Summer

This Apricot Frangipane Tart is a French Summer classic, through and through. Made with ripe apricots baked in an almond frangipane over a buttery crust, it is a favorite to bake in French households during stone fruit season. The nutty and creamy texture of the Frangipane filling is so satisfying and perfectly complements the sweet tartness of the apricots. Top this tart with a light dusting of icing sugar, and it will look straight out of a bakery. 

This savory Tomato Mustard Tart is a classic Summer recipe that French home cooks love to make every year when tomatoes are in season. It features a buttery puff pastry, with in-season ripe tomatoes, a sprinkle of grated cheese and a heavy smear of Dijon Mustard at the bottom. There are a number of variations to this classic Summer dish, including some with ham, anchovies, olives, etc… But if you ask me, this basic one is simply wonderful as is.

This Lemon-Lime Basil Tart is a summer twist on my Classic French Tarte au Citron, which is one of the most popular recipes on this blog. The basil infused lime filling tastes both fresh and creamy, and is the perfect pairing to a crisp buttery pâte sucrée, made the true French way. This Tart is perfectly zesty, not too sweet, and makes for a refreshing dessert on a hot Summer day.

A lightly crisp top, a moist center and a subtle nuttiness are what make Financiers a French favorite! These little cakes made of ground almonds with beurre-noisette and fluffy egg whites are a staple of the French baking repertoire – and for very good reasons. They’re quick and easy to make, and adaptable to any season or fixings. With fresh blueberries and crisp almond shavings, these Blueberry Almond Financiers are one of my favorite Summer twists on these marvelous little cakes.

If you can’t go to Provence, Provence can still come to you! With bold sun-kissed flavors, this classic Chicken Provençal is an uncomplicated recipe reminiscing of warm summers in the South of France. It features wine-braised crispy-skinned chicken with loads of melty garlic and shallots, briny bites of green olives, tender artichoke hearts and sweet cherry tomatoes – all showered under fragrant Herbes de Provence.

Strawberry jam is a classic, especially in the early Summer months. But have you ever tried a Strawberry Banana jam? The addition of banana brings warmth and richness to the bright strawberries, and creates a wonderfully smooth texture. This is a quick, easy and delicious homemade jam, making the most of a childhood favorite flavor combo – strawberry and banana – which is sure to please the whole family!   

Known in French as a “Chou-fleur Mimosa”, this Whole Cauliflower with Crumbled Egg Vinaigrette is as easy to make as it looks impressive, and is such a fun way to enjoy cauliflower – other than in a gratin. This recipe packs on layers of flavors! The cauliflower head is poached until tender, topped with a tangy shallot vinaigrette, parsley and lastly some crumbled hard-boiled eggs (know as “mimosa” in France – nothing to do with the brunch cocktail!).  

Known in France as “Flan Coco”, this famous Coconut Flan hails from the French Antilles. With the exotic flavors of coconut milk, shredded coconut and vanilla, this recipe may be a stretch from what you would expect of a classic French dessert, yet it is a very popular flan in mainland France too. Most French, myself included, love to indulge in the cuisine from the French Antilles Islands, and this flan may be one of their most beloved recipes to recreate at home.

These succulent Swiss Chard Pancakes are known in French as “Farçous”. They hail from Aveyron, a lesser-known region in Occitanie, in South-Central France. Sparsely populated and left mostly unspoiled with wild pastures and picturesque hamlets, Aveyron is often refered to as “La France Profonde” (the deep France). But its cuisine is anything but ho-hum, with many local specialties being staples all throughout Southern France, including the world-famous Pommes Aligot, Gâteau à la Broche and these little Farçous.    

Spring is here, and we are embracing a timeless basic today – the Classic French Strawberry Tart, known in French as “Tarte aux Fraises”. This traditional French dessert combines a buttery pastry crust with juicy ripe strawberries arranged on a layer of velvety crème pâtissière. Come Spring and strawberry season, you will find this tart in almost every boulangeries (bakeries) in France. This is a no-fuss tart that looks fabulous with a brushing of apricot glaze on the strawberries for a pretty sheen.