The best French cookbook is an indispensable thing in the kitchen of French food lovers. There’s no easier way to access the luxury French recipes and culture than an engaging cookbook with vibrant pictures and colors!
French cuisine is famous worldwide for its fancy and exotic dishes, the unique combination of processing and enjoying the recipes, contributing to deepening the flavor of French dishes. The best French cookbooks bring you clichéd recipes and a great old French culinary culture.
The History of French Cuisine
According to historical books, the history of French cuisine officially began in the 16th century, when Catherine De Medicis, Princess of Florentina (in present-day Italy), was married to King Henry II of France.
The princess brought her close cooks from Florentina across thousands of miles to her husband’s house. This chef spread the delicacy of Italian cuisine to his family friend.
The resonance of these two civilizations has created momentum for French cuisine to sublimate and officially appear on the map of world culinary culture.
Characteristics of French Cuisine
Regarding French cuisine, people mention the unique French recipes that always exude sophistication and beauty with luxurious nuances when enjoying them, exuding a level of arrogance that made the whole world admire them.
The French pay special attention to how to decorate dishes beautifully, with colorful decorations. Especially cheese and wine processing techniques that were formed a long time ago.
The unique feature of French cuisine, famous for its fancy and exotic dishes, and the unique combination of alcohol in processing and enjoying dishes, contributes to deepening the flavor of French dishes.
The French are known to be very gourmet and are especially careful in each stage of eating, preparing, and sitting comfortably and artistically.
Let me provide you with a snapshot of the special French cuisine!
10 Indispensable Ingredients in French Cuisine
Along with the ingredients, the way of processing all the outstanding features of French cuisine is the use of luxury ingredients, elaborately processed, delicately decorated, and enjoyed in the right way.
Bread
Bread is commonly used in daily meals. The most basic, traditional French dish is the buttered baguette, a long, crunchy bread, a great energy source, served with paté, mayonnaise, or a salad.
Wine
Wine is considered a special beverage in the art of enjoying French cuisine. French wine is well-known worldwide for the name of excellent wines originating from long-standing wine-producing regions.
Cheese
France is known as the world’s largest cheese consumer country, with more than 500 varieties of unique French cheese with different flavors, mainly made from cow, sheep, and goat milk. Roquefort blue cheese is famous for its strong aroma but is easy to crush.
Flour
Wheat flour is an important part of French recipes and cooking. It is incorporated in signature dishes such as cake, toast, or toasted chocolate cake.
Herbes de Provence
“Herbes de Provence” is the term the French use to refer to a mixture of many different herbs and there is no fixed requirement on which types must be included. Herbes de Provence often has fresh thyme, rosemary, and oregano and can be added to any dish.
Garlic
Garlic is the basis of many French dishes and a must-have ingredient in every French kitchen. The aroma of garlic will elevate the dish and a few slices of garlic will make the plate look more beautiful.
Creme Fraiche
Creme Fraiche is used in almost every French recipe. Creme Fraiche is both fatty and slightly sour, but not as harsh as sour cream. Creme Fraiche has a naturally thick and smoother texture, a higher richness, a more delicate and mild sour taste.
Tomato
Tomatoes are a great way to add color to a dish with a great addition of flavor. When in season, French tomatoes are full of colors from red, orange, yellow, green, and purple. It is the basis of many dishes and an indispensable ingredient in refreshing salads.
Mushroom
Mushroom spaghetti, cover soup, everything about mushrooms! Mushrooms are an ingredient that is extremely loved by the French because it gives interesting textures and adds great flavor to dishes.
Butter
In pastries, croissants, and all kinds of sauces, the French will never forget to add butter. The signature fatty taste of butter can enhance the overall flavor of any French dish.
Chef Michael Bonacini will take you through the essential French ingredients!
Which Are The Best French Cookbooks In 2023?
French cuisine offers uniqueness in the way it is prepared and enjoyed. So what’s interesting about the best French cookbook, and what features does it have? Let’s take a look below!
