Bastille Day is such a fun holiday to celebrate - wherever you are in the world. Especially if you are not in France, hosting a Bastille Day celebration is something unique and fun to do on a day where there are not many other events already planned. I love having a Bastille Day celebration to look forward to. It is a chic and elegant way to celebrate the summer!
Whether you are planning a romantic Bastille Day themed dinner for two or an outdoor BBQ event, here are the absolute best 25 French recipes for Bastille Day for you!
Warm weather (in the northern hemisphere) lends itself to dishes that are light, fresh and full of summer flavors! Many of the below recipes are inspired from the French Riviera.
L'Apéro (Welcome Cocktail):
L'Apéro is what a French host will always serve as guests arrive. Cocktails or wine with little nibblies to whet the appetite and make guests feel immediately welcome. Really, you could choose to host L'Apéro on its own for Bastille Day - I have written more about the art of the Apéro in this blog post
To Drink:
Piscine Pêche (Sparkling wine with peaches and rosemary - yum!).
Strawberry Spritz by David Lebovitz
I also will serve a Martini blanc, an Aperol Spritz or a glass of Rosé.
To Eat:
Gougères (French Cheese Puffs) - Recipe by Bakes by Brown Sugar
I also like to serve a selection of nuts and finger foods such as cucumbers and dip and cherry tomatoes with L'Apéro. Perhaps a few slices of charcuterie as well but I save the cheese for after the meal!
Appetizers:
Here are some fresh, summer dishes to inspire you - whether you are serving an individually plated meal or putting big plates in the center of the table for everyone to share.
Fig & Goat Cheese Salad with a Honey Vinaigrette
La Salade Mentonnaise - Fennel, Orange and Artichoke salad with roasted Pine Nuts
Roasted Plum, Goat Cheese & Lemon Thyme Salad
La Salade Tropezienne - Shrimp, Peach and Goat Cheese Salad with a Rosé Vinaigrette
French Onion Soup Gratinée (not my favorite choice in a heatwave, but it is one of the most popular recipes on my blog...even in summer!)
La Soupe au Pistou - A Provençal Summer Soup
Classic French Quiche Lorraine - Recipe by Pardon Your French
Main Dishes Perfect for Bastille Day
Seared Scallops & Leeks in White Wine
Super Simple French Roast Chicken
Les Petits Farcis Niçois (if you are reading this post on July 9th - you can still sign up for participate in our live cooking demonstration on Les Petits Farcis Niçois with Alliance Française Washington, DC.
French Desserts
If you are up to spending some time preparing your desserts, here are some of my absolute favorite French desserts that are always impressive to serve.
Profiteroles by Molly J. Wilk (I love how simple she makes French baking!)
Almond fruit tarts also by Molly J. Wilk
Strawberry Macarons by Britney Breaks Bread
(the above can be made in advance so are great for an outdoor gathering when you won't be next to an oven)
Frequent Asked Questions about Bastille Day
"Bastille Day” is France’s national holiday. “La Bastille” refers to the storming of La Bastille, a turning point in the French Revolution that happened on July 14th 1789. Today, the French celebrate Bastille Day much like we celebrate July 4th in the US or July 1st in Canada - with wonderful friends, great food and beautiful wines!
In the South of France we always celebrated Bastille Day with a good meal between friends. Served outdoors in an informal style was always my favorite. An Apéro style is a fun way to welcome guests for a fun gathering
Dishes such as Salade Niçoise, Salade Tropezienne, Fresh baked Baguette, Petit Farçis Niçois, Le Grand Aïoli and Bayaldi Provençal are great to serve. Your guests will appreciate the authentic French flavors
Please let me know if you are making one of these best 25 French recipes for Bastille Day. I love to hear from you!
Au plaisir,
Le Chef's Wife
Britney Brown-Chamberlain says
I cannot wait to try some of these recipes to celebrate Bastille Day! What a great lineup! Thanks for the recommendations!
lechefswife says
thank you so much for your comment, Britney! And thank you for your amazing Macaron recipe! The perfect dessert for Bastille Day.
Shani says
Anina Belle, what a tremendous roundup to honor Bastille Day! I'm going straight for the French Onion Soup Gratinée and La Crème Brûlée. Amazing job!
lechefswife says
thank you so much for your comment, Shani! This French Onion soup is amazing - we use chicken stock and the onions melt in your mouth!
Suzanne says
All very useful and appetizing. Thank you lechefswife!
lechefswife says
Thank you for your comment! I am glad you like it 🙂