Boulangère potatoes are a classic French gratin of thinly sliced potatoes and softened onions baked slowly in stock until tender, with a golden, crispy top. Unlike dauphinoise, they use stock rather than cream, making them a lighter accompaniment that absorbs all the savoury cooking liquid beautifully.
Brussels sprouts au gratin transforms humble sprouts into a rich and crunchy side dish coated in a savoury blend of breadcrumbs, pecorino, garlic, and parsley. Parboiling before baking ensures the sprouts are tender inside while the topping crisps to a golden crust in the oven.
Celeriac and potato dauphinoise is a rich, creamy French gratin that pairs the earthy nuttiness of celeriac with tender potato slices, all baked in a garlicky double cream. The addition of softened onions and a golden grilled top makes this an indulgent accompaniment to steaks and robust beef dishes.
Waxy potatoes (Yukon Gold, Charlotte, or any low-starch variety) are peeled and sliced very thinly, 2-3 mm. A wide shallow gratin dish (or oven-safe heavy pan) is rubbed all over with a halved garlic clove, then heavily buttered. A cream-and-milk mixture warms in a saucepan with crushed garlic, salt, pepper, and a generous grating of nutmeg, brought just to a simmer, then strained. Potatoes layer in the dish, overlapping like shingles, with a sprinkle of salt and a few grinds of pepper between layers. The infused cream pours over to come up to (not over) the top layer. Baked at 160°C for about 90 minutes until the potatoes are fork-tender and the top is bubbling and golden-brown.
Trimmed green beans blanch in heavily salted boiling water for 3-4 minutes until just tender (still bright green and slightly crisp). Drained but not refreshed if serving immediately, the residual heat is wanted; if making ahead, refresh in ice water to stop cooking. Butter melts in a wide pan; flaked almonds toast in the butter until both go gold-amber together (the butter browns to beurre noisette / hazelnut butter). The blanched beans toss in the butter-almond pan over high heat for 1 minute; finished with a squeeze of lemon, a grind of pepper, optional Dijon mustard or garlic, and chopped parsley.
Herb crêpes are thin, delicate pancakes enriched with fresh herbs such as parsley, chervil and chives. They are particularly useful in dishes like Beef Wellington, where they are layered between the meat and pastry to act as a moisture barrier and keep the pastry crisp. The rested batter ensures a smooth, even texture with a light, pliable result.
Herb salsa is uniquely French despite the Spanish name: it's essentially a warm salsa based on creamy, newly cooked potato and fine herbs. Unlike the fresh salsas of Mexico and Mediterranean regions, this version relies on cooked potato for texture and structure, with sherry vinegar providing acid, and a combination of mustard and lemon juice offering complexity. The blend of fines herbes (parsley, chives, tarragon, chervil) creates aromatic brightness without the intensity of larger basil-based sauces. This is best served warm or at room temperature, never chilled; cold dulls the delicate herb character.
Elegant individual flans featuring fresh shellfish, mussels, scallops, and langoustines, in a silky curry-infused custard set within a crisp pastry case. The delicate interplay of seafood sweetness and warm curry spice creates a sophisticated starter worthy of special occasions. Best served warm from the oven.
Roasted vegetable stacks are a vibrant and impressive side dish built from layers of oven-roasted peppers, onions, artichokes, asparagus, and tomatoes. The vegetables are stacked on garlic-rubbed griddled bread and finished with a garlic vinaigrette, making them as striking to look at as they are satisfying to eat.
Eggs hard-boil; cool; peel; quarter. New potatoes simmer in salted water until tender; drain; halve while warm; toss with a spoon of vinegar. Green beans blanch briefly; cool. Tomatoes wedge (the best you can find). The dressing: red wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, crushed garlic, salt and pepper whisks together. Composition on a wide platter: a base of lettuce leaves (optional, traditional purists skip), then arranged piles of each cooked / prepared ingredient, wedges of tomato, halved eggs, halved potatoes, green beans, drained tuna chunks, niçoise olives, anchovy fillets. Drizzled with the dressing. Scattered with basil. Eaten with crusty bread.
A classic Provençal salad featuring seared tuna, hard-boiled eggs, and crispy serrano anchovies over fresh greens with potatoes and green beans. The herb-infused tarragon dressing ties all the vibrant components together.