A traditional French Easter Menu

Easter is a popular celebration across France, with a big focus on food! Known as “le repas de Pâques”, the French Easter meal is a joyous family fare with staple features like lamb, eggs, asparagus and strawberries. It’s all about celebrating the arrival of Spring and the rebirth of nature! Read along for some of my insight regarding a traditional French Easter menu, to help inspire you in the kitchen!

About Easter weekend in France

I feel like the French are particularly fond of Easter weekend, which often marks the return of the delicious bounties of Spring season. Whether religious or not, everyone loves warmer days ahead and the opportunity to throw a big festive meal. It turns out this is also my favourite meal of the year, as it’s always close to my birthday (April 1^st!).

Just like during Christmas, it’s common to see Easter decorations around town, in stores and in homes. Decorations typically include spring flowers, bunnies and ducks, and all kind of pastel décor.

Like in many other countries, we also have a tradition of decorating and exchanging Easter eggs. In schools, kids dye or paint egg shells to bring them home and decorate the house. And chocolate eggs are particularly popular too, of course!

Elaborate chocolate creations, often filled with candies or other treats, can be found in most patisseries and chocolateries. We buy them to offer to our friends and family throughout the Easter holidays or just to treat ourselves.

On Easter Sunday, a part of the French population goes to church to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Churches often hold special Easter Masses, and some communities organize processions or reenactments of the Stations of the Cross.

Then, Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques) is a public holiday and this is when the family festivities happen. The morning often starts with a big family breakfast followed by the traditional Easter egg hunt in backyards and parks.

Many people take advantage of this long weekend to spend more time with family or friends, and spend some time outside after the long winter days. The traditional Easter lunch is then celebrated around a big table with friends and family.

The traditional French Easter Menu

The Easter lunch in France, held on Monday, is a festive multicourse meal that can last several hours, sometimes until the evening – in true French fashion. It’s the start of spring and therefore the peak season for lamb, new vegetables and strawberries – all essential for making traditional French Easter recipes. On the menu, you’ll find bounties of eggs, asparagus, lamb, carrots, strawberries, rhubarb and chocolate, often lots of it!   

A traditional French Easter menu really is a meal that celebrates the bounties of the Spring season and feature fresh, seasonal ingredients. Here are the main dishes that capture the essence of a classic French Easter celebration.

White Asparagus à la Grenobloise

Les entrées (Starters)

In many French regions, we start the meal with a “Pâté Bérrichon” (Berry pâté), a specialty hailing from the Berry. In this French province, each family tends to have its own recipe, which is passed down from generation to generation.

Also called Easter pâté, this Berry pâté consists of a puff or shortcrust pastry crust wrapped around a meat stuffing (a choice of veal, rabbit and/or pork) with hard-boiled eggs nestled in the middle. This is a deliciously rustic dish that gets served in hefty slices, often with some leafy greens on the side. 

French-style Deviled Eggs (Oeufs Mimosa)

Highlights of the Easter starters are also spring produces which have just arrive on French stalls, with asparagus at centre stage. They are usually just steamed and served with a Mousseline sauce, a Hollandaise sauce, a Grenobloise sauce (my favorite!) or a Gribiche sauce.

Radishes served with butter are also a popular option, so are young leeks often served with vinaigrette. Peas and carrots are enjoyed in soups or quiches, and leafy greens in salads.

Last but not least, eggs are a star of the Easter celebration in France. They are served either poached, in cocottes, or as “Oeufs Mimosa,” which are French-style deviled eggs.

French Easter Starter recipes 

• Pâté Bérichon (Berry pâté)
• Oeufs Mimosa (French-style deviled eggs)
• Leeks with Dijon Shallots Vinaigrette
• Asparagus with Gribiche Sauce
• Asparagus Goat Cheese Quiche
• Sweat Pea and Ham Quiche
• Roasted Carrot Soup
• Radish Leaf Soup

One-pan garlic lamb chops

Le Plat Principal (Main Course)

The centrepiece of a traditional French Easter is undeniably the Easter lamb, symbolizing the Lamb of God in Christian tradition. The most traditional take is usually a whole leg of lamb roasted in the oven for several hours until fork tender, with very simple seasonings and white wine.

A rack of lamb is also popular for Easter, often covered with a crust of aromatics or a simple herby seasoning. For smaller tables or people who prefer saucy dishes, Navarin d’Agneau is the way to go: a delicious ragoût of lamb cooked with spring vegetables.

