5 Easy Entertaining Ideas with Provencal Style

Regardless of whether cooking is your passion or not, entertaining should be enjoyable. Perhaps it is the climate in Provence that lends itself to outdoor dining, but generally, the traditional cuisine involves a few seasonal ingredients and simple techniques. Below we share five (5) easy entertaining ideas inspired by the South of France, including cocktail nibbles, picnics, Sunday lunch and more.

Aperitif Entertaining

If you are looking for a reason to get together with your friends and family, now you have one! Apéro Dînatoire is a French style of entertaining and the perfect excuse for a social gathering. In her article on these parties, Tasha provides helpful tips and tricks to help you put together your event. Create an excuse to throw an apéro dînatoire. It is the perfect balance between the apéro cocktail party and a formal dinner party. Here are a few recipes for your next gathering:

Madeleines Salées

This madeleine cake batter combines ingredients that are more typical of Provence into a savoury bite. You can play with the combination to suit your tastes. Other variations might include olive, anchovy and goat cheese.

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Tarte Soleil - Puff-Pastry Appetizer

From the chef, "Provençals like things sunny and pretty, so this is a popular take on the local, traditional fougasse. It can be filled with any strong-flavoured spreadable mixture such as tapenade or anchoiade or a sundried-tomato paste or even a spinach/ricotta or goat cheese." 

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Provençal Aioli Dip and Crudité Grazing Platter a Tapas Style Meal

The hardest part of this recipe is getting the aioli (garlic mayonnaise) to the right consistency. If you follow the steps below it is actually very simple. Choose fresh crunchy vegetables that you like and dip away.

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Truffled Brie is Cheese Heaven

Serve this as an appetizer or with your cheese course.

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Now we all know that David Scott Allen is a fabulous cook, but sometimes you need a no-fuss option with limited preparation like a charcuterie and cheese board. Think of it as stress-free dining,  an indoor picnic. So, follow David’s advice on making a charcuterie cheese board as an appetizer or add more ingredients for a light meal.

Lazy Sunday Lunch

Many Sundays in France are family gatherings spent enjoying an extended lunch. You can enjoy a leisurely meal inside or outside depending on the weather and food you choose to serve. Nutmeg writes about her own Sunday lunch and a few menu options here.

Sunday Lunch in Provence a Summer Buffet goes through each course in a Sunday lunch and provides recipes. We linked some of the recipes mentioned and more to give you choices for starters, salads, a main dish, and desserts!

Starters

Radish and green Olive Tartare on sourdough bread

Easy, tangy appetizer

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Fresh Tomato Goat Cheese Tart

This easy-to-make tart combines flavourful tomatoes and tangy goat cheese in a pretty shape.

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Salads and Breads

Fig and Tomato Salad

This is a easy and delicious salad that combines sweet fig and tangy tomatoes on one plate.

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Grilled Octopus Salad - Salade Composée aux Poulpes Grillés

This recipe is great for a large, lunch salad or you can serve smaller portions as a starter for dinner.

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Simple Spring Salad

Easy and fresh - enjoy!

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Soft Lebanese Pita Bread

A fluffy bread that will satisfy everyone!

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Simplified French Brioche Loaf

A time-friendly recipe for a delicious French Brioche Loaf of bread!

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Main Dish

Boulettes de Poisson à la Marsaillaise {Marseille-Style Fish Balls}

This fish recipe was adapted from the book "Flavors from the French Mediterranean" Michelin 3-star chef Gérald Passedat. This dish can be prepared in advance and assembled when you serve.

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Poulet Basilic aux Tomates Confites

Make extra when you prepare this chicken dish, it makes a great lunch the next day. Chicken, basil and sundried tomatoes a delicious summer combination.

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Roasted Chicken with Colatura di Alici

This incredible roasted chicken recipe pairs exquisitely with a chilled glass of wine and fresh greens. With a Mediterranean flair, this dish is sure to impress!

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Roast Chicken for a Picnic

A delicious roast chicken best served with a glass (or can) of wine at your evening picnic!

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Desserts

Apricot and Pistachio Tarte Tartin

This apricot tarte tatin is not only beautiful it is easy to make.

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Madeleines with Orange Blossom Water

If you're looking for a picnic-worthy treat to enjoy in the sunshine (or indoors for a bright flavour reminiscent of springtime), then look no further! These madeleines have gentle citrus notes from the orange blossom water.

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Lemony Sweet Verbena Ice Cream

It's not hard to make ice cream, and even easier with an ice cream maker. This version made with fresh verbena is a lovely tangy summer treat.

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Casual Picnics

Provencal picnics are a great way to gather with friends and enjoy the weather. You can add bread, a cheese platter, fruits, sandwiches, vegetables, whatever sounds appealing to you. The most important part of a picnic is food that travels well. Keep reading for some ideas and recipes best suited for a Provencal-inspired picnic.

