Owning a French carbon steel pan or skillet is only part of the cooking experience with this type of cookware. To complement your carbon steel cookware, you might consider creating some classic French dishes from the best French Cuisine cookbooks.
At one time I did not own one French Cuisine Cookbook. However, after I purchase my first French carbon steel pan, I felt the need and the desire to create some original French dishes that could be prepared with my new carbon steel cookware.
After considerable research, I have selected the best French cuisine cookbooks for your appraisal. I would suggest that you read the reviews of each of these books at Amazon before making your selection. Reading reviews will increase your ability to make an informed decision as to which book to purchase.
Around My French Table by Dorie Greenspan
My Paris Kitchen by David Lebovitz
Remastering the classics is one of David’s lesser-known flares. In My Paris Kitchen, he has presented 100 sweet and savory dishes that reflect the way modern Parisians dine today.
Soupe à l’oignon, Cassoulet, Coq au vin, and Croque-monsieur, as well as Smoky barbecue-style pork, Lamb shank tagine, Dukkah-roasted cauliflower, Salt cod fritters with tartar sauce, and Wheatberry salad with radicchio, root vegetables, and pomegranate, are some of the best French recipes found in this beautiful book.
For those that have a sweet tooth, there are these great desserts: warm chocolate cake with salted butter caramel sauce, duck fat cookies, bay leaf pound cake with orange glaze, French cheesecake…and the list goes on and on.
David also shares stories told with his words of wit and humor. His expressive photography taken on location around Paris reveals the beauty and joys of life in the culinary capital of the world. Check Amazon for availability.
The Cook’s Atelier by Marjorie Taylor
This book is a beautifully photographed resource on classic French cuisine and an atmospheric chronicle of a family’s life in a charming French village. Emphasized is the international culinary destination and cooking school in Burgundy that sparks the imagination in this cookbook’s debut by Marjorie Taylor.
In this book, there are over 300 inspiring photographs, and 100 market-inspired recipesKendall Franchini and Marjorie Taylor always dreamed of living in France. With a bit of luck and a lot of hard work, they co-founded The Cook’s Atelier. This is the French cooking school in the town of Beaune. It is located in the heart of Burgundy’s wine country. When they combined their backgrounds in wine and food, they attracted visitors from around the world with their approachable, convivial cooking style.
More than a practical introduction to classic French cooking, this book is also a special celebration of the French art of joie de vivre and an inspirational primer on adopting elements of the French lifestyle, no matter where you live. Check Amazon for availability for this very inspiring book.
Stir-Fry by Ken Horn
Bringing us 100 inspired recipes, Ken Horn gives us stir-fry recipes which are easy-to-follow, delicious dishes designed to appeal to all palates. With 20 new recipes and 80 favorites from his collection, Ken not only covers non-Asian dishes as well, such as stir-fried fusilli alla carbonara. This cookbook has chapters on chicken, fish, seafood, beef, pork and, vegetable dishes. Ken also gives us techniques for frying and chopping as well as recommendations for sauces and oils
Ken is considered a world authority on cooking with a wok. He shows the versatility and convenience of stir-frying and that it will never compromise the flavor of dishes. Check Amazon for availability for this great book.
Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child
How many times have you heard Bon appétit? A whole bunch I bet. Julia Childs book on the Mastering of the Art of French Cooking brings us more than 100 instructive illustrations. This book is for beginner and seasoned cooks. It is a great book to start with to learn the art of French Style Cooking.
This book will take you from the handling of raw ingredients to the final creation of your French prepared dish. It will take you step by step through the maze of different French recipes. It adapts the classical techniques of French cooking but will also steer one to the modern American conveniences.
This is a must-have book for French cooking. If you are a beginner, I would start with this book. I did, and I loved it. Check Amazon for availability and learn how to complement your cooking knowledge by saying Bon appétit.
Recommended Reading
A Carbon Steel Pan Seasoning Method that Actually Works
Seasoning by the two methods described in this article will be easy and will produce positive predictable results. You will see, in this article, that this method of seasoning just plain works!
Cast Iron Woks vs. Carbon Steel Woks
Here we look at the differences between the two most commonly used materials for woks, cast iron and carbon steel. We also look at the similarities between the two, and finally, which works best for you.
What is a Crepe Pan?
A crepe pan is a flat or round-bottomed pan that is shaped to effectively cook a thin crêpe or French omelet. They have shallow sides so that you can get under the crepe or omelet with a spatula or wooden crepe spoon.
What is a Paella Pan?
Paella pans are wide and shallow to create maximum surface area, allowing liquids to evaporate and form as much crispy golden crust on the bottom as possible. This golden crust is called "socarrat".
How Thick Are the Vollrath, Matfer Bourgeat, and the de Buyer Pans?
The thickness of carbon steel pans is essential. Before you decide to purchase carbon steel cookware, it would be advised to look into the thickness of any pan you buy. Why? If you use very high heat in a carbon steel pan, the bottom of the pan can sometimes warp. I even have cast iron pans that have warped. This warping is not uncommon.
Best Foods to Cook in Carbon Steel Pans
If you are looking for some of the best foods to cook in your carbon steel cookware you have come to the right place. I have included several foods that you could easily cook including, eggs, steak, vegetables, cornbread, pizza, and much more. Explore the wonderful world of cooking with carbon steel cookware.
