31 French Recipes That Will Make You Feel Like a Gourmet Chef

Of all the world’s cuisines, few have come to symbolize gourmet cooking and desserts quite like the food of France. The country is renowned for its exquisite stews and soups, salads and casseroles, each telling a story of tradition and terroir. Ratatouille, souffles, crêpes and more: French cuisine teaches the importance of technique and the joy of quality ingredients, making every dish a celebration. By perfecting a few classics, you can bring the elegance and depth of French culinary arts into your kitchen. An essential recipe to add to your repertoire is rich coq au vin. Pieces of skin-on, bone-in chicken braise for hours with mushrooms and carrots, plus a generous pour of dry red wine.

A velvety French omelette takes a skilled hand to perfect, but only a handful of staple ingredients to make. The trick is all in the technique—using gentle heat and small circular movements to get the eggs to set just right.

Homemade croissants may seem intimidating to pull off at home, but if you follow the instructions perfectly, you will end up with a buttery, flaky pastry that rivals the ones you find at top-notch bakeries. The trick is managing the temperature of the butter as you fold it between layers, so don’t hesitate to pop the dough in the refrigerator for a few minutes in between steps to keep it from melting.

Once you perfect the art of the airy soufflé, there’s no recipe you can’t pull off. This version is savory, full of delicate herbs and shredded Fontina cheese.