The 10 heartiest French dishes to get you through winter - with recipes
As temperatures plummet, it's time to start thinking about rich, hearty, and warming food. Luckily France is the perfect country for it. Warning: Waistlines may expand.
The image of French cuisine might tend more towards the refined, but in fact France has a mouth-watering array of stomach filling dishes for winter, albeit with a couple of them pinched from Switzerland.
Here are ten of the best winter dishes from France and links to recipes if you fancy trying to cook them.
READ ALSO The six best French winter dishes made with cheese
Pot-au-feu
The national dish of France 🇫🇷 is Pot-au-Feu and is a classic comfort dish prepared using stewed meats and vegetables. pic.twitter.com/b1tLV3xxyy
— Statirna (@statirna) November 8, 2023
Pot-au-feu is a mouthwatering stew of different kinds of meat, marrow bones and root vegetables.
Preparation is easy but the stew needs to cook on low heat for quite some time. The meat, veggies and broth are served in separate dishes, accompanied by horseradish, spicy Dijon mustard and pickled gherkins. The bone marrow is spread on to toasted pieces of bread, but this may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Onion soup
Colder days call for this classic French soup. Learn the Authentic Soupe à l’Oignon Recipe: https://t.co/85ysUl9Chw
This French classic has been changed through history, establishing its final form in the 17th century. It was primarily known as a simple and hearty traditional… pic.twitter.com/rZ7451vT5v
— TasteAtlas (@TasteAtlas) November 7, 2023
French onion soup is well known outside of France, and with good reason. It’s easy to make and it’ll definitely warm you up when it’s cold outside.
There are a few different, but equally delicious, variations on the recipe. Some suggest a slice of bread on top while others are gratinéed to create a crusty layer of cheese.
Aligot
🇫🇷 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐨𝐭
🇫🇷 Cheesiest mashed potatoes ever! Aligot is a traditional French dish made from mashed #potatoes and #cheese that has a stretchy and velvety texture. #france #Autumn
🇫🇷 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐞 >> https://t.co/xOKoZjmJvh pic.twitter.com/nSTgnCRHQR
— June d'Arville | Food & Travel Blogger (@junedarville) November 8, 2023
If you’re a fan of mashed potato then you’re going to love aligot, a speciality from the Aubrac region. Blend the mash with cream, cheese, butter and garlic until you’ve achieved a perfectly smooth texture.
Cheese from the region is normally used, such as Tomme d’Auvergne or Tomme de Laguiole but if you can’t get your hands on that then mozzarella or cheddar work fine too.
Backoeffe
The Alsace region bordering Germany is famous for rich dishes. Backoeffe is a type of stew with cubes of mutton, beef and pork which are marinated overnight and then slow-cooked with vegetables in a casserole.
Fondue
To be in France and not to eat fondue? It's impossible. Omnomnom pic.twitter.com/PJZEnmmN1z
— Hanna (@kat0487) June 13, 2018
It would be impossible to survive an Alpine winter without this famous dish from the Savoie region. It’s easy to make, delicious and the best way to refuel after a long day on the slopes. Pick from a variety of cheeses including Comté, Beaufort, Emmental, Appenzell or Gruyere.
Boeuf Bourguignon
Classic-French Boeuf Bourguignon is arguably the world's greatest beef stew. The long cooking process makes the meat fork tender. Large chunks of beef stewed with pearl onions, bacon, carrots, mushrooms and fresh herbs in a rich red wine sauce. pic.twitter.com/fuHs8RmOA7
— La Cocina de Gregor (@cocinadegregor) November 8, 2023
This hearty meat dish is one of the most famous recipes of the Burgundy region and is well known outside France too. It’s prepared with cuts of beef, onions, carrots, celery and pancetta. To stay true to the recipe’s origins, use a Burgundy red wine for the marinade and the sauce.
