Our Favorite French Recipes to Celebrate Bastille Day (or Just Satisfy the Craving)
Prepare the steaks to be basted in France's honor!
While Bastille Day might not commemorate any major American tradition or holiday, it marks a great excuse to cook up a French dinner. Whether you’re a steak frites fan or more in the market for an airy, delicious pâte á choux, we’ve got all of the recipes you need for a French-inspired feast.
For those who might be unfamiliar, Bastille Day is celebrated around the world to remember the storming of the Bastille, a major turn of events in the French Revolution. Across France, residents celebrate with festivals, fireworks, feasts, and more—pretty much the Euro version of how Americans celebrate the Fourth of July. Since we’ve had our fill of barbecue, burgers, and franks, for the time being, baste a steak and caramelize some onions instead.
While many French recipes seem daunting and may use ingredients not familiar to your pantry (like clarified butter and various liqueurs), most have simple alternatives. I often swap a little bit of lemon juice mixed with honey to make up for a limoncello, or instant coffee and simple syrup for a coffee liqueur. The most important things to keep in mind when trying your hand at a new recipe or style of cuisine in the kitchen is to read your recipe thoroughly and remember it doesn’t have to be perfect as long as it tastes good. So, get your cast iron ready and silicone mats out because it’s time to prep a full-on French spread. Keep scrolling for all of our favorite French recipes.
Chocolate-Almond Croissants
This recipe is a cheat code for chocolate croissants. While crispy, buttery croissants, fresh from the bakery, are a treat in themselves, here’s an easy way to jazz them up for a special breakfast-in-bed surprise.
Mini Almond and Grape Cakes
Inspired by French financiers, these small cakes are dense with the warm flavors of almond, orange zest, and butter. The grapes become a little jammy after baking, which complements the cakes’ richness.
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Asparagus and Morel Quiche
What’s gives more of an homage to France than a quiche? Umami-delicious morels pop up in Western woods and orchards and serve as plump, savory nuggets in this recipe. For the neatest slices, make quiche a day ahead; let it cool, loosen it from pan edges, and chill. Cut into wedges, then reheat.
Brie, Rhubarb, and Green Peppercorn Crostini
This may seem like an unusual combination, but the bright, spicy bite of peppercorns and rhubarb cuts the cheese’s creaminess. Trim off any rhubarb leaves, which are toxic, but leave the cheese rind on for some extra texture.
Crêpes with Warm Cognac Peaches and Almonds
Crepes are a classic that you’ll find from street purveyors and in cafes throughout Paris. This version comes topped with boozy peaches to soak in the best of summer’s fruit offerings. Make them year-round by opting for frozen peaches or, for a fall treat, swap with apples.
Almond and Jam Pastries
At many bakeries, these simple breakfast treats are made for the early-morning staff using day-old brioche. A rich baked almond cream covers the toasts, and sliced almonds on top add buttery crunch.
Three-Onion Quiche
We took a classic quiche recipe, bumped up the onion factor with three different types, and used a sharp Western white cheddar cheese to round add some sharpness. Picture French onion soup meets quiche!
Crispy Duck Breasts with Balsamic-Glazed Tangerines
Duck breasts have thick skin, so it’s best to cook them slowly over a low flame to render the fat. Here, we used that fat to make a decadent glaze studded with citrus segments to create our version of duck a l’orange.
Steak Frites
Los Angeles chef Ludo Lefebvre uses tender filet mignon here, but in France—his homeland—he grew up eating the chewy, flavorful rumsteak, from the rear quarter of the cow. If you’d like to try something similar, make this recipe with top round. Start the fries a day ahead and make the herb sauce ahead, too, so that you’ll spend minimal time cooking once your guests arrive. And if you don’t have time to clarify butter, find it at a well-stocked grocery store or online.
