6 Delicious French Dishes to add to your Christmas Menu.

Feel like you’re spending the festive season in Paris this year with these delicious French dishes

As we know the French are known for their exquisite desserts, bread, and wines. French dishes like their vibrant macrons that come in all different flavours to the bread that they make in the boulangerie. You will always find one at the corner of the street and you can literally smell the bread baking from a mile away, yes it smells amazing! These French dishes will get you in a festive mood.

A typical French Christmas Eve starts off by attending a midnight mass on Christmas Eve and coming home to have Le Réveillon de Noël which is a Christmas Eve dinner to celebrate the beginning of Christmas Day.

Can you imagine, being sat around the table with your loved ones drinking the finest of wines, exquisite selections of meats and cheese, and the sweetest pastries dressed in a classic chic Parisian dress looking as elegant as ever? bien sûr.

Read – Ultimate Luxury Christmas Wish List

French Dishes

Le Madeleines

Madeleines are small shell-shaped sponge cakes that are acquired from being baked in a shell-shaped mould. We all know having milk and cookies on Christmas Eve is a tradition, but the French have hot chocolate along with some madeleines. And of course, there are a dozen different flavours that will satisfy everyone’s taste buds, from lemon to chocolate and even gingerbread, now if that doesn’t sound like Christmas spirit, then I don’t know what does. Enjoy it as dessert and even for breakfast like a true Parisian.

Le Vin Chaud

Mulled wine is one of the most popular beverages in France, during the festive season you’ll find it everywhere. You can make it at home to enjoy with your loved ones or you can find it at Christmas markets and even bars and restaurants. The cooking time is only 15 mins and is super easy to make. Here is a very authentic traditional Vin Chaud recipe.

Ingredients:

• 250 g brown sugar
• 1 lemon zest
• 1 orange zest
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 ginger slice
• 2-star anise
• 2 cloves
• 1 pinch of grated nutmeg
• 1 orange
• 1.5 L red wine, Bourgogne, Bordeaux or Pinot Noir

Instructions are very transparent, simply mix all listed ingredients directly into a saucepan and heat until everything is simmering but not boiling. Let simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stir gradually, and taste when it has been cooking for 10 minutes. Do not exceed 15 minutes as you don’t want to ruin your wine, remember it has all those spices in it. Once your wine is spicy enough filter to remove all the spices and voila your wine is ready to serve, decorate the glass by placing an orange slice on the glass and drink while hot.

Bœuf Bourguignon

This classic dish is another one of France’s most popular cuisines, the slow-cooked beef stew is the ultimate comfort food to keep you warm during the holidays. The combination of beef, wine, herbs, vegetables, and spices makes this stew will make a delightful bowl to revel in over the days of Christmas. Enjoy with pieces of baguette to give this dish even more French flair.

Now, to be honest, it does take a while to make, at least 8 hours to prep and 3 hours 30 mins to cook. Your probably thinking ‘that long?’ yes that long, but you will be satisfied by the end result and you definitely will not mind making it again it is that good!

Read – Dinner Party Décor Ideas for an Elegant Home

Gratin dauphinoise

Two words très délicieux, one of the most beloved dishes to make any time of the year but on Christmas day it is a must-have. The thinly sliced potatoes are slowly baked in creamy milk until tender and topped with grated cheese, utterly mouth-watering. The name comes from the Dauphiné former province in southeastern France. Can be enjoyed with some Bœuf Bourguignon or a simple braised chicken dish, I can guarantee these dishes combined will be on the top of your ‘favourite foods’ list.

Pâté

Breakfast, lunch, snack or to satisfy your belly when you feel peckish. Usually, Pâté is made from liver but can you can also make or buy pork, chicken, duck and even vegetable Pâté. Have you ever been hungry whilst waiting for dinner? Guess what Pâté will do the trick, all it needs is a slice of crusty bread (a baguette) preferably to keep the French tradition alive of course and that’s it, it’s that simple.

You could get your inner chef and make it at home or you can buy it from the shop, either way, you won’t regret it. If your having a dinner party and can’t think of a starter why not thrill your guests by having this as a starter, serve as part of a canapé and enjoy with wine?

Bûche de Noël

Of course, the most popular Christmas dessert that is now celebrated worldwide, is the classic Yule Log Cake. Created in the late 1800s, by Parisian chefs to mimic logs that were traditionally burned during the solstice and then later on Christmas Eve.

The genoise cake (a simple sponge cake) is rolled into a cylinder, and layered with a rich chocolate buttercream frosting topped with icing sugar. A butter knife is used to give the appearance of rough tree bark and decorated with either plastic, icing, or even real holly plant to keep the festive spirit alive. Now, this is how you end the night to a perfect Christmas.

Read – Christmas Gifts for the Home Lover

Wine to go with your French Dishes.

And of course, everyone loves a glass of wine whether it’s to celebrate or just to relax, but the French are very specific with their wines, especially on Christmas Day. Here are 3 popular French wines that you can enjoy with you French Dishes:

Château Gillet

Classic tobacco and pepper-infused red wine, to be accompanied by meat dishes.

Touraine Sauvignon

Crisp fresh and fruity white wine, perfect with fish and cheese.

Cote de Provence Rosé

Delicate and dry strawberry and redcurrant rosé, serve with salads and seafood.