15 French Recipes To Cook And Eat On Bastille Day (2024)

So, you want to know more about Bastille Day? Well my friends, here are the cliff notes version along with some AMAZING recipes! I promise:)

What is Bastille Day actually celebrating?

Bastille Day is a French national holiday commemorating the storming of the Bastille at a turning point during the French Revolution in 1789. It is known as the French National Day (La Fête Nationale) or the 14th of July (Le 14 Juillet).

15 French Recipes To Cook And Eat On Bastille Day (1)

This day also celebrates Festival Of The Federation(Fête de la Fèdèration),which honors the unity of the French people.

The short story is that the commoners were suffering and hungry. France was fatigued by wars overseas and the wealthy got richer and the poor got hungrier. The commoners united and with the help of the deputies of the Third Estate (the commoners), formed the National Constituent Assembly which was the springboard for the revolution.

A mob formed and stormed the Bastille which was a French political prison with only 7 inmates at the time. It was a symbolic raid that included mutinous French guards but also practical since the Bastille held arms and gunpowder.

The first Bastille Day was celebrated over 4 days and included fine wine, food, fireworks and streakers! Yep, people ran naked down the street to celebrate their new freedom.

The military parade during the celebration is the oldest and largest military parade. It has been held every year since 1880, mostly on the Champs-Élysées in Paris but was held in England under Charles de Gaulle during Nazi occupation.

How to say Bastille Day in French

Bastille Day in French is pronounced Jour day la Bastiy.

This holiday however is known as either 14th of July or French National Day. So if you want to be French-correct you would say la fête du 14-juilletor la fête nationale.

Now onto the FOOD!!

Celebrate Bastille Day with these 15 recipes

French Apricot Tart

If you have every wanted to learn how to make a French tart, you are in the right place. This post has step-by-step instructions on how to make an apricot French tart including how to make tart dough. You CAN make this! This recipe is easy, simple and authentic.

Coq Au Vin

An easy and classic Coq Au Vin recipe prepared similarly to my Boeuf Bourguignon. Lots of wine and few dirty dishes makes a happy home chef. This classic French recipe has carrots, onions and mushrooms added to the chicken and lardons. So this Bastille Day, make some Coq Au Vin for your friends.

Nutella Cream Puffs with Chocolate and Coffee Ganache

A decadent classic French Pastry known as a profiterole stuffed with Nutella whipped cream and drizzled shamelessly with a chocolate and coffee ganache, oh and there is some powdered sugar action too! Step-by-step instructions are included:)

Boeuf Bourguignon

A beautiful French beef stew with multiple levels of flavor and depth. A French classic made easy. Boeuf Bourguignon.

Beignets

Another French pastry gem made from Pate a Choux. It’s the little sister of the cream puff. The dough is easy to make and then is deep fried with a little powdered sugar. You can’t eat just one, thought I would warn you.

Mushroom Soup

A creamy French Mushroom Soup perfectly seasoned with shallots, sherry, garlic and parmesan. A quick and easy soup for everyday cooking. Weeknight or special occasion, easy and fancy enough for both!

Creamy French Scrambled Eggs

There is more than one way to make scrambled eggs. In Southern France, a simple method is used to make creamy scrambled eggs served over toasted baguette slices. They use cream and chilled butter, of course, cooked over low heat.

Crepe

This spinach and feta crepe recipe is versatile in fillings. Try ham and cheese, bananas and Nutella,creme fraiche and fruit and so on. Have fun with this one, the batter is as simple as stirring ingredients in a bowl. This is very portable if you are planning on going for a Bastille Day picnic.

SardinePaté

The French’s love of butter really shows in this sardine pate recipe. The sardines make for a surprising rich, creamy spread that is delightful on baguette slices. If you ever wanted to learn how to make a pate, this is for you.

Clafoutis

The French Clafoutis transforms into 30 miniature hearts to share with your friends and friend. I hope you have as much fun making these as I have! Enjoy!

Poulet Poele L A’estragon

A beautiful, classic, multi-step chicken recipe that is moist, tasty and served with a delightful reduction sauce. The steps themselves are easy and yields an amazing dinner.

Biscuit Aux Amandes

An easy almond biscuit drizzled in chocolate, a French classic adapted from a Eugenie Brazier recipe.

Gratin de Macaronis

A cheesy, creamy pasta that has become a French, English and American classic, utilizing a classic French white sauce and gruyere, to form a simple yet tasty dish that transcends generations and cultures.

Lobster Bisque

Super easy Lobster Bisque Recipe, perfect for the everyday home cook and new cooks too! This elegant but easy soup is perfected with garlic, onion, clam juice, sherry, tomatoes, creme fraiche and fresh herbs.

