French Riviera Pantry Essentials Checklist

Have you been wanting to try cooking French Riviera cuisine at home but don't know where to start? Delicious, beautiful, French Riviera inspired meals are simpler than you might think to prepare - all that is required are a few basic pantry essentials, matched with the fruits and vegetables that are in season in your area. Most ingredients are easily available in your local supermarket to get you started. Here is our complete French Riviera Pantry Essentials Checklist to get you on your way to cooking French Riviera inspired meals at home.

Below you will find the complete checklist. If you would like the printable version, sign up for Le Chef's Wife's newsletter and and I will email you a printable PDF of our French Riviera Pantry Essentials Checklist.

French Riviera Pantry Checklist PDF

What we Use in our own Kitchen

Le Chef and I recently sat down and took inventory of everything that was in our pantry. We don't have a lot of space in our kitchen - to be honest, our "pantry" is really two kitchen cupboards. Having just the right ingredients, the ones that we use over and over again, is key. We don't have space for lots of jars and spices we seldom use - that is for sure!

French Riviera cuisine is very simple in general, with a focus on the fresh ingredients more than the spices and sauces.

If all you have is olive oil, vinegar and some sea salt you are already well on your way to seasoning a large number of French Riviera dishes. Add a little Herbes de Provence and you can give a French Riviera & Provençal twist to any dish.

Frequently Asked Questions about French Riviera Cuisine:

What is French Riviera Cuisine?

Very simply - it is a healthier version of what is commonly known as French cuisine. Rooted in the Mediterranean diet , the food of the French Riviera is a mix of Provençal, Italian, Greek, North African and French cuisines. It is inspired by the sun and the Mediterranean sea and features lots of seasonal fruits and vegetables, fish, and olive oil. Preferred cooking methods are oven baked or poached and the iconic ingredients of northern French cuisine, butter and cheese, are seldom used. The most common seasonings are rosemary, thyme, herbes de Provence, as well fresh lemon or orange zest.

What are "Herbes de Provence"

Herbes de Provence is a blend of herbs that includes Thyme, Rosemary, Oregano, Sariette (Summer Savory) and Marjoram. You can easily find dried Herbes de Provence in most supermarkets though the beauty is in the balance of the herb mixture. Many American Herbes de Provence blends are strong with oregano, while French Herbes de Provence blends feature more thyme and rosemary. Herbes de Provence are a great way to season meat for grilling, vegetables for baking or simply sprinkled over salads. Petits Farçis Nicois is one of my favorite recipes that features Herbes de Provence.