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    Home » Food » Entertaining

    July 9, 2022

    Best 25 French Recipes for Bastille Day

    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.

    2 copper plates with Le Grand Aïoli, shrimp, cod, fresh vegetables, mussels a french baguette and aïoli
    Le Grand Aïoli

    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

    Rosé wine overlooking La Baie des Anges - Nice, France

    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:

    Authentic Olive Tapenade

    Fresh Baked Baguette

    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!

    Kir Royal and tapenade
    Kir Royal and Tapenade on Homemade French Baguette

    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.

    Simple Confit Bayaldi

    La Salade Niçoise

    Nicoise salad - tomatoes, artichokes, capers, cucumbers olives and capers with tuna
    La Salade Niçoise

    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

    La Salade Tropezienne with shrimp, peaches, cucumbers, goat cheese, basil and cilantro and lemon thyme on a plate with a glass of Rosé wine and peaches
    La Salade Tropezienne

    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

    french onion Soup gratinée in a white bowl with wine
    French Onion Soup Gratinée

    Main Dishes Perfect for Bastille Day

    Branzino with Vierge Sauce

    Le Grand Aïoli

    Seared Scallops & Leeks in White Wine

    Super Simple French Roast Chicken

    Coq au Vin made simple

    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.

    Branzino on a plate with Vierge Sauce made of tomatoes, capers, shallots, olives and basil
    Branzino with Vierge Sauce

    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.

    La Crème Brûlée

    Mousse au Chocolat

    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

    homemade creme brulee that has a bite out of it - sugar crackly crust
    Crème Brûlée

    (the above can be made in advance so are great for an outdoor gathering when you won't be next to an oven)

    Soufflé au Chocolat

    Moelleux au Chocolat

    Easiest French Crêpe recipe

    Moelleux au chocolat - molten lava chocolate cake
    Moelleux au chocolat

    Frequent Asked Questions about Bastille Day

    What is 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!

    How to celebrate Bastille Day?

    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

    What to serve on Bastille Day?

    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

    Le Chefs Wife logo a big blue stock pot next to the sea with lemons
    « How to host a Bastille Day Celebration
    La Sauce Vierge: authentic Provençal Recipe »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Britney Brown-Chamberlain says

      July 09, 2022 at 12:32 pm

      I cannot wait to try some of these recipes to celebrate Bastille Day! What a great lineup! Thanks for the recommendations!

      Reply
      • lechefswife says

        July 09, 2022 at 11:23 pm

        thank you so much for your comment, Britney! And thank you for your amazing Macaron recipe! The perfect dessert for Bastille Day.

        Reply
    2. Shani says

      July 09, 2022 at 12:37 pm

      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!

      Reply
      • lechefswife says

        July 09, 2022 at 11:23 pm

        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!

        Reply
    3. Suzanne says

      July 09, 2022 at 3:13 pm

      All very useful and appetizing. Thank you lechefswife!

      Reply
      • lechefswife says

        July 09, 2022 at 11:22 pm

        Thank you for your comment! I am glad you like it 🙂

        Reply

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    Bonjour. If you are looking for French Recipes, made simple, you are in the right place! I translate the fancy cooking of my French Chef husband into easy-to-follow recipes that busy people with no culinary training, like me, can cook. From French Baguettes to French Riviera classic recipes, I invite you to learn French cooking with me.

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