Rustic Peach Galette

This is a great starter pastry for those budding French home chefs. If you can roll out a pie dough, you can make this tasty and simple recipe. It’s great served with coffee and tea. This is portable too for your French picnic.

What are Bastille Day traditions?

Bastille Day is celebrated in France by the French military parade followed by leisurely feasting all day with friends and fireworks in the evening. Traditionally feasting is in the form of picnics commemorating the commoners taking to the streets during the Revolution. People also feast at home as a form of family reunion and by having garden parties.

So, this 14th of July, hang your French flag, watch the French military parade on live stream, eat, be merry and throw up some fireworks (if that is legal in your area). You can also search for Bastille Day celebrations in your area. I went to one at the French Legation Museum in Austin, Texas and it was beautiful!

Au revoir mes amis!

15 French Recipes To Cook And Eat On Bastille Day (2024)

FAQs

What foods do the French eat on Bastille Day? ›

There are no official Bastille Day meals, but there's really no better way to honor France than by indulging in French food: A breakfast of pastries, crepes, brioche, and croissants would be fitting, followed by a quiche for lunch, pâté, and onion soup.

What food is eaten on 14 July? ›

Some of the “traditional” Bastille Day foods you might see people eating around France include (but are certainly not limited to!) crepes, croissants and other pastries, brioche, bread and cheese, quiche, and maybe some nice wine with dinner.

What do French people do for Bastille Day? ›

One of the revolutionary days in Paris and now a national holiday, the 14th of July ("Bastille Day") is celebrated with a mixture of solemn military parades and easygoing dancing and fireworks. The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 has been commemorated in France for more than a century.

What are 3 famous French foods? ›

The 10 most famous french foods over the world are:
  • Croissant.
  • Baguette.
  • Coq au vin.
  • Ratatouille.
  • Boeuf bourguignon.
  • Quiche Lorraine.
  • Escargots.
  • French onion soup.
Mar 19, 2024

What are the 4 meals of the day in France? ›

Repas – Meals
  • 1) Petit-déjeuner – Breakfast. In France, breakfast might be smaller than what you're used to. ...
  • 2) Déjeuner – Lunch. Traditionally, lunch was eaten at home en famille (as a family), which was easy enough for most people thanks to a 2-hour midday work break. ...
  • 3) Dîner – Dinner. ...
  • Goûter – Snack.

What food day is July 14? ›

On July 14th, celebrate mac and cheese not only because we love to eat it, but because it taught us we can cook, too.

What do the French drink on Bastille Day? ›

Of course, French wine and Champagne are always de rigeur and on Bastille Day, there's nothing like celebrating French terroir and regionality within your budget.

What is the number one food eaten on the 4th of July? ›

“For Fourth of July celebrations, hot dogs and hamburgers dominate American grills, likely due to their simplicity and ease of cooking," said Laurentia Romaniuk, Instacart's trends expert. "When hosting backyard parties, people often prioritize quick preparation, easy serving, and broad appeal.

What clothing is worn on Bastille Day? ›

The French wear the colors blue, red, and white on Bastille Day. These are the colors of the flag of the 'tricolore,' which is the name of the French flag. On Bastille Day, the French celebrate with fireworks, parades, and other patriotic events.

What is Bastille Day called in French? ›

Though English speakers call 14 July “Bastille Day,” the French just call it le Quatorze Juillet or la Fête nationale. The storming of the Bastille was a turning point in the French Revolution, yet the French don't directly associate the former prison with their national holiday like Anglophones do.

What do you say on Bastille Day? ›

There is no French equivalent to "Happy Bastille Day" – all you can say is, generically, Bonne fête ! And of course, there's also Vive la France ! (but try not to overuse it). Bastille Day is one of the symbols of France (others are Marianne, the flag, the Marseillaise …)

What is France's national dish? ›

Pot-au-feu is the national dish of France. This essential version combines beef shank and rump roast with eight vegetables and a blend of herbs for an extra-comforting bowl.

What foods are in le petit déjeuner? ›

A typical French breakfast consists of a cup of coffee and an orange or grapefruit juice. Then, the main food consists of viennoiseries, baguettes, tartines, spreads and fruit.

What did the Bastille serve? ›

Originally built as a medieval fortress, the Bastille eventually came to be used as a state prison. Political prisoners were often held there, as were citizens detained by the authorities for trial. Some prisoners were held on the direct order of the king, from which there was no appeal.

What food did the French eat during the French Revolution? ›

So what did most French people eat? A lot more grain and a lot less meat. The average French person subsisted almost entirely on porridges and, especially, bread. Some workers would eat two or three pounds of bread a day, supplemented by a little bit of seasonal fruit, vegetables.

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