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List of French Ingredients

I am having a lot of fun working on this list of French ingredients and you can expect it to grow. Just having all of these wonderful ingredients in one place can give you ideas for dinner tonight. Plus you get the bonus of working on your French food vocabulary at the same time!

Here we go and in no particular order are some French ingredients - that is, ingredients that are used by home cooks in France.


Meat, Poultry, and Deli Products


  • Bacon - Lard maigre (lardons)
  • Beef - Boeuf
  • Boudin - Boudin
  • Chicken - Poulet
  • Cured ham - Jambon de pays
  • Dry sausage - Saucisson
  • Duck - Canard
  • Duck mousse - Mousse de canard
  • Goose - Oie
  • Goose liver - Foie gras
  • Ham - Jambon blanc
  • Lamb - Agneau
  • Lard - Saindoux
  • Mutton - Mouton
  • Organ meats - Abats
  • Paté - Paté
  • Pork - Porc
  • Rabbit - Lapin
  • Rillettes - Rillettes
  • Sausage - Saucisse
  • Turkey - Dinde
  • Veal - Veau
  • Wild Boar - Sanglier


Fish, Seafood and Such

  • Anchovy - Anchois
  • Bass - Bar
  • Cod - Cabillaud
  • Clams - Clams
  • Crab - Crabe (araignée de mer)
  • Crayfish - Langouste (also écrevisse)
  • Eel - Anguille
  • Frogs' legs - Cuisses de grenouille
  • Grouper - Merou
  • Haddock - Haddock
  • Halibut - Flétan
  • Herring - Hareng
  • Lemon sole - Limande
  • Lobster - Homard
  • Mackerel - Maquereau
  • Monkfish - Lotte
  • Mullet - Rouget
  • Mussels - Moules
  • Octopus - Poulpe
  • Oysters - Huitres
  • Perch - Perche
  • Salmon - Saumon
  • Sardine - Sardine
  • Scallops - Coquilles Saint-Jacques
  • Sea bream - Daurade
  • Sea snails - Bigorneaux
  • Sea urchins - Oursins
  • Shrimp - Crevette
  • Smoked salmon - Saumon fumé
  • Sole - Sole
  • Squid - Calmar
  • Sturgeon - Esturgeon
  • Swordfish - Espadon
  • Trout - Truite
  • Tuna - Thon
  • Turbot - Turbot
  • Whiting - Merlan


Dairy and Eggs

(There are several French ingredients which you may be unable to find an exact equivalent. Crème fraîche and fromage blanc are two such products.)

  • Butter - Beurre
  • Crème fraîche
  • Eggs - Oeufs
  • Fresh Cheese - Fromage blanc, petite suisse
  • Half and half - Crème léger
  • Milk - Lait
  • Pasteurized milk - Lait pasteurisé
  • Quails Eggs - Oeufs de caille
  • Yogurt - Yaourt
  • Whipping cream - Crème liquide



Cheese

With over three hundred types of cheese to their name, the French have a lot to choose from. Here is a selection of some of the more common ones that might be used to cook with, and since they require no translation, you can quickly expand your French food vocabulary.

  • Beaufort
  • Bleu d’Auvergne
  • Brie
  • Camembert
  • Cantal
  • Chèvre
  • Comté
  • Crémeux
  • Emmental
  • Feta
  • Fromage à tartiner
  • Gouda
  • Gruyère
  • Mozzarella
  • Munster
  • Parmesan
  • Raclette
  • Reblochon
  • Roquefort
  • Tome



Vegetables

You can learn more about these French ingredients here: French vegetables.

  • Artichoke - Artichaut
  • Asparagus - Asperges
  • Avocado - Avocat
  • Beets - Betteraves
  • Belgian Endive - Endive
  • Bell Peppers - Poivrons
  • Broccoli - Brocoli
  • Brussels sprouts - Choux de Bruxelles
  • Cabbage - Chou
  • Carrots - Carottes
  • Cauliflower - Chou-fleur
  • Celery - Céleri Branche
  • Celery Root - Céleri-Rave
  • Chard - Bette
  • Cucumber - Concombre
  • Eggplant - Aubergine
  • Fennel - Fenouil
  • Garlic - Ail
  • Green beans - Haricots verts
  • Green Onions - Oignons nouveaux
  • Lettuce - Salade
  • Leeks - Poireaux
  • Mesclun Mix - Mesclun
  • Mushrooms - Champignons
  • Onions - Oignons
  • Parsnips - Panais
  • Peas - Petits Pois
  • Peppers - Piment
  • Potatoes - Pommes de Terre
  • Rhubarb - Rhubarbe
  • Salsify - Salsifis
  • Shallots - Echalotes
  • Sorrel - Oseille
  • Spinach - Epinards
  • Squash - Courge
  • Sweet Potato - Patate Douce
  • Tomato - Tomate
  • Turnips - Navets
  • White beans - Haricots blanc
  • Water cress - Cression
  • Zucchini - Courgette