Tartiflette
Tartiflette
📍 Savoie, France 🇫🇷
⭐ 4.6
Authentic Tartiflette Recipe: https://t.co/jt7P2p6v2a
One of the best-loved dishes of the Alps, tartiflette is a mouth-watering gratinated potato dish from the mountainous region of Savoie in France. The dish instantly caught the… pic.twitter.com/FscsgwfyAS
— TasteAtlas (@TasteAtlas) September 27, 2023
Another delicious winter dish out of the Savoie region, tartiflette is a potato gratin with onions and bacon covered in melted Reblochon cheese. Make sure to work up a proper appetite before digging into this dish or you'll be full after just a few bites.
Cassoulet
un Cassoulet 👍👍 combien de temps pourrons nous encore en manger ?? 🤪🤪🤪⏬😰😰😰 pic.twitter.com/D8XX9Pdlid
— 🇫🇷Olivier92🇺🇸 (@americanflagusa) November 8, 2023
Cassoulet is a stew from the Languedoc region made with beans, meat and sausages. It takes a while both to prepare and to cook but the result is definitely worth it and will be a big hit on a cold winter night.
Choucroute Garnie
Choucroute garnie, sauce ravigote, crisp pig’s head, this was our tester, it’s epic 👌 pic.twitter.com/nUWTxCp9Wd
— Matt Christmas (@MattChristmas1) April 9, 2023
Choucroute garnie is another Alsatian specialty. It's similar to German Sauerkraut except that it’s cooked in wine. Topped with ham hocks, bacon, onions and apples, it makes for a tasty and filling dish.
Gratin Dauphinois
Jamie Oliver's 'melt-in-your-mouth' gratin dauphinois takes just 30 minutes to makehttps://t.co/ZV8ijO7jXO pic.twitter.com/aMVCQnjicB
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) November 8, 2023
Gratin dauphinois is a rich and creamy potato gratin from the historic Dauphiné region in the south east. It’s a bit of a calorie bomb because of all the cream but that's what makes it so tasty. Traditionally, the gratin is made with just milk, cream and potatoes but many recipes suggest putting cheese in as well.
What about Raclette?
You might be wondering why Raclette is not on this list. Don't worry, it does not have to do with how delicious the dish is - featuring melted Raclette cheese, usually accompanied by cold meats and potatoes.
It has to do with the fact that experts believe the origins of Raclette are actually Swiss, even though it's synonymous with France now.
Do you have any favourite French winter dishes? Let us know in the comments below.
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See Also
The image of French cuisine might tend more towards the refined, but in fact France has a mouth-watering array of stomach filling dishes for winter, albeit with a couple of them pinched from Switzerland.
Here are ten of the best winter dishes from France and links to recipes if you fancy trying to cook them.
READ ALSO The six best French winter dishes made with cheese
Pot-au-feu
The national dish of France 🇫🇷 is Pot-au-Feu and is a classic comfort dish prepared using stewed meats and vegetables. pic.twitter.com/b1tLV3xxyy
— Statirna (@statirna) November 8, 2023
Pot-au-feu is a mouthwatering stew of different kinds of meat, marrow bones and root vegetables.
Preparation is easy but the stew needs to cook on low heat for quite some time. The meat, veggies and broth are served in separate dishes, accompanied by horseradish, spicy Dijon mustard and pickled gherkins. The bone marrow is spread on to toasted pieces of bread, but this may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Onion soup
Colder days call for this classic French soup. Learn the Authentic Soupe à l’Oignon Recipe: https://t.co/85ysUl9Chw
— TasteAtlas (@TasteAtlas) November 7, 2023
This French classic has been changed through history, establishing its final form in the 17th century. It was primarily known as a simple and hearty traditional… pic.twitter.com/rZ7451vT5v
French onion soup is well known outside of France, and with good reason. It’s easy to make and it’ll definitely warm you up when it’s cold outside.
There are a few different, but equally delicious, variations on the recipe. Some suggest a slice of bread on top while others are gratinéed to create a crusty layer of cheese.
Aligot
🇫🇷 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐨𝐭
— June d'Arville | Food & Travel Blogger (@junedarville) November 8, 2023
🇫🇷 Cheesiest mashed potatoes ever! Aligot is a traditional French dish made from mashed #potatoes and #cheese that has a stretchy and velvety texture. #france #Autumn
🇫🇷 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐞 >> https://t.co/xOKoZjmJvh pic.twitter.com/nSTgnCRHQR
If you’re a fan of mashed potato then you’re going to love aligot, a speciality from the Aubrac region. Blend the mash with cream, cheese, butter and garlic until you’ve achieved a perfectly smooth texture.
