In Provence, food is an extension of the beautiful landscape, with sun-kissed vegetables, hand-picked hillside herbs, and local olive oil, offering centuries of tradition with each bite. Provençal cuisine is hearty, flavourful, and aromatic, using age-old techniques that have been passed down through generations. The top 10 traditional Provençal dishes you need to taste once in your life include:
1. Bouillabaisse
This is Provence’s most iconic dish, originating from Marseilles. It is made using three types of local, fresh fish, combined with tomatoes, fennel, saffron, and herbs. It is often served with rouille, a garlic saffron sauce, and crisp toast. Once a fishermen’s stew has now become a luxurious, hearty meal, capturing Provence’s coast.
2. Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a rustic and comforting dish that is overflowing with flavour. It is a vegetarian dish of slow cooked aubergine, courgette, peppers, onions, and tomatoes, showcasing Provençal vegetables. Each vegetable is cooked separately, preserving its flavour, before they are blended together.
3. Tapenade
Tapenade is a spread of olives, capers, anchovies, and olive oil, served in every home and most Provençal restaurants. It is spread on crusty bread or drizzled over fish.
4. Daube Provencale
Daube Provencale is a slow braised beef stew, brimming with red wine, garlic, carrots, onions, and Herbes de Provence. It is cooked in a clay pot, helping the meat become tender. Many recipes also include olives or orange peel, adding a depth of flavour.
5. Aioli
Aioli is often seen at family gatherings. It is a fresh and vibrant emulsion, often accompanying cod or salt cod, vegetables, or boiled potatoes.
6. Pissaladiere
This savoury tart is made with slow-cooked onions, layered on a thin dough and topped with black olives and anchovies. It is sweet, salty, and irresistible, making it the perfect snack at a local market or cafe.
7. Soupe au Pistou
Soupe au Pistou is Provence’s version of minestrone soup, a hearty vegetable and bean soup, made with fresh garlic, olive oil, and basil. It is often served warm in the evenings, especially during family gatherings and festivals.
8. Tian
Tian is a baked vegetable dish that is beautifully arranged in layers of sliced tomato, courgettes, aubergines, garlic, and thyme. It is slow-cooked until caramelised, a favourite for vegetable lovers.
9. Poulet
Poulet is chick that is cooked the Provençal way, golden, flavourful, and aromatic. It is usually braised with garlic, tomatoes, olives, herbs, and white wine. Each village and family has their own variation.
10. Calissons
No list of traditional Provençal dishes would be complete without the sweet delight of calissons. They are delicate almond-shaped sweets, made using candied melon, ground almonds, and royal icing. They are fragrant, soft, with a subtle sweetness that has been loved for centuries.
Conclusion
Vibrant vegetable dishes, seafood stews, and timeless sweets, Provence offers flavours that will linger, not only on your palette, but in your memory. If you want to learn how to cook some of your favourite traditional Provençal dishes, contact Cooking Classes in Provence today. We offer private cooking classes that enable you to live like a local for a day.
