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 Confit - Confit de 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
- Snails - Escargot
- 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. Here's a creme fraiche recipe if you are interested in making your own.)
- 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
- Neufchatel
- Parmesan
- Raclette
- Reblochon
- Roquefort
- Tome
Alcohols
- Armagnac
- Calvados
- Cognac
- Grand Marnier
- Kirsch
- Liqueurs
- Pastis
- Rum - Rhum
- Triple Sec
- Wine - Vin
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
- 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
- Roasted Chestnuts - Marron
- 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
- French Sea Salt - Fleur de Sel
- Harissa
- Mayonnaise - Mayonnaise
- Mustard - Moutarde
- Olive oil - Huile d'olive
- Peanut oil - Huile d'arachide
- Sunflower oil - Huile de tournesol
- Olive and caper paste - Tapenade
- Vinegars - Vinaigres
- Walnut Oil - Huile de noix
Grains and Beans
- Couscous - Couscous
- Chickpeas - Pois Chiches
- Cracked Wheat - Blé concassé
- French Green Lentils - Lentilles de Puy
- Red kidney beans - Haricots rouges
- Rice - Riz
- Semolina - Semoule
- Split peas - Pois cassés
- White kidney beans - Haricots blancs
French Ingredients for Baking
- Almond flour - Poudre d'amandes
- Homemade Bread Crumbs - Chapelure
- Brown Sugar - Vergeoise brune
- Candied violets - Violette cristallisée
- Chestnut Flour - Farine de Châtaigne
- Chestnut Puree - Crème de Marrons
- 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
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