In this category you will find recipes which have their roots in France. French cuisine varies according to the season. In summer, salads and fruit dishes are popular because they are refreshing and produce is inexpensive and abundant. Greengrocers prefer to sell their fruit and vegetables at lower prices if needed, rather than see them rot in the heat. At the end of summer, mushrooms become plentiful and appear in stews throughout France. The hunting season begins in September and runs through to February. Game of all kinds is eaten, often in elaborate dishes that celebrate the success of the hunt. Shellfish are at their peak when winter turns to spring, and oysters appear in restaurants in large quantities. With the advent of the deep-freeze and air-conditioned hypermarché, these seasonal variations are less marked than hitherto, but they are still observed, in some cases due to legal restrictions. Crayfish, for example, have a short season and it is illegal to catch them out of season. Moreover, they do not freeze well.

AOP ingredients

AOP stands for ‘Appellation d'Origine Protégée’ which in the UK we know as 'Protected Designation of Origin' (PDO). Under the EU agricultural product quality policy, this "covers agricultural products and foodstuffs which are produced, processed and prepared in a given geographical area using recognised know-how". The following French ingredients are those which are registered as AOP.

IGP ingredients

IGP stands for ‘Indication Géographique Protégée’ which in the UK we know as 'Protected Geographical Indication' (PGI). Under the EU agricultural product quality policy, this "covers agricultural products and foodstuffs closely linked to the geographical area. At least one of the stages of production, processing or preparation takes place in the area." The following French ingredients are those which are registered as IGP.

STG ingredients

STG stands for ‘Spécialité Traditionnelle Garantie’ which in the UK is known as 'Traditional Speciality Guaranteed’ (TSG). It "highlights traditional character, either in the composition or means of production". The following French products are those registered as STG.

AOC ingredients

AOC stands for ‘Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée’ which translates as ‘controlled name of origin’. The Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (INAO), a branch of the French Ministry of Agriculture guarantees that all AOC products will hold to a rigorous set of clearly defined standards. The organisation stresses that AOC products will be produced in a consistent and traditional manner with ingredients from specifically classified producers in designated geographical areas. In the case of wine and cheese they must be matured at least partially in the respective designated area. The following French ingredients are those which are registered as AOC.

French Ingredients in the UK

We also have a list of suppliers of French ingredients

French cheeses

We have a huge section covering French cheeses, categorised by region.

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FRENCH RECIPES