Vive La France! The country that brought us Parisienne bistro classics and lesser-known regional dishes from the sunny Provençe through Spanish-influenced Basque and the Germanic Alsace. Here are some of my favourite French recipes.
Crème Caramel Like this recipe? You’ll love my online French cooking class Inspired by Damien Pignolet! The best recipes are simple yet impressive, like this French classic. Best of all it’s made ahead of time and just whipped out of the fridge when you’re ready to serve. Two tips help ensure crème caramel success: dissolving […]
Coq au Vin Like this recipe? You’ll love my online French cooking class Inspired by Damien Pignolet! Coq au vin was one of the first French dishes I ever cooked, and it seemed terribly sophisticated in the early ‘80s. Literally ‘rooster in wine’, it’s a classic braise of chicken, onion, mushrooms and lardon (cured pork […]
Profiteroles with Chocolate Sauce Like this recipe? You’ll love my online French cooking class Inspired by Damien Pignolet! Choux pastry seems daunting until you make it and realise just how easy it is. It can be used for a whole range of sweet and savoury recipes, but classic profiteroles with chocolate sauce is my favourite. […]
Pommes Dauphinoise Like this recipe? You’ll love my online French cooking class Inspired by Damien Pignolet! Also known as gratin Dauphinoise, or more simply ‘potato bake’, pommes Dauphinoise is a delicious layering of potatoes and cream and the perfect accompaniment to many steak dishes. It originated in the Dauphiné region of southeastern France, famous for […]
Tarte Flambee (Flammekueche) Like this recipe? You’ll love my online French cooking class Inspired by Damien Pignolet! This traditional flatbread from Alsace is very similar to pizza. My Alsatian friend Isabelle, who serves it whenever friends gather at her house for drinks, doesn’t use a written recipe – but this one was inspired by watching […]
Chicken & Mushroom Crepes Like this recipe? You’ll love my online French cooking class Inspired by Damien Pignolet! Serve these delicious chicken and mushroom crepes as a main course with a herb salad (I like butter lettuce and chervil) or individually as a starter. The filling can be made the day before, as can the […]
Warm Duck & Orange Salad Like this recipe? You’ll love my online French cooking class Inspired by Damien Pignolet! I created this recipe one day when I wanted to make duck à l’orange, but it was so hot that it morphed into a warm salad instead. Duck breasts are surprisingly easy to cook, or pick […]
Goat Cheese & Chive Omelette Like this recipe? You’ll love my online French cooking class Inspired by Damien Pignolet! I love this versatile goat cheese and chive omelette as it makes a simple and delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner. Goat cheese and chives are my go to, but you can use almost any cheese and […]
Orange Pots de Crème Like this recipe? You’ll love my online French cooking class Inspired by Damien Pignolet! Isn’t nature clever, making citrus fruit abundant in winter when we need its vitamin C most? These easy custard pots are a great way to use excess oranges; the recipe is inspired by one from Stephanie Alexander’s […]
Strawberries in Cointreau Like this recipe? You’ll love my online French cooking class Inspired by Damien Pignolet! So simple, it’s hardly a recipe at all, strawberries in Cointreau is my go-to dish when I want a super-quick delicious finish to a meal. It’s perfect for a night in for two, and just as easily multiplied […]
