Cold weather calls for some serious recipe change-ups and when it comes to cool-weather, cozy cooking, Europe, and its Alpine region, is one of the best at it. French cooking, in particular, offers up all the comforts of traditional flavors with elegant cooking methods and simple, yet flavorful, ingredients that help us reign in the chilly air with a sense of joy and anticipation. When that first snowflake lands on the ground or those rainy nights call for a fleece blanket and some cozy socks, these dishes are everything a person could want simmering away in the oven.
If the meaty, slightly sweet scent of reduced wine and fall-apart-beef doesn't get you, then perhaps the familiar scent of melted cheese and savory potatoes will get the job done. No matter what your weeknight comfort food or weekend project might be, these recipes can be used for both... and trust us, they'll be in constant rotation after the first time you make them. If there are any dishes worthy of fending off the winter blues, it's these.
French Onion Soup
A true classic and one that comes with a solid level of prep, but an overwhelming amount of joyous payoff. Once the onions for this dish are sliced, all that's left is to let them cook down for a couple of hours before adding stock and other flavoring ingredients.
Therefore, in reality, this soup could not be more simple - it's the onions that do all the work, and the browner they get, the more flavor they'll have. There's no greater comfort than a pot full of caramelized onions that turn into a delicious soup once beef stock is added, complete with a toast topper and melted cheese.
Aligot
Speaking of cheese, when it comes to cheesy mashed potatoes, aligot is the end all and be all of cheesy potato dishes. The trick to this dish is to continue adding cheese until the entire thing is completely smooth and with no lumps.
The result should be a pot of potatoes that creates the longest cheese pull you've ever seen even though there are a significant number of potatoes thrown into the mix, as well. This cheesy dish can be eaten alone or spooned over other vegetables or bread and is so perfect on cold nights when you need something filling, hearty, and delicious. Traditionally, a Tomme cheese is used, but any good, meltable cheese will work just fine (think mozzarella or cheddar).
Pot-au-feu
If low and slow sounds like a winter winner to you, then pot-au-feu is definitely the way to go. While this dish needs quite a bit more time than the others, it's worth it to have each piece of tender, slow-cooked meat just melt away on your palate.
The interesting thing about this dish is that each of its components is served separately, almost like a deconstructed beef stew. Along with the meat, marrow, and root vegetables, sides such as Dijon mustard, horseradish, and pickles are served on the side.
Cassoulet
Cassoulet is another dish that will reward cooks for their time and devotion. It might take some time for all of these ingredients to meld together but the resulting dish is absolutely divine.
With a base of meat, sausages, and beans, it doesn't sound like much, but with the proper balance of herbs and stock, it's nothing short of the perfect winter meal. It's also one of the most popular in the Languedoc region, gaining its popularity due to how rooted it is in French tradition and culture.
Choucroute Garnie
For a casual winter meal, choucroute garnie fits the bill. This Alsation dish might look familiar due to the German Sauerkraut dish that's prepared in very much the same way, only with a few differences.
In France, choucroute garnie is prepared with sausages and is topped with apples, bacon, onions, and ham hocks, which are all cooked in wine. This adds a level of depth to the dish as well as a bit of sweetness as the wine reduces down, making for a dish that's full of flavor while also incredibly comforting.
Gratin Dauphinois
If aligot is a bit too much cheese for you, gratin dauphinoise would make for a great alternative. Gratins, in general, are much heavier than the average potato dish but are perfectly comforting with their hefty amounts of fresh cream, cheese, and herbs.
The freshness from the herbs manages to balance out the overall heaviness of the dish, creating a symphony of flavors that echoes what France is known for. Cheese is optional, but we'd recommend adding some for that extra je ne sais quoi.