Cheese from the region is normally used, such as Tomme d’Auvergne or Tomme de Laguiole but if you can’t get your hands on that then mozzarella or cheddar work fine too.
Backoeffe
The Alsace region bordering Germany is famous for rich dishes. Backoeffe is a type of stew with cubes of mutton, beef and pork which are marinated overnight and then slow-cooked with vegetables in a casserole.
Fondue
To be in France and not to eat fondue? It's impossible. Omnomnom pic.twitter.com/PJZEnmmN1z
— Hanna (@kat0487) June 13, 2018
It would be impossible to survive an Alpine winter without this famous dish from the Savoie region. It’s easy to make, delicious and the best way to refuel after a long day on the slopes. Pick from a variety of cheeses including Comté, Beaufort, Emmental, Appenzell or Gruyere.
Boeuf Bourguignon
Classic-French Boeuf Bourguignon is arguably the world's greatest beef stew. The long cooking process makes the meat fork tender. Large chunks of beef stewed with pearl onions, bacon, carrots, mushrooms and fresh herbs in a rich red wine sauce. pic.twitter.com/fuHs8RmOA7
— La Cocina de Gregor (@cocinadegregor) November 8, 2023
This hearty meat dish is one of the most famous recipes of the Burgundy region and is well known outside France too. It’s prepared with cuts of beef, onions, carrots, celery and pancetta. To stay true to the recipe’s origins, use a Burgundy red wine for the marinade and the sauce.
Tartiflette
Tartiflette
— TasteAtlas (@TasteAtlas) September 27, 2023
📍 Savoie, France 🇫🇷
⭐ 4.6
Authentic Tartiflette Recipe: https://t.co/jt7P2p6v2a
One of the best-loved dishes of the Alps, tartiflette is a mouth-watering gratinated potato dish from the mountainous region of Savoie in France. The dish instantly caught the… pic.twitter.com/FscsgwfyAS
Another delicious winter dish out of the Savoie region, tartiflette is a potato gratin with onions and bacon covered in melted Reblochon cheese. Make sure to work up a proper appetite before digging into this dish or you'll be full after just a few bites.
Cassoulet
un Cassoulet 👍👍 combien de temps pourrons nous encore en manger ?? 🤪🤪🤪⏬😰😰😰 pic.twitter.com/D8XX9Pdlid
— 🇫🇷Olivier92🇺🇸 (@americanflagusa) November 8, 2023
Cassoulet is a stew from the Languedoc region made with beans, meat and sausages. It takes a while both to prepare and to cook but the result is definitely worth it and will be a big hit on a cold winter night.
Choucroute Garnie
Choucroute garnie, sauce ravigote, crisp pig’s head, this was our tester, it’s epic 👌 pic.twitter.com/nUWTxCp9Wd
— Matt Christmas (@MattChristmas1) April 9, 2023
Choucroute garnie is another Alsatian specialty. It's similar to German Sauerkraut except that it’s cooked in wine. Topped with ham hocks, bacon, onions and apples, it makes for a tasty and filling dish.
Gratin Dauphinois
Jamie Oliver's 'melt-in-your-mouth' gratin dauphinois takes just 30 minutes to makehttps://t.co/ZV8ijO7jXO pic.twitter.com/aMVCQnjicB
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) November 8, 2023
Gratin dauphinois is a rich and creamy potato gratin from the historic Dauphiné region in the south east. It’s a bit of a calorie bomb because of all the cream but that's what makes it so tasty. Traditionally, the gratin is made with just milk, cream and potatoes but many recipes suggest putting cheese in as well.
What about Raclette?
You might be wondering why Raclette is not on this list. Don't worry, it does not have to do with how delicious the dish is - featuring melted Raclette cheese, usually accompanied by cold meats and potatoes.
It has to do with the fact that experts believe the origins of Raclette are actually Swiss, even though it's synonymous with France now.
Do you have any favourite French winter dishes? Let us know in the comments below.
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