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French VegetablesHome » French Vegetables
Traditionally, most French vegetables were grown in the family vegetable garden, called the potager. With increased urbanization this tradition has fallen somewhat by the wayside, although you will still find a lot of charming potagers in the French countryside. They are truly delightful and not to be missed. Market GardenersDespite an increase in industrialized agruiculture, for the most part French vegetables are grown on a smaller scale than what you see in North America. You will still find maraichers, or market gardeners, who work the lands near towns and sell their produce at the town's open air market.
Shopping at the MarketWhen we lived in French Guyana, the only place to find fresh fruits and vegetables was at the chaotic market. It was open two mornings a week, rain or shine. I often grumbled as I had to buy all of the weeks produce and carry it around with me as I went from stall to stall. My sack got very heavy as I progressed. Still the market was interesting and I would always meet people I knew there. And if I wanted to know anything about a particular fruit or vegetable, all I had to do was ask.So what vegetables do the French eat?For the most part French vegetables are similar to what you find in North America, but the French do tend to eat some vegetables that I wasn't too familiar with on arriving in France. Endive, shallots, fennel, and leeks come quickly to mind. These are things that are often used in French vegetable recipes and are surely worth a try if you are unfamiliar with them.AOCSome vegetables get special mention in France called the the AOC (Appelation d'Origine Controlée). This is a very high honor and you may have noticed that French wine is sometimes distinguished with this mark. If you buy a product with AOC marked on it, you are being promised that it came from a certain place. This confers upon the product a distinct taste and appearance, and is considered a guarantee of quality.There are only a few vegetables that have received this honor:
Vegetable RecipesYou will find lots of vegetable recipes on this site because I love vegetables. My family is somewhat dismayed over how enthusiastic I can be over something so simple as broccoli, but I find a lot of French friends share my enthusiasm. You may not realize just how much you do crave things that are healthy for you. Here is a great book that might help you uncover your hidden vegetable loving self: Now that you know a little more about French vegetables in general, why not look a little further into each and maybe try a vegetable recipe. French vegetable recipes usually strive to showcase what is very good and distinctive about a particular produce. Two Brussel Sprouts Recipes
Types of Onions
Ratatouille Recipe
Mesclun Mix
Cabbage Types
Braised Red Cabbage Recipe
Celery Root Puree
Turnips
Leek Recipes
Fennel Recipes
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This smaller scale production tends to produce tastier vegetables and it adds a lot to French food culture. At the market you will find people that are selling food that they have grown themselves. Most will enjoy discussing their wares with you, including ways to prepare the produce they are selling.