Fruit and Nuts

  • Almond - Amande
  • Apple - Pomme
  • Apricot - Abricot
  • Cranberry - Airelle
  • Banana - Banane
  • Blackberry - Mûre
  • Black currant - Cassis
  • Blueberry - Myrtille
  • Cherry - Cerise
  • Chestnut - Marron
  • Clementine - Clementine
  • Coconut - Noix de coco
  • Dates - Dattes
  • Elderberry - Sureau
  • Fig - Figue
  • Grape - Raisin
  • Grapefruit - Pamplemousse
  • Hazelnut - Noisette
  • Kiwi - Kiwi
  • Lemon - Citron
  • Lime - Citron Vert
  • Melon - Melon
  • Mango - Mangue
  • Nectarine - Nectarine
  • Orange - Orange
  • Olives - Olives
  • Papaya - Papaye
  • Peach - Pêche
  • Peanut - Arachide or cacahouête
  • Pear - Poire
  • Pinapple - Ananas
  • Pinenuts - Pignon
  • Pistachio Nuts - Pistache
  • Plum - Prune
  • Prunes - Pruneaux
  • Quince - Coing
  • Raisins - Raisins secs
  • Raspberry - Framboise
  • Red currant - Groseille
  • Strawberry - Fraise
  • Tangerine - Tangerine
  • Walnut - Noix



Herbs, Spices, Flavorings and More French Ingredients

  • Angelica - Angélique
  • Anise - Anis
  • Basil - Basilic
  • Bay leaves - Laurier
  • Bouquet garni
  • Brandy - Eau de vie
  • Capers - Capres
  • Cardamom - Cardamome
  • Chervil - Cerfeuil
  • Chives - Ciboulette
  • Cinnamon - Cannelle
  • Cloves - Clous de girofle
  • Coffee - Café
  • Cognac - Cognac
  • Coriander - Coriandre
  • Cumin - Cumin
  • Curry - Curry
  • Dill - Anethh
  • Garlic - Ail
  • Ginger - Gingembre
  • Herbes de Provence
  • Honey - Miel
  • Lavender - Lavande
  • Mint - Menthe
  • Mustard - Moutarde
  • Nutmeg - Noix de muscade
  • Orange flower water - Eau fleur d'oranger
  • Oregano - Origan
  • Paprika - Paprika
  • Parsley - Persil
  • Pepper - Poivre
  • Poppy Seeds - Pavot
  • Ras el hanout
  • Rosemary - Romarin
  • Saffron - Safran
  • Savory - Sarriette
  • Sesame seeds - Graines de sésame
  • Rose Water - Eau de rose
  • Sage - Sauge
  • Tarragon - Estragon
  • Tea - Thé
  • Thyme - Thym
  • Vanilla - Vanille
  • Verbena - Verveine



Condiments, Oils and Vinegars

  • Bouillon - Bouillon
  • Champagne vinegar - Vinaigre de champagne
  • Coconut milk - Lait de coco
  • Harissa
  • Mayonnaise - Mayonnaise
  • Mustard - Moutarde
  • Olive oil - Huile d'olive
  • Peanut oil - Huile d'arachide
  • Sunflower oil - Huile de tournesol
  • Salt - Sel
  • Vinegars - Vinaigres
  • Walnut oil - Huile de noix



Grains and Beans

  • Couscous - Couscous
  • Chickpeas - Pois Chiches
  • Cracked Wheat - Blé concassé
  • Lentils - Lentilles
  • Red kidney beans - Haricots rouges
  • Rice - Riz
  • Semolina - Semoule
  • Split peas - Pois cassés
  • White kidney beans - Haricots blancs

How's that French food vocabulary coming along?



French Ingredients for Baking

  • Almond flour - Poudre d'amandes
  • Bread crumbs - Chapelure
  • Brown Sugar - Vergeoise brune
  • Candied violets - Violette cristallisée
  • Corn starch - Fécule de mais (Maïzena)
  • Flour - Farine
  • Filo dough - Feuilles de brik
  • Gelatin leaves - Feuille de gélatine
  • Lady fingers - Biscuits cuillère
  • Powdered sugar - Sucre glace
  • Puff pastry - Pâte feuilletée
  • Raw sugar - Cassonade
  • Soft white bread - Pain de mie
  • Sugar cubes - Sucre en morceux
  • Vanilla extract - Extrait de vanille
  • Vanilla sugar - Sucre vanillé
  • White sugar - Sucre en poudre



Alcohols

Ok, that's enough French ingredients and French food vocabulary words to keep you going for while, but if you think of something I missed, please contact me and I'll add it!



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