Cuisine
French Sunday dinners
French technique is the grammar much of Western restaurant cooking is written in, but French home cooking is plainer than its reputation: a roast chicken, a gratin, a braise that has been in the oven since lunchtime. The plans here use the technique without the ceremony — a pan sauce is three minutes of work and it is the single most useful thing on this list to learn.
4 plans in the Sunday Gallery.
What French plans look like
Most common mains
- beef1
- chicken1
- duck1
- fish1
How they're cooked
- Pan-seared2
- Grilled1
- Roasted1
The plans
- French · duckBurgundian Duck Supper
A compact, regionally French supper centered on roasted magret with a glossy cherry–red-wine reduction, with classic pommes sarladaises and green beans almondine — simple classical technique, bold sauce, and warm goat‑cheese toast to start. Precisely timed so everything finishes at 17:00 for four diners.
- French · fishFrench Saturday Supper: Sauteed New Potatoes, Haricots Verts Almondine & Pan-Seared Salmon with Beurre Blanc
A compact French family supper that balances a glossy, buttery beurre blanc and crisp-skinned salmon with warm herbed potatoes and bright green beans — all timed so the saucy, pan-finished elements land at the table at 17:00.
- French · chickenAutumn French Family Supper
A balanced, family-friendly French Sunday supper: golden gratin dauphinois, tender pan-seared chicken à la moutarde, crisp haricots verts almondine and a peppery mâche salad. The menu is built to finish-to-order so plates come together hot at 17:00, with a light Gamay for adults and a sparkling apple-citrus spritz for kids.
- French · beefFlank Steak à la Française
Delight in a French culinary journey featuring succulent flank steak with classic ratatouille, paired with a crisp French cider, offering a delightful escape for both adults and children.
By cooking method
Want a plan like these for your Sunday?
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