French Salads

It is served in a separate dish either with the main meal or after the main course.

Lettuce is used most frequently but other greens such as watercress or chicory - known as endive is also used. The young dandelion leaves, lambs lettuce and curly endive or chicorees are aslo popular.

The salad leaves are always washed carefully, then dried and tossed in the salad dressings - usually oil and vinegar dressings. Oil and lemon juice can also be used too.

You will know if you have got the right combination of oil and vinegar as the dressing should taste of oil with just a hint of acidity. If you are drinking a good wine with your meal this is important so as not to spoil the taste of the wine.

If you only want a subtle taste of garlic for your dressings, a good way to get this is by just rubbing a piece of fresh garlic around the bowl before adding the dressing.

The simple salads such as the tomato, potato, cucumber, carrot etc are also used as part of the hors d oeuvres.

Whereas the more elaborate salads with a mixture of ingredients including meat or fish are served alone such as the Salade Nicoise.

However, it doesn't really matter so much as when they are served but how they look - and these wonderfully fresh French salads really do deserve a place on your table.

Again you really don't need to wait for an occasion to serve these wonderful salads, just make them for a light lunch or whenever you feel like one - they are so tasty and extremely healthy.

What you could do is prepare enough for a few days, place them in plastic boxes and keep them in the refrigerator. You then have something to give everyone without the work and that's a blessing when you are busy!

Green salad or salade verte

A fresh green salad recipe to add to your hors d oeuvres or just to have with your family meal. The French usually have a green salad with their midday and evening meal. It is served with the main course or after the main course.

Salade Nicoise

This is a classic salad from the South of France or a Provencal salad. It is a good salad to have with French bread and a glass of wine - makes a light delicious lunch or supper.

Carrot Salad Recipe

A carrot salad recipe to add colour and texture to your hors d oeuvres or to tempt your kids to eat healthy! Who could resist this little taster, it's so simple but delicious.

Tomato Salad Recipe

This lovely tomato salad recipe will give you a bright colourful display for your hors d oeuvres table. Your French salads won't be the same without it!

A tasty little starter that's sure to please everyone.

Yes, this really is the fruit to love!

Cucumber Salad Recipe

A cool green cucumber salad recipe which will bring a lovely addition to your table for a starter or hors-d oeuvres. It is so easy and inexpensive to make and is another tasty French salad you will enjoy.

French Potato Salad

A delicious French potato salad that will satisfy everyone at your table. An easy and economical recipe which deserves a place of honour amongst your salads.

Include this with your French salads as people love this one and I'm sure you will too!

Red Cabbage Salad Recipe

A red cabbage salad recipe to give you a dazzling and colourful starter for your hors d oeuvres table. It's sure to please everyone with it's rich texture and colour.

Easy and economical to make.

Bacon Salad

A very simple but tasty bacon salad or Frisee aux Lardons as it is known in France. It is a popular salad all over France and I am sure you will love it too!

Chicken and Almond Salad

A refreshing chicken and almond salad that is so easy to make at home and will please all your family and friends. The flavour of the lightly toasted almonds goes wonderfully well with the cooked chicken and the orange and mayonnaise sauce. Divine!

Almonds are used often in French salads but this one really is delicious.

Mesclun Salad

Originating in Nice, South of France this fresh salad consists of salad leaves and any available fresh herbs. The inhabitants of Nice would pick the fresh plants daily for this salad and indeed some still do. It is expensive in restaurants but it has a really fresh flavour.

This is one of the French salads you will love and it is full of vitamins.

Lentil Salad

A healthy green lentil salad giving you a rich and colourful salad that is so popular in France.

You can make this very quickly and easily using any salad greens and herbs you like.

Serve it warm or cold, just as you prefer.