Hello and welcome to the world of fancy French cuisine made right at home. I have 14 fabulous French side dishes here that are creamy and full of flavor.
You might be looking for something for date night or just a special side for a rotisserie chicken. Incorporating these recipes into your weekly roster is super easy.
1. Classic French Aligot
If you are a mashed potato lover, please prepare yourself for a serious upgrade.
You cook and mash the potatoes before heating up crème fraîche with garlic. Slowly mix in the dairy followed by the sharp cheese.
Then you just beat that mixture over the heat for ten minutes until it becomes velvety smooth.
2. Haricots Verts Amandine (Green Bean Almondine)
These green beans get boiled and pan-fried before joining forces with butter, lemon juice, and sliced almonds. The light flavor profile is a perfect match for chicken or fish or pork. Make sure you toast those almonds so the flavor is absolutely as good as it gets.
3. Baked Brie Appetizer
Hello to the simple yet elegant gooey dish of my dreams. You can slice the brie in half and bake it right on the same sheet as your baguette slices. I love the herb combination here, but keep an eye on them so they do not burn in the oven.
4. Ratatouille
This robust vegetarian stew is totally substantial enough to stand on its own. It is also perfect next to a pot roast or roast chicken.
Traditional recipes call for peppers and onion plus zucchini and eggplant. You can use cheesecloth bags for the herbs to add flavor without leaving twigs behind.
5. French Glazed Carrots
A simple glaze made from sugar, salt, butter, and chicken stock is all you need here.
You cook the carrots in the liquid before removing them to let that sauce reduce and thicken up. Toss the carrots back in to coat every inch of them in syrup.
Finish it with a drizzle of lemon juice and serve it hot.
6. Garlic Stuffed Mushrooms (Champignons farcis au beurre d’escargot)
Is there anything better than a tender and meaty stuffed mushroom? Crimini mushrooms are the best pick here for those perfect little bites.
The star of the show is a paste made from butter mixed with garlic and pepper. Grate fresh parmesan on top for the ultimate yumminess.
7. Creamed Leeks
Leeks offer a subtle flavor that sits somewhere in the onion family. They bring a beautiful pop of color to your plate along with great taste.
Just remember to wash them after slicing to remove any trapped dirt or sand. Simply combine the clean leeks with butter and cream plus salt then heat until soft.
8. Traditional French Broccoli Gratin Recipe
This cheesy baked dish will have even the pickiest eaters reaching for seconds. Use fresh broccoli for the best results so it does not turn into mush.
If you must use frozen, let it thaw and cut the cooking time by about five minutes. You can swap in half the amount of ground sage if you cannot find rubbed sage.
9. French Onion Soup
The French took delicious caramelized onion soup and added bread and cheese because they are geniuses. You really need good quality beef broth to get that deep flavor that makes the dish pop.
Toast your bread before adding it to the soup. Make sure you use a cheese that has plenty of flavor.
10. Petits Pois a la Francaise (French Peas)
You can trust the French to jazz up the humble garden pea. This recipe requires just a handful of ingredients and comes together in under 30 minutes.
You can leave out the lardons for a veggie option. I recommend keeping them in for the flavor if you can.
11. Easy Lyonnaise Potatoes Recipe
Potatoes and butter and onion are a simply delicious combination. You should parboil the potatoes to ensure they get tender inside while developing a wonderfully crisp crust in the oven. An oven-safe skillet is your best bet to keep all that flavor right there in the pan.
12. Easy French Lentils
Lentils are packed with protein and nutrients but can turn to mush if you look away. Cook them with vegetable oil and garlic powder plus herbs so they soak up every bit of flavor. You can add them to everything from tacos to shepherd’s pie once they are cooked.
13. Classic French Spinach Au Gratin
Au gratin describes a creamy baked dish that is covered with cheese. You likely already have the necessary ingredients in your kitchen for this one.
It features a classic creamy sauce with onion and thyme. A little rosemary makes the spinach mixture even better.
14. Gratin Dauphinois (Scalloped Potatoes)
This is the ultimate gratin dish with its garlic and cheese cream sauce.
Soak and dry your thinly sliced potatoes so they crisp up nicely during cooking. Keep the slices thin so everything cooks through evenly.
You can use Gruyere or a good mature cheddar.