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Bonjour Foodies: French-Inspired Recipes with Martin’s Potato Rolls & Bread
July 22, 2024
7 min. read
Bonjour, Foodies!
French cuisine has influenced countless chefs and food lovers worldwide. Renowned for its elegance, intricacy, and precision, French cuisine is often considered one of the highest forms of culinary art. From its use of fresh, high-quality ingredients to meticulous cooking techniques, French food holds a special place in the hearts of food enthusiasts everywhere. And with the summer 2024 global sporting event debuting soon in Paris, it’s the perfect time to celebrate these beloved flavors with some French-inspired recipes.
Iconic dishes like French toast, crème brûlée, and salad Niçoise highlight the versatility and depth of French cooking, showcasing a range of flavors and textures that are both sophisticated and comforting. With bread being a staple in French culture, we thought we’d put our own spin on some of the classics with a special touch from Martin’s Famous Potato Rolls and Bread. Our French-inspired recipes are simple yet elegant, adding a little “je ne sais quoi” to your table.
Blending age-old traditions with innovative techniques, French cuisine is simply timeless. Whether it’s a laid-back brunch or a fancy dinner party, these French-inspired recipes are guaranteed to impress your family and friends. Join us on this delightful culinary adventure and experience the charm of France right in your own kitchen!
French-Inspired Recipes:
Crème Brûlée Bites
Crème Brûlée, meaning “burnt cream,” is a rich custard dessert topped with a contrasting layer of hard caramel. It’s traditionally made with a creamy vanilla custard base and a caramelized sugar topping achieved with a torch.
Our Crème Brûlée Bites bring this French classic to your table with a twist. Using Martin’s Sweet Dinner Potato Rolls, these bite-sized treats are filled with a vanilla pudding mixture and topped with caramelized demerara sugar, turning a fancy formal dessert into a handheld treat!
Link: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/creme-brulee-bites/
Tuna Niçoise Salad with Croutons
Salade Niçoise is a traditional French salad originating from Nice, featuring tuna, hard-boiled eggs, Niçoise olives, and anchovies, along with other optional ingredients, over a bed of greens. It’s known for its bright, fresh flavors and variety of textures.
Our Tuna Niçoise Salad is elevated with homemade croutons (another French creation) made from Martin’s Hoagie Rolls. This version retains the classic components with the addition of the herb-seasoned croutons, roasted baby potatoes and green beans, cherry tomatoes, and a simple red wine vinaigrette.
Link: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/tuna-nicoise-salad-with-croutons/
French Toast
French toast is known as “pain perdu” in France, meaning “lost bread.” This beloved breakfast dish is traditionally made by soaking stale bread in a mixture of eggs, milk, and spices, then frying it to a golden brown. As the name suggests, this dish was originally made as a way to use up stale bread rather than letting it go to waste. (This tradition can even be traced back to the Roman Empire!)
Our version of this classic uses Martin’s Old-Fashioned Real Butter Bread, adding a rich, buttery flavor to this breakfast favorite. The recipe includes a dash of vanilla and cinnamon for an extra touch of warmth and sweetness and is served with warm maple syrup and powdered sugar.
Link: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/grandmas-old-fashioned-french-toast/
French Onion Soup
French Onion Soup is a deeply flavorful soup made from caramelized onions and beef stock, and topped with a cheesy bread crust. It’s famous for its rich, comforting taste and perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors.
Our French Onion Soup recipe features toasted Martin’s Potato Bread topped with a melty mix of Gruyere and Parmesan cheese, floating atop a savory broth of beef stock, herbs, and caramelized yellow onions. It’s the perfect dish for a rainy day.
Link: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/french-onion-soup/
Croque Monsieur / Madame
The Croque Monsieur is a classic French grilled cheese sandwich made with ham, Gruyère cheese, and topped with béchamel sauce. The Croque Madame variation includes a fried egg on top. The name stems from the French words croque (meaning “crunch”) and Monsieur or Madame (“gentleman” or “lady”).
To make this recipe, first prepare a classic French béchamel sauce by whisking together melted butter and flour in a saucepan over medium-low heat; add milk and seasonings and stir until smooth and slightly thickened. Next, prepare a ham and cheese sandwich using toasted Martin’s Potato Bread and a touch of Dijon mustard. Top the sandwich with some béchamel sauce and cook in a preheated oven until the cheese is melted; finish off under the broiler until the béchamel is lightly golden brown.
