10 French Foods To Add To Your Grocery List

 

Every family has their own special grocery list, but here are a few items that can add a little French flavor to your kitchen and pantry.

10 French Foods To Add To Your Grocery List

1. Cheese – I rotate between a bunch of favorites and recommendations from my friends at The Truffle. If you don’t have a cheesemonger near you, you can usually pick up large quantities of brie, roquefort, or boursin at Costco.

2. Charcuterie (shar-coo-tuhr-EE) – This is just a fancy word for stuff that would go on a meat plate. Prosciutto and salami are classic staples. I like to use these as a pre-meal appetizer or mid-day snack since they are so easy and pair well with…

3. Cornichons (kohr-nee-SHON) – These are small little pickles that make a great snack and pair well with cheeses and cured meats.

4. Baguette – In Paris, I would buy a fresh baguette every morning from the boulangerie, but if you can get a good one in your grocery trip, that’s a great start. And you can make delicious and easy eggless French toasts.

Baguette

5. European butter – Start cooking with this stuff and you wont go back! It’s got a higher fat content so a little goes a long way, but it’s incredibly rich in flavor.

6. Leafy greens – Almost every home-cooked French meal starts with a simple salad of greens and vinaigrette. Spinach or frisée (free-ZAY) are my favorites. Kale is also making a comeback in Paris, though it’s not traditional.

7. Mustard – I like dijon, of the Maille variety (imported from Dijon, France). The grainy stuff is typical French and works well as a marinade, too. When you’re almost done with the jar, you can make a delicious vinaigrette, too.

 

8. Steak – French steak is really lean due to the almost entirely grass-fed farming industry in France. Steak is a popular dish to make at home with a small salad, and it’s SO much less expensive to make yourself than order at a steakhouse.

9. Seasonal Vegetables – It literally pays off to eat in season in France where prices for out-of-season produce can be astronomical. Getting into the habit of eating seasonal vegetables will really Frenchify your menu and possibly save you some cash as well. Here’s a good list of seasonal produce to have on hand in the store.

10. Wine – Even if you’re not a big “drinker,” pick up a bottle of red and a bottle of white next time you’re out. I LOVE cooking with this stuff and so do the French! White wines work well with butter, shallots, and garlic to make tasty sauces and reductions. Red wine can also be magical when braising red meat.

What’s on your weekly grocery list? Let me know in the comments below.