French elegant gastronomy and its Michelin-starred chefs are renowned worldwide. The chefs honor their terroir with their fresh organic products. Some dishes are remarkably simple, and yet others are intricately elaborate. All bring a sense of refinement and attention to detail with unsurpassed ingenuity. Many chefs have taken classic dishes and revolutionized them, transforming them with their own unique style.
On the other hand, some dishes are best left as is. These are the dishes that grandmothers have passed down in their families; most are born out of sustainable necessity to avoid letting food go to waste or to make do with what’s at hand in the refrigerator. These have become the classic French comfort foods known and beloved by every French household. Here are 10 dishes that rank high in comfort, goodness, and simplicity:
Boeuf Bourguignon is a classic hearty French stew of beef braised in red wine, often red Burgundy, with beef stock, typically flavored with carrots, onions, garlic, and a bouquet garni, and garnished with pearl onions and mushrooms. This dish can be allowed to mijoter for hours on the stove or in the oven in a Le Creuset Dutch oven, for example. Serve with a homemade mashed potato or purée de pommes de terre maison.
Hachis Parmentier is a classic French comfort food casserole made with a base of seasoned ground or shredded beef and a top layer of creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes, the French equivalent of the British Cottage Pie or Shepherd’s Pie. Serve with a salade verte for freshness. This one here was made by Johan :)
Cassoulet is a rich, iconic Southwest France peasant dish made with readily available ingredients such as white beans with pork, sausage, duck confit, and gizzards, slow-cooked together for a long time. In Carcassonne, cassoulet will typically contain mutton, and the Toulouse version includes duck confit, Toulouse sausage, and a blanket of crumbs on top.
Gratin Dauphinois is a French gratin of thin-sliced raw potatoes baked in cream, from the Dauphiné region in south-western France. There are many variations; some add some grated cheese, garlic, butter, or even béchamel sauce.
La Fondue Savoyarde is a cheesy dish made with a trio of melted cheese: Swiss, Emmental, Gruyère, Beaufort, or Comté with a dash of Kirsch! Fondue comes from the French verb to melt, “fondre“. To start, you’ll need a Fondue Pot with picks. It’s a convivial dish where each guest plunges a stick with French bread into the cheese. Serve with a nice dry white wine.
A Croque-Monsieur is a yummy grilled ham and cheese. It uses good quality Swiss cheese such as Emmental or Gruyère, which is recommended for an authentic taste. The lady version of a Croque-Monsieur is served with a poached egg on top and is known as a Croque-Madame (or in parts of Normandy, a Croque-à-cheval)
Soupe à l’Oignon gratinée aka. French Onion Soup originating back in Roman times; onions were readily available, and this was a popular, cheap daily soup… because the French know how to make wonderful things out of nothing.
French Chocolate Cake, or Gâteau au chocolat, the basic French chocolate cake with real dark chocolate (70% and up) and a very small amount of flour, is always a hit with the family.
Tarte Tatin, or Upside-Down Apple Pie, is a tart in which the fruit (usually apples) is caramelized in butter and sugar before the tart is baked. Named after the Tatin sisters, who invented it by mistake and served it in their hotel as its signature dish, it originated in France but has spread to other countries over time. This one is made with peaches.
There are many other dishes to include; what’s your favorite go-to French comfort food?
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