Embark on a culinary voyage to Provence with our Provençal recipes, as sunny as they are tasty. Discover traditional dishes like ratatouille or bouillabaisse, gourmet starters like tapenade or pissaladière, and vegetarian delights like stuffed aubergines. Quick and easy to prepare, these recipes and preparations are perfect for a summer meal, a buffet or simply to add a Mediterranean touch to your table.Here are a few not-to-be-missed Provençal recipes.
DISCOVER OUR RECIPES FOR PROVENÇAL SPECIALITIES
Click on the Provençal recipe you wish to discover to read a detailed recipe that is easy to prepare at home:
pissaladière
octopus Provençal style
WHAT IS THE CULINARY SPECIALITY OF PROVENCE?
Provençal cuisine is a real invitation to travel, awakening the senses with its scents of Provençal herbs, olive oil and sun-kissed tomatoes. It's rich in authentic, generous and colourful dishes, where local produce is king.
The Provençal tradition is based on simple recipes made with fresh, local produce. Ratatouille, the emblematic dish, is a perfect example of the use of seasonal vegetables.
Other traditional dishes include :
Bouillabaisse, a rock fish soup typical of Marseille.
Daube provençale, a beef stew slowly simmered in red wine with carrots and Provençal herbs. A classic of traditional Provençal cuisine.
Tian provençal, a gratin of vegetables (often courgettes, aubergines, tomatoes and onions) cooked slowly in the oven.
Provençal cuisine is also full of delicious fish and seafood specialities, such as anchoïades and aïolis.
On the sweet side, mendiants, tarte tropézienne and galette des rois provençale are all typical desserts that end a meal on a sweet note.
THE BEST STARTERS IN THE SOUTH
Provence, rich in flavour and colour, offers a variety of starters that will delight your taste buds. These delicacies from the south of France combine freshness and indulgence to get your meal off to a great start.
Provençal salad is a staple of Mediterranean cuisine. Made with fresh vegetables, it can be enhanced with [Bon le soleil], a variety of tomatoes bursting with sunshine.
Stuffed Provençal tomatoes, usually garnished with a meat and spice preparation, are also a tasty and typical starter.
Stuffed courgettes are an interesting alternative for those who prefer vegetables.
Finally, pistou soup, with its intense flavours, is a comforting starter that is emblematic of traditional Provençal cuisine.
If you're looking for more surprising recipes, the stuffed eggs of Nice and the tian provençal are options not to be overlooked.
And let's not forget that Provence is also the home of tapenade, an olive-based preparation generally eaten on bread dough. And let's not forget Provençal-style anchoïade and Provençal cakes for a change of pace.
In short, Provençal starters combine freshness and southern flavours to take you on a journey from the very first bite.
WHICH TYPICAL PROVENÇAL DISHES ARE EASY TO MAKE?
Provençal cuisine is full of emblematic dishes that are easy to prepare and will delight your guests. Here are a few suggestions:
Tian de légumes: a gratin of summer vegetables, usually courgettes, aubergines and tomatoes, cooked slowly in the oven.
Pissaladière: a type of pizza topped with caramelised onions, anchovies and black olives.
Octopus à la provençale: a tasty dish in which octopus is simmered with white wine, tomatoes, garlic and Provençal herbs. A must in Mediterranean seafood cuisine.
Tapenade: a preparation made from black or green olive pulp, capers, anchovies and olive oil, perfect as an aperitif on toast.
For meat lovers, pork shoulder à la provençale, turkey leg à la provençale and beef estouffade à la provençale are hearty, tasty dishes.
Finally, for fish lovers, bouillabaisse, a rock fish soup typical of Marseille, is a must-try in Provençal gastronomy.
HOW TO MODERNISE TRADITIONAL PROVENÇAL SUMMER RECIPES?
Modernising your Provençal summer recipes can be an excellent way of adding a new touch to your cooking while respecting tradition. Here are a few tips to help you do just that:
Incorporate new ingredients: Add elements not typically used in Mediterranean cuisine, such as exotic vegetables, seafood or spices from other cuisines. For example, add quinoa or couscous to your ratatouille to give it a modern twist.
Adapt cooking techniques: Try new cooking methods for your traditional dishes. For example, grill your vegetables for ratatouille instead of cooking them in olive oil.
Presentation: Change the presentation of your dishes to give them a more contemporary look. For example, serve your bouillabaisse in individual verrines.
Fusion recipes: Mix Provençal cuisine with other cuisines to create unique dishes. For example, try a Provençal pizza with tapenade and anchovies.
Revisited recipes: Revisit traditional preparations using alternative ingredients. For example, replace sardines with marinated tofu in a vegetarian pissaladière.
Low temperature cooking: Use this technique to cook your meat and fish. It preserves the flavours and gives your ingredients a tender, juicy texture.
Remember, the key is to retain the essence of Provençal recipes while adding a touch of innovation and modernity.
VEGETARIAN RECIPES FROM PROVENCE: GREEN PROVENÇAL CUISINE
Provence, with its Mediterranean climate, offers a variety of vegetables and fruit for concocting delicious vegetarian recipes. Tarte aux légumes du soleil, filled with courgettes, aubergines and peppers, is an essential part of Provençal cuisine. Ratatouille, a mixture of simmered vegetables, is another great classic of green Provençal cuisine.
Galettes de courge butquée de Provence (butternut squash cakes) are rich in flavour and easy to prepare, making them a great alternative to meat-based dishes.
The savoury crumble with sun-dried vegetables and Provençal herbs is a light and tasty recipe, perfect for a summer meal.
The Provençal vegetable tian, a traditional dish based on summer vegetables, can be eaten on its own or accompanied by a good farmhouse bread.
Vegan preparations are also possible, such as grilled pepper salad, salade niçoise or courgette terrine. Finally, Menton lemons and courgette flowers, emblematic products of the region, can be used to make delicious vegetarian recipes.
COOKERY BOOK: THE PROVENÇAL GASTRONOMIC BUFFET
A Provençal buffet is a celebration of the region's culinary wealth, offering a wide variety of tasty dishes. Madeleines with olives and basil and tuna puff pastries are perfect options for starters. Meats such as sautéed turkey, chicken and pork rouelle à la Provençale add a robust touch. Vegetable tians add a touch of freshness, while typical desserts, such as Provençal-style peaches, end the meal on a sweet note. Don't forget Provençal classics like tapenade, bouillabaisse and ratatouille to round off your Mediterranean buffet.
PROVENÇAL CUISINE IS VERY OLD
Some Provençal recipes, such as daube provençale and pissaladière, are centuries old and have been passed down from generation to generation. It's the quality and exquisite taste of Provençal cuisine that have allowed these recipes to stand the test of time and delight the palates of gourmets for centuries!
MEDITERRANEAN OLIVES AT THE HEART OF PROVENÇAL CUISINE
Whether used whole in Provençal daube, mashed in tapenade or in the form of olive oil in almost all savoury Provençal recipes, the olive is at the heart of Provençal culinary art. High-quality olive production is now sought after in Provence, and the olive is more than ever at the centre of attention among Provençal chefs.