Looking for some French food? French food is one of the most popular cuisines in the world. It’s renowned for both its main courses and desserts—influencing movies, pop culture and fine dining around the globe.
Eating French cuisine is a great way to diversify your taste buds, but which dish should you try first? Here are 15 must try french food you cannot miss:
1. Coq au Vin
Coq au Vin translates to “rooster in wine” (chicken is usually used due to the limited availability of roosters). This hearty dish is made by slowly braising chicken in red wine, mushroom and garlic. The dish has a strong burgundy taste, perfect for cold nights.
2. Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a colourful dish that hails from the city of Nice, the second largest city in France. Made with eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers and tomatoes, this dish is slow-cooked until tender—turning it into a vegetable stew.
Ratatouille is made popular by the animated movie of the same name, but it’s been a long staple of Provençal cuisine.
3. Duck Confit
Duck confit is made by slowly cooking duck legs in their own fat. This will give the meat a tender, “fall-off-the-bone” texture. It also keeps the crispy skin intact, which is served alongside roasted potatoes and a sprinkle of chanterelle mushrooms.
The dish is rich and rustic, suitable for special occasions.
4. Beef Bourguignon
This dish features tender beef chunks braised in red wine, garlic, onions and mushrooms. It’s similar to beef stew but with a lot more red wine. The dish is hearty and rich in flavour, best paired with mashed potatoes or a side of crusty bread.
Some variations also include bacon and a side of pasta.
5. Croque Monsieur
Croque monsieur is like a luxury grilled cheese. It’s made with slices of pain de mie (soft white bread), Gruyere cheese, ham and bechamel sauce. It is baked or grilled until golden, resulting in one of the greatest sandwiches in the world.
You can even add a fried edd on top and it transforms into a croque madame
6. Quiche Lorraine
A staple of French home cooking, quiche Lorraine is a tart from the Lorraine region in northeastern France. It’s made with a buttery pastry crust filled with eggs, cream and lardons (small strips of bacon).
Other versions add cheese, mushrooms or onions to the tart.
7. Soupe al Oignon
Better known as French onion soup, this dish is made by slowly caramelising onions in butter. It is then simmered in beef broth, thyme and white wine. The soup is usually served with a slice of baguette floating on top.
Popular in Parisian brasseries, this dish is both warm and hearty.
8. Steak Frites
No list of must try French food is complete without steak frites. This dish is a simple yet delicious combo of grilled steak and crispy fries. Often found in brasseries, it’s typically served with a peppercorn sauce or bearnaise.
It is also the national dish of Belgium, who claim to be its country of origin.
9. Escartgot
Escargot is the preparation of land snails as a dish. While it may not sound appealing, the dish is well-regarded in France and is considered a delicacy. These snails are technically mollusks, classifying them as seafood.
They are cooked in a mixture of garlic, parsley and herb butter, then served in their shells.
10. Tarte Tatin
Tarte Tatin is an upside-down apple tart created by accident in the Loire Valley, a region in France. Apples are caramelised in butter and sugar before being topped with pastry and baked.
Once flipped, the result is a glossy, golden tart with soft apples and a flaky crust. The dish is often served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
11. Foie Gras
Foie gras is a controversial but iconic French delicacy made from duck or goose liver. These waterfowls are usually force fed a high-energy diet to enlarge their liver—an unethical method even for many food lovers.
Nonetheless, the dish is a luxury cuisine served in many restaurants. It is creamy, rich and often served with fruit compote, toast or brioche.
12. Crepes
Crepes are thin, delicate pancakes that originated in Brittany, a region in northwest France. They are mainstream in many places around the world due to their versatility and ease of preparation.
Crepes can be savoury or sweet, filled with Nutella, peanut butter, chocolate chips, cheese and anything in between.
13. Macarons
These colourful sandwich cookies are made with almond flour, egg whites and sugar. They are then filled with buttercream, ganache or jam. Macarons are light and chewy, coming in many flavours like pistachio, raspberry, salted caramel, rose and more.
Macarons are one of France’s most iconic treats, and they are definitely the most eye-catching.
14. Creme Brulee
Creme brulee is a vanilla custard topped with a layer of caramelised sugar. The contrast between the creamy custard and the sugar topping creates a unique texture. It is usually flavoured with vanilla bean, but other variations include lavender, coffee or orange zest.
This dessert is a favourite in both bistros and fine-dining spots.
15. Bouillabaisse
Originating from the city of Marseille, bouillabaisse is a fish soup that was once a humble fisherman’s stew. Today, it’s a signature dish of Provence, traditionally made using a variety of Mediterranean fish.
The dish is typically served with slices of baguette topped with rouille (a garlicky saffron mayonnaise).
French cuisine is a must try for everyone. If it’s your first time, why not start with these 15 must try French food. While finding an authentic French restaurant may not be easy (or cheap), the experience is well worth it— or at the very least, you’ll know whether French cuisine is for you!
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