- Best Famous Of All Time: Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1: A Cookbook, by Julia Child, Simone Beck, and Louisette Bertholle
- Best With Story: My Paris Kitchen: Recipes and Stories [A Cookbook], by David Lebovitz
- Best With Illustrated Photos: The French Laundry Cookbook (The Thomas Keller Library), by Thomas Keller and Deborah Jones
- Best Modern: Dinner in French: My Recipes by Way of France: A Cookbook, by Melissa Clark
- Best For Home Cooks: Around My French Table: More than 300 Recipes from My Home to Yours, by Dorie Greenspan
- Best For Everyday Cooking: Everyday French Cooking: Modern French Cuisine Made Simple, by Wini Moranville
- Best For Chefs: Grand Livre De Cuisine, by Alain Ducasse
- Best Authentic and Traditional: A Kitchen in France: A Year of Cooking in My Farmhouse: A Cookbook, by Mimi Thorison
- Best For Paris Lovers: Tasting Paris: 100 Recipes to Eat Like a Local: A Cookbook, by Clotilde Dusoulier
- Best For Pastry And Beginners: The Art of French Pastry: A Cookbook, by Jacquy Pfeiffer and Martha Rose Shulman
- Best Classic From Chefs: The French Chef Cookbook, by Julia Child
- Best for Bakers: The French Baker: Authentic Recipes for Traditional Bread, Desserts, and Dinners, by Sébastien Boudet and Olaf Hajek
- Best Vegetarian: The French Market Cookbook: Vegetarian Recipes from My Parisian Kitchen, by Clotilde Dusoulier
12+ Best French Cookbooks You Must Have In 2023
You must be very anxious to know what are the 13 great titles of French cuisine today! Without making you wait any longer, I will introduce you to the following:
1. Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1: A Cookbook, by Julia Child, Simone Beck, and Louisette Bertholle
(Best Famous Of All Time)
Mastering the Art of French Cooking has been the symbol of French cookbooks for sixty years. You are probably no stranger to Julia Child, a world-famous female chef, although she does not possess a culinary degree or own a luxury restaurant chain.
Not only that, Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle – two masters of French cooking, are the two female authors who co-created this wonderful, unique cookbook. This cookbook offers you detailed instructions on techniques, not just an ingredient list.
This cookbook is packed with 524 delicious recipes every step of the way. Moreover, there are more than 100 instructive illustrations and precise line drawings. From experts to beginners, everyone will love this authentic cookbook.
Pros
- Explains how to create authentic French dishes
- Teaches the key techniques of French cooking
- Detailed instructions on ingredient lists
- Incredibly easy to read and follow
- Suitable for both experts and beginners
- Excellent quality control of the printing
Cons
- It takes a bit of time to make perfect recipes
Take a final look at Mastering the Art of French Cooking to know if it is worth buying!
2. My Paris Kitchen: Recipes and Stories [A Cookbook], by David Lebovitz
(Best With Story)
Do you love the people and food of Paris? This book is just for you! My Paris Kitchen: Recipes and Stories is not exactly a cookbook, but it is infused with stories as well as many wonderful photographs taken on location around Paris that the author David Lebovitz sent from Paris.
David Lebovitz is a famous food blogger who loves French cuisine in general and Paris in particular. In this book, he brings 100 sweet and savory French-inspired recipes along with lots of interesting stories about the romantic capital of France.
Not only stopping at sweet and savory dishes, from tasty French appetizers to desserts, he also cleverly combines techniques from around the world, reflecting the way Paris people eat today.
Pros
- A collection of interesting stories
- 100 French dessert recipes
- Reflect on the way Parisians eat today
- Incorporate ingredients and techniques from worldwide
- Wonderful photography has taken on location around Paris
Cons
- Some ingredients can be a little hard to find
See David Lebovitz talking about My Paris Kitchen at Googleplex!
3. The French Laundry Cookbook (The Thomas Keller Library), by Thomas Keller and Deborah Jones
(Best With Illustrated Photos)
Thomas Keller – the author of this book, is a genius chef with the famous French Laundry restaurant in Napa Valley. The French Laundry Cookbook marks the 25th anniversary of this restaurant.
Yes, this talented chef’s book offers recipes that will leave you as satisfied as a meal at French Laundry. Everything is perfect in every detail. In addition, the Illustrated pictures by Deborah Jones make everything more radiant.
This cookbook includes 150 signature recipes from the French Laundry restaurant, with all the most detailed and easiest steps to increase your experiences and skills. From palatable French soups to fish to eggs to vegetables, you’ll reach perfection in every dish with this book.
Pros
- 150 special recipes from the French Laundry
- Detailed and straightforward processing steps
- All recipes are thoroughly tested in the home kitchen
- Realistic illustrated pictures
Cons
- Require a bit of experience and skill
Let’s discover the iconic restaurant the French Laundry on its 25th anniversary!
4. Dinner in French: My Recipes by Way of France: A Cookbook, by Melissa Clark
(Best Modern)
French dinners will become more modern than ever through the pen of Melissa Clark. She is a food writer, cookbook author, and New York Times columnist with over 40 famous cookbooks. As a fan of Julia Child, it can be said that Melissa is a descendant of the famous female author.
Melissa’s cookbook updates classic French techniques and dishes. All are sensibly and effectively applicable to today’s American cooking style. Moreover, there are many useful time-saver tips offered to you.
