Pommes Darphin: The Crispy Potato Masterpiece
Versatile and elegant, Pommes Darphin pairs beautifully as a side to a hearty roast or shines on its own when served with smoked ham and a fresh green salad. Its irresistibly crunchy exterior and velvety interior make it a celebration of simplicity at its finest.
Ratatouille
My mother always said my ratatouille wasn't as good as hers. She insisted that a proper ratatouille was made by slowly cooking the vegetables together. I always disagreed until one day she made me her ratatouille the way she had learned it at home. One bite, and I knew she was right. Her version was ambrosial and embodied the rich flavors of Provence.
A Perfect Late Winter Salad
I love shaved fennel and orange salad. It is the perfect late winter salad that your whole family will love. It combines the perfect crunch of raw fennel with a citrusy sweetness. One of the best qualities is that it is highly adaptable to whatever you have on hand. You can make it solely with oranges or add grapefruit, satsumas, tangerines, or whatever other citrus fruit you like. You can add cheese, olives, onions, nuts, and a host of other ingredients depending upon what you have on hand.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is incredibly easy to make at home. I was craving vegetables when I photographed this version so I made it with a higher ratio of vegetables to chickpeas. Despite the recipe given below, it is best to follow your own passions and add whatever you like. Use my recipe solely as a springboard to your own creation.
Anna Potatoes, Perfect for the Holidays
Pommes Anna is the classic French dish of sliced potatoes layered in a pan with butter (lots of butter), browned on the stovetop, and finished in a hot oven until crispy. It is a dish I have made countless times over my career and still LOVE to eat today.
Provencale Vegetable Tian
Confession Time. I planted way too many tomatoes this year and I was looking for the best, most tasty way to use them. I ended up making a Provençale Vegetable Tian - which is sort of a super healthy vegetable casserole.
Chickpeas in Tomato Sauce
Chickpeas stewed in tomato sauce is a popular flavor combination in Provence. I added chunks of homemade espelette sausages I had leftover from a sausage-making experiment. You could use spicy Italian sausages or even Moroccan merguez.
Petits Farcis: Stuffed Provencal Vegetables
One of the most endearing and favorite of all Provencal dishes is Petits Farcis or stuffed vegetables, also known as lu farçum in the Niçard (Nice) dialect. Petits Farcis are best made in the summertime when so many great vegetables, like sun-ripened tomatoes, round zucchini, and thin eggplants start to appear in the farmers' markets.
A Zucchini Omelet Perfect for Lunch
Trouchia is a flat omelet similar to frittatas that your family will never tire of; especially when your garden is producing more zucchini than you can eat.
Provençale Tomato Tart
The best thing about tomato tarts is they are very forgiving and can be modified easily based on what you have on hand. I have baked this tart with slices of tangy goat cheese or even shredded gruyere cheese sprinkled over. Or even pulled the hot tart out of my oven and dropped a ball of creamy burrata right on top.
Quick French Carrot Salad
Carottes Rapées and other quick single vegetable salads like potato, celery root, beet, or cucumber, were made from pantry ingredients that were typically on hand. They are simple, quick, and healthy to eat.
Artichoke Tart
A lot of people want to buy artichokes and don't know what to make with them. Today I want to show you the best way to eat and prepare artichokes. Learn how to make a simple Provencal artichoke and goat cheese tarte tatin.
Roasted Red Peppers
A really simple dish that has all the classic flavors of Provence hidden in the layers. Roasted red peppers stuffed with creamy goat cheese and basil and topped with an anchoïade sauce. This makes a great meal served with nothing more than a big green salad and a glass of rose wine. Anchoiade is an interesting Provencal sauce. French people will revel at its wonderful briny flavors while most Americans recoil in terror at the mere mention of anchovies. I promise you will love this sauce.
Provencal Chickpea and Spinach Gratin
Today I want to teach you how to make Richard Olney's delicious Chickpea and Spinach gratin from his classic cookbook ' Simple French Food'. It is a classic Provencal vegetarian preparation that is easy to make and will impress your friends.