French Roast Chicken (Poulet Rôti)

For those who prefer another meat, chicken is a popular choice (Roast Chicken, Chicken Tourte). So is rabbit, often prepared as Lapin à la Moutarde (Dijon mustard rabbit) or Lapin aux Pruneaux (rabbit with prunes).

French Easter Main recipes 

• Lamb Navarin (Navarin d’Agneau)
• French Roast Chicken (Poulet Rôti)
• Lapin aux Pruneaux (Rabbit with prunes)
• Chicken and Mushroom Pie (Tourte)
• One-pan garlic lamb chops with potatoes and carrots
• Creamy French Chicken Tarragon
• French Chicken Marengo
• French-style Braised Oxtail with carrots

French-style Glazed Carrots

Les accompagnements (The Sides)

Just like any other French celebratory meal, sides are perhaps just as important as the main. And to please everyone, Gratin Dauphinois is always a great choice. This gratin of potatoes baked in milk compliments any main dish and pleases all kids and adults.

Classic French Gratin Dauphinois

Sides are also another great way to showcase the newly arrived Spring produces: carrots, peas, new potatoes… Sides such as Carrottes Vichy (Glazed Carrots), French-style Potato Salad, Green Bean Potato Salad and French lentil Salad are very popular for Easter.

French Easter Side recipes 

• Classic French Gratin Dauphinois
• French Glazed Carrots (Carrottes vichy)
• Green Beans Almondine
• Creamy Cauliflower Gratin
• French Lentil Salad 
• Potato Piemontaise Salad
• Green Bean Potato Salad
• French Style Potato Salad 
• Crispy Duck fat Potatoes

Le Dessert (Dessert)

The most popular dessert for Easter is called “Nid de Pâques”: a bundt cake topped with strings of buttercream to recreate the look of a bird’s nest and filled with chocolate or candy eggs in the middle. Flavors vary from chocolate to praline and coffee, and I can’t tell you how much how I love this dessert!

These Easter nests are usually quite elaborate pastries and the French buy them at their local bakery rather than making them at home.

Queen of Sheba Chocolate Cake

Aside from Easter nests, chocolate desserts are always high on the list for Easter. A chocolate tart, a chocolate cake or chocolate mousses served in individual cups are definite crowd-pleasers.

And for those who want more freshness for their traditional Easter dessert, tarts and cakes showcasing in-season lemon, strawberries and rhubarb are also very popular. Try a classic French Lemon Tart, a French Strawberry Tart, a Strawberry Charlotte Cake or a Strawberry Rhubarb Galette.

Classic French Lemon Tart

Lastly, a favorite Easter dessert of mine is called the “Lamala,” from Alsace: a simple genoise cake baked in a traditional lamb-shaped mold (yes, you read that right!).  The cake is very light and airy, and dusted with powdered sugar. A perfectly light ending to a big meal.

French Easter Dessert recipes

• Classic French Lemon Tart
• Reine de Saba Chocolate Cake
• French Strawberry Tart
• Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Cake
• Strawberry Charlotte Cake
• Strawberry Rhubarb Galette
• Lemon Lime Basil Tart
• Classic French Chocolate Mousse
• Classic French Crème Brûlée

Digestif (Digestive)

When lunch is over and the children have already gone hunting for chocolate eggs, adults love to sit around the table and nibble on some chocolate eggs with a glass of digestif. For Easter, liqueurs with herbal and floral flavors are very much liked, such a Chartreuse, Suze, Pastis and Crème de menthe.   

Almond Croissants

Le petit-déjeuner (breakfast)

Besides the Easter lunch, preparing a big family breakfast for Easter morning is a dear French tradition. This is a cherished moment where the French take the time to prepare homemade baked goods that go way beyond the classic baguettes and croissants.

Classic French Butter Brioche

And Brioche is undeniably the most favorite morning treat to prepare for Easter! Try a classic French all-butter brioche or a “Mouna”: a delicious orange and Anise Sugared Brioche, with Algerian origins.

For those looking for quicker treats, making crêpes, chouquettes or French toasts are great options too. 

French Easter Breakfast recipes

• French Butter Brioche 
• Orange Anise Sugared Brioche 
• French Sugar Puffs (Chouquettes)
• Classic French Toasts (Pain Perdu)
• Bakery-style Almond Croissants 

Whatever menu you decide on, I hope your Easter celebrations will be filled with joy and togetherness! If you have any questions, please leave a comment.