Say French cuisine and your mind instantly goes to tedious micro gastronomical feats of supposed simple-but-not-simple recipes. But not all French recipes are difficult. Here these recipes for French dinners are rustic, straightforward, and don’t require you to study at Le Cordon Bleu to get it right.
French Braised Short Ribs
Nothing is as tender as the meat in this recipe for French Braised Short Ribs. A classic mirepoix of vegetables pairs with leeks to create a complex, flavorful base for a stewing base of red wine, tomato paste, and beef broth. Finally a mixture of butter and flour thickens the sauce, creating a great body and a wonderful sauce to sop up with a crusty piece of bread. To get the step-by-step instructions, click the link here.
Beef Provencal
While northern France has its butter and cream, the southern regions of France are influenced by the Mediterranean and the nearby countries of Spain and Italy. Beef Provencal is a perfect example of this with ingredients like balsamic vinegar, sun dried tomatoes, and green olives. The stew cooks down to a soft and tender delight. Served over noodles, the sauce gets infused into each and every bite! Curious about the recipe? Then click the link here.
French Shepherd’s Pie
This French version of shepherd’s pie has the epitome of comfort. A layer of seasoned ground beef marries with sauteed onions, carrots, and herbes de provence for a filling, complex base. French Shepherd’s Pie silky smooth layer of mashed potatoes gets layered on top alongside a hefty coating for Gruyere cheese. Creamy, cheesy, and meaty all wrapped in one warming casserole dish! To get all of the recipe information, click the link here!
Lentil Ragout
Ragut in French (or ragu in Italian) is a simple stewing of meats, vegetables, or legumes, simmering until melt-in-your-mouth tender. Here, this recipe for Lentil Ragout is a satisfying way to use up those dried lentils sitting in your pantry. Stewed with onions and carrots in a tomato-based sauce, the lentils soak up all of the flavor, making for a satisfyingly savory bite. This can be eaten as a side dish to a protein but also can be the star of the meal served on top of steamed rice or sauteed buttered noodles. To get the recipe information, click here.
Hearty Roasted Tomato And White Bean Stew
White bean soup doesn’t get a lot of fanfare, but this Hearty Roasted Tomato and White Bean Stew is another matter. The smoky sweetness of roasted tomatoes adds great complexity to the soup base. Garlic, onion, and fresh basil enhance the flavors of the tomatoes and the cannellini beans for a great complex dish. Get all of the recipe information and instructions by clicking the link here.
Garlic Lovers Baked Chicken
The classic French recipe for poux aux 40 gousses d’ail is no easy feat, with bone-in cuts of chicken and forty cloves of garlic making this a weekend warrior project. Yet this recipe for Garlic Lover’s Baked Chicken takes all of the roasted garlicky elements of the classic French dish and speeds up the process. Faster-to-cook chicken breasts replace the classic bone-in cuts of chicken. With a quick sear on the stovetop, these chicken breast pieces get placed in a buttery white wine bath loaded with cloves of garlic. An hour stint in the oven allows the sweet and savory flavors of the garlic, butter, and wine to penetrate the meat for one complex and delicious bite. Chicken will never be called boring again. To get the recipe, click the link here.