14 Top French Savory Comfort Foods
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The Spruce
Perhaps the weather has turned grim, you are overworked (and underpaid) or the kids just don't want to listen? There are many, many reasons why we crave comfort foods and occasionally, there does not need to be a reason you want to eat them, just because.
French food is stacked with comfort foods, many are traditional dishes loved by everyone, and there are new ones coming along all the time. Here are just some of the many you could choose from but there will be something for everyone here for sure.
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French Onion Soup
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French onion soup is the ultimate comfort food. Butter-soft, caramelized onions are cooked down into rich, seasoned beef stock. Top it off with fresh garlic croutons and melted, bubbly Gruyere cheese and you have a rich soup, indeed.
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Gratin Dauphinois
The Spruce Eats/Diana Mocanu
This gratin Dauphinois recipe is the ultimate comfort food. Potatoes are double-cooked in seasoned cream and then baked with Gruyere cheese until the gratin is butter-soft.
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Baked Apple Brie
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This easy baked apple Brie recipe features hot, melted cheese and baked apples in a delicious contrast of sweet, salty, and earthy flavors. The whole appetizer takes less than 15 minutes to put together.
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Beef Burgundy
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There are so many dishes out there for classic beef Burgundy recipe or boeuf Bourguignon. Here is the traditional version that you are likely to have encountered at some point in your life.
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Cauliflower Gratin
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Creamy and comforting, this cauliflower gratin recipe features a classic Béchamel sauce punched up by just a little bit of fresh thyme. This gratin is a classic at Provencal tables.
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Classic Aligot
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The classic aligot recipe isn’t so much a side dish as it is a work of art. Humble potatoes and cheese are beaten together with crème fraiche until they form silky, smooth ribbons of pureed potato.
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Winter Vegetable Ragout
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Warm and inviting, this winter vegetable ragout recipe makes the perfect home-style dinner. Serve this simple vegetable stew with a bottle of wine, a loaf of country bread, and a crisp, green salad for a complete meal.
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French Macaroni and Cheese
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This French macaroni and cheese recipe tastes velvety smooth, rich, and just a touch sophisticated - nothing like those little blue boxes of dry, salty mix sold in markets and convenience stores.
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Traditional French Ratatouille
The Spruce
Undoubtedly one of the most famous comfort foods dishes which hails from Provence. The traditional French ratatouille recipe is packed with summer sunshine vegetables so it is no wonder this dish will bring cheer.
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Fondue Savoyarde
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Smooth and rich, this fondue Savoyarde recipe is the classic apres-ski dish on menus in the French Alps. Luxurious and velvety, this French Alpine fondue recipe is perfect for retro fondue parties or when you happen to be stuck inside on a snowy night.
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Roasted Pepper Boursin Cheese
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Fresh cheese spread gets an updated flavor in this roasted pepper Boursin cheese recipe. The cheese is dressed up with smashed garlic, fresh herbs, and jarred roasted red peppers.
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Instant Pot French Onion Soup
Diana Rattray For a faster French onion soup, use a pressure cooker. The Instant Pot makes quick work of this slow-cooking soup of naturally sweet onions and rich beef stock. A topping of crusty bread and melty cheese make it extra delicious.
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Coquilles Saint-Jacques
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This Coquilles Saint-Jacques recipe is traditionally served on little scallop shells, but ovenproof ramekins are a great substitution. It features scallops and mushrooms, sautéed in butter with seasonings, a Gruyere and breadcrumb topping.
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Cheese Soufflé
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This traditional cheese soufflé recipe is light, airy, and savory - everything a cheese soufflé should be! This easy recipe can be whipped up in 15 minutes for flawless results. Gruyere and Comte cheese can be used interchangeably in this bistro classic.