Our Favourite French Recipes for Bastille Day

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Our Favourite French Recipes for Bastille Day

You don’t need to be a French national to cook like one! Add a little je ne sais quoi to the menu this Bastille Day with these recipes that all have French flair. Also known as French National Day, Bastille Day occurs on July 14. In France, it’s known as La fête nationale or Le quatorze juillet.

Even if you aren’t French or have never been to France, with these recipes, celebrating Bastille Day will be a treat.. From crepes to ratatouille and bourguignon, we've got your Bastille Day feast sorted.

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French Style Navarin of Lamb with Vegetables

We can’t think of any better way to celebrate all things French than with this delicious and beautifully crafted Navarin of lamb with vegetables. This recipe can be made in a slow cooker - just be sure to keep an eye on the liquid levels!

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Slow Roast Beef with fresh Herb Pesto

The fuss-free nature of this roast beef dish makes it a favourite in my home. While it's finishing cooking, simply reheat the cream-loaded potato gratin, then all that's required is a salad or a bowl of steaming hot, buttered seasonal greens to accompany.

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Braised Lamb Shanks in Red Wine

These slow-cooked lamb shanks are a family favourite dinner. This six-ingredient recipe is deceptively simple and sees fall-off-the-bone shanks braised in a rich, deeply flavoured red wine sauce, to deliver a restaurant-quality meal. You'll have the most comforting dinner you've had all year! Serve it over creamy mashed potato with a side of green beans, and some crusty bread to mop your bowl clean!

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French Onion Soup Beef Dumplings

This recipe offers a unique mashup of two of our favorite comfort foods - beef dumplings and French onion soup. Served with Gruyere, chives, and bone broth the recipe makes 24 large dumplings, but you can make them any size you like and always freeze some for later.

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Pulled Beef Croque Monsieur

Master the Croque Monsieur with soft sourdough, gruyère, and velvety béchamel sauce. We've put a delicious twist on it by using pulled beef. This sandwich is the king of grilled cheeses, and you'll relish every mouthful of this brunch/lunch classic.

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Lamb Rump Roast with tender Greens & Hollandaise Sauce

The French seem to love Lamb as much as we do, and with recipes like this lamb rump roast with tender greens and hollandaise sauce, it’s not hard to see why!

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French-Style Spring Lamb Bowl

This recipe pairs tender lamb rump with braised spring vegetables to deliver a complete meal that tastes sensational. A combination of lemon, garlic and a garnishing of marjoram - could it get any better?

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Buckwheat Crepes

This buckwheat crêpe recipe is definitely worth the effort. It’s one of those fun recipes where you can do away with precise measurements and be creative with what you have on hand. Add fresh herbs, wilted greens or cottage cheese to the minced filling for a lighter version.

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Scotch Fillet Steak with Blue Cheese Butter

This Scotch Fillet Steak is ramped up with a tangy, creamy blue cheese and thyme leaf compound butter. The French love blue cheese and with recipes like this, you can see why!

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Spiced Lamb Cutlets with Ratatouille

Cooked in a saucepan, this recipe is a slight variation of a Madhur Jaffrey recipe, and is a definite winter warmer.

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Beef, Goat’s Cheese and Onion Tarts

These Beef, Goat’s Cheese and Onion Tarts will transport you to France and are perfect for a lunch or picnic, or as delicious 'nibbles' pre-dinner, these super-easy tarts are a surefire winner.

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Burgundy Beef with a Cracked Crust

This is a twist on the traditional Boeuf Bourguignon, which is usually made with steak and takes hours to make. With this recipe, you get the same delicious French flavours, but it’s a smidgen of the work!

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Lamb Bourguignon

Look on the bright side of winter’s slow wind-down—there’s still time to cross a classic dish off your must-cook list. This recipe puts a twist on the famed French bourguignon with New Zealand lamb taking center-stage (or, more appropriately, center-stew) from the more traditional beef. The meat is slow-roasted in aromatic red wine until tender, then paired up with its dinner partners: roasted mushrooms, onions and bacon for a hearty bowl of Burgundy flavour.

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Country Beef Casserole

The French really know how to make great stews. Here is one of them. This Country Beef Casserole is made extra special with a bready topping. It will leave everyone coming back for more!

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Roasted Lamb Rumps with Herb & Mustard Butter

This wonderful roasted lamb rump with fresh herbs and mustard butter is the perfect way to welcome in Bastille Day. The fresh herb and mustard butter is a beautiful compliment to this lamb dish. The addition of Dijon in the herb butter is a real winner.

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Mustard Pan-fried Scotch Fillet Steak with a Quick Béarnaise

Cooked in a stove-top proof casserole dish, the recipe uses apple cider, when simmered gently with lamb shoulder chops, leeks and a handful of prunes, creates a delicious sauce in this easy family meal.

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Cow and Gate Tart

This recipe delivers a dense and delicious savoury tart. You can load it into a picnic basket and take it on an adventure or devour it warmed through at home with some rocket on the side.

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Grilled Beef Steaks with Orange Lentils and Béarnaise Sauce

This recipe elevates your classic steak dish through its inclusion of orange lentils and rich and creamy Béarnaise sauce. Great for a special supper dish or weekend treat.

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Beef and Feta Galette

This recipe is not only quick and easy to prepare, but a great way to use up leftover minced meats. More than just a pizza, this version of the open-topped pie is good enough to serve to guests. Inspired by French flavours, it is encased in a rich olive oil pastry – however, pre-rolled shortcrust pastry would work equally well.

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Fig Tapenade-Stuffed Roast Shoulder of Lamb

While a shoulder of lamb is not a culinary cut of great looks, when roasted on the bone or boned and rolled it is a favourite due to its sensational flavour and melt-in-the-mouth tenderness. Figs and olives are natural partners for lamb, all three are often used together in many Mediterranean cuisines, including French.

Posted by Shawn Moodie