Under Melissa’s unique and personal style, you get to experience great recipes to try like Cornmeal and Harissa Soufflé, Salade Nicoise with Haricot Vert, Lamb Shank Cassoulet, Campari Olive Oil Cake, etc.
Pros
- Updated many classic techniques and recipes
- Provide a lot of useful and quick tips
- Every recipe accommodates a beautiful color photo
- Most of the ingredients are really accessible
Cons
- Not very effortlessly to cook for beginners
5. Around My French Table: More than 300 Recipes from My Home to Yours, by Dorie Greenspan
(Best For Home Cooks)
Dorie Greenspan became famous when Julia Child praised her cookbook writing skills. Around My French Table: More than 300 Recipes from My Home to Yours is Dorie’s personal book that captures the excitement of cooking during her years living in France.
You will find in this book great classic recipes and hundreds of recipes that are easier to make at home. Not only dry recipes, but this book is also a story and beautiful memories told about the culinary customs of France. This is great work to inspire you to love French food.
Pros
- An inspiring cookbook in your kitchen
- Provide many tips about the culinary of France
- Ideal for making basic, everyday french dishes
- Many interesting real stories behind
Cons
- Not very easy to use for everyone
6. Everyday French Cooking: Modern French Cuisine Made Simple, by Wini Moranville
(Best For Everyday Cooking)
Do you like French cuisine and want to have delicious meals every day? Everyday French Cooking: Modern French Cuisine Made Simple! You can access healthy recipes made from easy-to-find ingredients brought straight from French home kitchens.
The book is authored by Wini Moranville, a home-cooking enthusiast who breathes life into palatable, enjoyable, and time-saving French meals.
The book applies both classic and contemporary cooking methods with the most specific and time-saving recipes. With the exciting tips and tricks, you can easily make all the main dishes in just 30 minutes!
Pros
- Bring classic French cuisine to everyday modern dishes
- Attractive finished-recipe photos
- Provide many cooking tips, tricks, and shortcuts
- Inspire you to cook fresh food every day
7. Grand Livre De Cuisine, by Alain Ducasse
(Best For Chefs)
A career journey has led Alain Ducasse to the status of one of the most prestigious chefs, along with a culinary empire of his own creation that soon went beyond Michelin-starred restaurants around the world.
Alain Ducasse wrote this cookbook for real professionals or chefs. The ingredients or techniques required to make the dishes are hard to come by and extremely serious. You will have to admit the quality of each recipe and the photography is superb.
The recipes in this incredible Mediterranean cookbook are also very detailed and very complex, filled with the essence and ideas of the most professional dishes. And finally, if you are looking for a cookbook written entirely in French, this would be ideal.
Pros
- Introduce 700 French and Mediterranean recipes
- Ultimate recipes and food-preparation
- Based on the author’s philosophies
- Incorporate 10 French key cooking styles
- Provide various ingredients and courses with detailed reference
Cons
- A bit bulky to carry around
- Not very suitable for beginners
8. A Kitchen in France: A Year of Cooking in My Farmhouse: A Cookbook, by Mimi Thorison
(Best Authentic and Traditional)
Mimi Thorison with A Kitchen in France will bring you a panoramic view of the beautiful countryside of France in both images and text. As a food blogger, Mimi brings her authentic experiences to bring the best authentic French cooking.
This cookbook will bring you the most traditional recipes, using wonderful ingredients from the French countryside to the right season to cook each dish. Every recipe has a corresponding real picture taken by the author’s husband.
So cozy for a family dinner with the traditional taste of both the scrummy French side dishes and main dishes! The authentic and rustic recipes you can find in this book are crème fraîche, grilled chicken with herbs, winter vegetable cocotte, apple pie, and salted butter biscuits.
Pros
- Reflect on the beautiful countries of France
- Authentic recipes with wonderful ingredients
- Focus on the right season to cook each dish
- Realistic, vivid pictures for each recipe
Cons
- The construction of the book should be more stable
Take a preview through the French cookbook “A Kitchen in France: A Year of Cooking in My Farmhouse”!
9. Tasting Paris: 100 Recipes to Eat Like a Local: A Cookbook, by Clotilde Dusoulier
(Best For Paris Lovers)
Clotilde Dusoulier is a true Parisian author with a series of famous books on French cuisine. Tasting Paris: 100 Recipes to Eat Like a Local: A Cookbook combines new and classic French recipes and cooking techniques.
There’s nothing better than inviting your guests in with the Parisian culinary arts imbued in this book. Clotilde Dusoulier brings you 100 dishes that make Paris famous for food and 125 vivid photos.
