, filled with a macédoine of vegetables in mayonnaise.
September 17^th 201467 K4 45 min.

Asparagus "en petit pois"

As the name suggests, this historic recipe (see below for more details) treats asparagus like peas, Napoleonic French style: first cooked the usual way, then cut small (to look like peas), cooked again in stock, and finished with a cream and egg yolk sauce.
May 2^nd 202133 K 45 min.

Verrines