Link: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/croque-monsieur/
Quiche Lorraine
Quiche Lorraine is a savory tart from the Lorraine region of France, typically filled with a creamy custard of eggs, cream, bacon, and cheese.
Our Potato Bread Quiche Lorraine replaces the traditional pastry crust with a layer of Martin’s Potato Bread. This innovative twist offers a unique taste and texture, complementing the classic filling of eggs, Gruyère cheese, and bacon.
Link: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/potato-bread-quiche-lorraine/
Éclairs
Éclairs are a traditional French pastry made from choux dough filled with pastry cream and topped with a chocolate glaze. They are known for their delicate, airy texture and rich, creamy filling.
Our version of Éclairs uses Martin’s Sweet Party Potato Rolls to create a fun and unique twist on the classic. The rolls are halved and filled with a homemade vanilla pastry cream and topped with a smooth chocolate glaze, making them a delightful treat for any occasion.
Link: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/eclairs/
Charcuterie
Charcuterie boards are an assortment of cured meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, and accompaniments, arranged artfully for grazing. This French tradition often incorporates a varied array of items, making it a versatile choice for gatherings.
Every charcuterie board is different! We love coming up with unique flavor pairings and experimenting with different types of meats, cheeses, and accompaniments. Choose your favorite Martin’s Potato Rolls and Bread product and turn it into crostini or toast crackers to use as a vehicle for your charcuterie creations! Learn more tips on how to create the perfect board at the link below.
Link: https://potatorolls.com/blog/charcuterie-boards/
Croutons
Croutons are small pieces of toasted bread, often seasoned, used to add texture and flavor to soups and salads. They are a versatile staple in French cuisine. The word “crouton” is derived from the French word croute, meaning “crust.”
To prepare croutons using Martin’s Potato Bread, first cut the bread into small cubes, arrange on a large baking sheet, and leave overnight until slightly stale and hardened. Next, season the bread cubes with olive oil or butter and your preferred blend of seasonings, then bake in a 350 F oven for about 8 minutes or until golden brown. Use to garnish your favorite dishes. Try our below recipe to make Garlic Parmesan Croutons, perfect for a classic Caesar salad.
Link: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/garlic-parmesan-croutons/
Hollandaise Sauce
Hollandaise sauce is one of the five classic French “mother sauces,” which many other sauces use as a base. It is traditionally made from egg yolks, melted butter, and lemon juice and is known for its rich, creamy texture and inclusion in dishes like Eggs Benedict.
Our Savory French Toast recipe is a great way to showcase this famous French sauce. Using Martin’s Butter Bread as the base, the French toast is flavored with parmesan, garlic, scallions, and parsley, and topped with a rich and creamy hollandaise sauce, crumbled bacon, and fresh herbs.
Link: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/savory-french-toast-with-hollandaise-sauce/
Eggs Florentine
Eggs Florentine is a variation on Eggs Benedict, replacing the traditional ham with spinach. It features poached eggs, sautéed spinach, and hollandaise sauce on an English muffin or bread.
Our Eggs Florentine uses Martin’s Sweet Dinner Potato Rolls as the base, giving the dish a subtle sweet flavor and soft texture, making it great for any brunch. For tips on how to perfectly poach an egg, see our Eggs 101 guide.
Link: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/eggs-florentine/
Béarnaise Sauce
Béarnaise sauce is considered a “daughter sauce” of hollandaise. This rich, buttery sauce is made with egg yolks, clarified butter, and lemon juice or vinegar, and is flavored with herbs such as tarragon and shallots. It is traditionally served with grilled meats and vegetables.
Our Béarnaise-Glazed Mini Dinner Rolls feature Martin’s Sweet Party Potato Rolls brushed with a simple béarnaise sauce and baked until golden and shiny. The sauce, seasoned with thyme, parsley, and cayenne pepper, adds a gourmet touch to the rolls, which we served on a seasonal breakfast platter.
Link: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/bearnaise-glazed-mini-dinner-rolls/
French cuisine offers a versatility that can be easily adapted using Martin’s products. At the same time, it gives a certain flair to your meals that is commonly associated with fine dining. Try making the above recipes and bring a touch of France to your table. Bon appétit!
Find more great recipes at: https://potatorolls.com/recipes/?re_campaign=french-recipes.
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