Not only traditional dishes like grilled chicken with bread and butter, but this cookbook also introduces many modern recipes that Parisians eat today, such as Ratatouille Pita Sandwich.
Pros
- Combination of modern and classic French recipes
- Bring you into a representative day in Paris
- Beautifully photographed series of images
- Provide new techniques and new Parisian recipes
Cons
- Some recipes take quite a long time to carry out
Let’s take a tour through every page of Tasting Paris: 100 Recipes to Eat Like a Local!
10. The Art of French Pastry: A Cookbook, by Jacquy Pfeiffer and Martha Rose Shulman
(Best For Pastry And Beginners)
The pastry is one of the most special characteristics of French cuisine. This cookbook will give beginners the ultimate pastry-making experience and teach you all the tips for making delicate French cookies, éclairs, croissants, and macaroons. You will find almost all French desserts here.
Witten by Jacquy Pfeiffer, Award-winning pastry chef, and Martha Rose Shulman, this book is a wonderful combination of two talented authors and chefs.
The recipes build on the basics, and the steps are easy to follow until you have a thorough understanding of how to choose the ingredients and how they work together to create the perfect pastry.
Pros
- A useful guide for all kinds of pastries
- Good for beginners by starting from the basics
- Guide how to choose the ingredients
- Easy to follow steps with vivid pictures
Cons
- The cooking time should be more accurate
11. The French Chef Cookbook, by Julia Child
(Best Classic From Chefs)
This is another cookbook from great cooking master Julia Child, author of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1: A Cookbook – the best cookbook of all time I have introduced you above.
The French Chef Cookbook is not inferior compared to any of her other cookbooks. It presents a series of great classic recipes to share drawn from the original French Chef television series.
The book contains 119 traditional French recipes that have undergone many trials to reach the highest perfection. You will find mouthwatering dishes from crepes to steaks and vegetables to desserts.
Pros
- Easier to handle with a smaller size
- Simple and clear descriptions and instructions
- Include illustrations for more interesting reading experience
- Easy for home cooking and beginners
Cons
- Some recipes are a bit old-fashioned
12. The French Baker: Authentic Recipes for Traditional Bread, Desserts, and Dinners, by Sébastien Boudet and Olaf Hajek
(Best for Bakers)
Every baker will love this cookbook written by talented second-generation baker Sébastien Boudet. The author brings to the artist the art of baking many types of French bread and how to make the perfect dessert with natural ingredients.
Not only do recipes like crunchy French cookies, quiche lorraine, bouillabaisse, cakes, and chocolate desserts, but the book celebrates the techniques and traditions of distinctive French cuisine with beautiful family photos, French cuisine, and countryside by Olaf Hajek.
Pros
- Great ideas to inspire the French-style bakers
- Suggest how to use the fresh, natural ingredients
- Wonderful illustrations of both foods and the countries
- Include many new cooking methods in old recipes
Cons
- You may need to do some ingredient unit conversions
- Not all recipes are 100% reliable
13. The French Market Cookbook: Vegetarian Recipes from My Parisian Kitchen, by Clotilde Dusoulier
(Best Vegetarian)
If you are a vegetarian who loves France, you must thank Clotilde Dusoulier again for creating this wonderful cookbook. If you remember, this is the talented author of Tasting Paris: 100 Recipes to Eat Like a Local: A Cookbook I have mentioned before.
Inspired by the farmer’s market with its gluten-free and dairy-free recipes, this vegetarian-friendly cookbook offers delicious and healthy treats for you to choose from every day.
Unlike typical vegetarian recipes, the cookbook in this book tries to cut down on the toothsome French cheese, cream, and kinds of pasta and instead use the mild flavors of vegetables. 82 recipes with 75 color photographs will give you delicious temptation.
Pros
- Suitable to build a healthy diet
- 75 color photographs describe 82 recipes
- Various gluten-free and dairy-free recipes
- Replace heavy ingredients with light vegetables
Cons
- Some recipes are not very simple for the everyday cook
FAQs
Discover more information about French cuisine and cookbooks by the questions and answers below:
Pick Up Your Best Cookbook And Do Some French Treats!
The above are outstanding cookbooks in French cuisine, not only attractive in taste and aroma, but also behind a remarkable historical journey and hidden the good outlook of people with all things around.
I really love to highly recommend you buy the Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1: A Cookbook, by Julia Child, Simone Beck, and Louisette Bertholle with 524 delicious recipes and more than 100 instructive illustrations for both beginners and experts.
Learn more about the culinary features of the whole country in France to help you gain more knowledge or learn culinary experiences to have delicious recipes in cooking that bring out special flavors, stimulating people to enjoy.
Let me know which cookbook you love the most in the comment section. And don’t forget to share the post if you find it interesting!
