Basic Techniques in French Cuisine

The majority of French Cuisine is within the reach of any home cook. This is a great place to learn the basics and then set yourself free to express your creativity.

French chefs and culinary institutes have tried, with some success, to keep French cuisine out of the hands of any but the elite. It need not be so. 90% of the techniques of French cuisine are within the reach of the home cook. Here are a few of the basics, none of them mysterious.

Basic French Cuisine Techniques

Crepes

• How to Make Crêpes

Au Gratin

• Au Gratin Potatoes

Bain Marie

• Baking with Bain Marie (Water Bath)

Braising

• The Basics of Braising

Meringue

Meringue Basics

• How to Make Meringue Cookies with nuts or chocolate chips

Omelette

• Baked Spinach Omelette
• How to Make a Basic French Omelette

En Papillote-Cooking in Parchment Paper Packages

• Cooking En Papillote

Poaching

• How to Poach a Chicken
• How to Poach a Salmon Filet

Quiche

• Quiche Basics
• Asparagus & Bacon Quiche

Saboyan

• How to Make Sweet Saboyan

French Sauces

• Pernod-Tarragon Cream Sauce for Seared Sea Scallops

Classic French Soups

• Asparagus Vichycoise
• French Onion Soup
• Vegetarian French Onion Soup
• Classic French Potato-Leek Soup: Vichyssoise

Steaming

• How to Steam Asparagus or other Vegetables

Focus on Ingredients

Check out Classic French Ingredients .