Picnic is a universal term for creating a culinary experience outdoors with some of your favourite portable foods. The French, though, take the word pique-nique to an elevated culinary level! Tasha shared that her North American picnic experiences are far less memorable than Provencal pique-niques. So here are some suggestions for your next outdoor dining adventure:

Portable Salads:

Grilled Vegetable Salad with Zucchini and Tomatoes

You can make this salad all year by varying the ingredients according to the season. However, we love the combination of zucchini, tomato and lemon-caper dressing.

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Summer Zucchini Squash Salad

An easy, refreshing salad for summer meals.

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Moroccan Carrot Salad

Easy to make and a delicious side dish with roasted meat or fish. Also, perfect for a picnic or just because.

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White Bean and Tuna Salad

This is a perfect summer salad. It is easy to make, does not have many ingredients and there is no cooking. Enjoy!

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Easy Tarts and More:

Fougasse with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes

The combination of sweet cherry tomatoes and tangy black olives make this focaccia-style bread a stunning addition to any meal. You can even enjoy it on its own with some olive oil or accompanying some soup for a well-rounded and delicious meal.

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Jacques' Zucchini Tart

This tart is easy to make all you need is a few ingredients for the perfect pairing with a glass of chilled rosé. Easy and very tasty, serve as an appetizer or as a light main with a salad.

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Pissaladière

This recipe was created by David, it is a blend of several variations for the same dish. This version will serve 6 as a main course or 12 as an appetizer. 

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Tarte Provençal à la Tomate

Obviously the best outcome is a tart baked with your own garden harvested tomatoes. This quick and easy tart makes a fast and fancy meal that everyone will enjoy. The sweetness of the tomatoes pairs well with the Herb de Provence, spicy mustard and flaky pastry crust. For a quick change -p, try using coloured tomatoes in a rainbow pinwheel pattern. It will look and taste as if it took you hours, but that can be your little secret!

Spinach Cake

This recipe is adapted from David Tanis "Platter of Figs" cookbook. It is easy to make a can be reheated. A perfect recipe for lunch or a good side dish for dinner. The nutmeg takes the "eggy" taste away. This recipe is gluten-free, and with a few substitutions can also be made dairy-free.

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Picnic Menu Ideas:

Summer holidays call for easy recipes and portable meals that work just as well at the beach as on a buffet table. Inspired by the endless sunny days and cicada-filled symphonies of Provence, try these summer picnic ideas. Enjoy summer dining al fresco with these simple to make, easy to pack and delicious recipes.

Baguettes
Pâté, cheese, tomatoes and cucumbers
Rillettes, ham and an assortment of charcuterie
Ingredients for Pan Bagnat sandwiches
Cornichons, olives and mustard
Portable salads like these: carrot, cucumber and spiced eggplant
Almonds, dried figs, apricots and raisins
Seasonal fruit, yoghurt, Madeleines or Palmiers
Your favourite Provencal wine

Summer Meals from Provence

If you are not feeling up for a picnic, you can gather around your outside table for a summer meal. Summer Lunch in Provence Menu for Friends emphasizes the gathering is more about the experience and people than the food on the table.

Summer Lunch Menu

Marseille Fish Soup - Soupe de Poissons

You will want to make a big batch and freeze what you don’t eat. Making fish soup at home can be a very messy, labor-intensive process. Trust me, you will thank me later for this advice. I usually make a few gallons and then freeze leftovers in quart sized mason jars ready to use at a moments call.

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Provencal Duck Stew

Allow enough time to make this recipe in advance. The duck pieces should marinate for 10-12 hours before you start cooking. The dish is served hot but tastes better after the flavors have had a chance to "get to know" each other.

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Chocolate Mousse with Cocoa Nib Brittle

This recipe involves two steps: make the brittle in advance, and the chocolate mousse takes very little time.

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Make it fun by adding a summer menu. You can include soup for starters, a meal, and finish it off with a filling dessert. Simple Summer Lunch in Provence provides three (3) easy recipes that you can use for your menu. Choose the meals that best suit you and your people and enjoy!

3 Easy Recipes from Petra Carter

Tortilla of Potato and Onion

This dish takes a little bit of time to do it correctly, and there are no shortcuts. The onions and potatoes must be softened slowly in olive oil for 20 minutes… and yes, you do have to use that much olive oil. It may seem ludicrous to use that amount of oil but most of it will be strained off and tastes so deliciously of sweet onions and potatoes, that I use it to fry other vegetable dishes afterwards

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Peperonata

Serve hot or cold, either as an accompaniment or as an antipasti, with plenty of crusty bread.

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Affogato

This is the quickest dessert you’ll ever make!

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Slow-Cooked Goodness

Whether cooking is your passion or not, a slow-cooked meal is perfect for cooks of all levels. These recipes below require only a few ingredients, often just one pot, and time to let the oven’s heat work its magic. One French favourite is lamb, which is typically local and fresh in Provence. Below we share several different recipes with lamb. If you are not in the mood for lamb, try a crispy duck recipe or a chicken tagine!

Slow-roasted Lamb Shoulder with Za’atar

The slow roasting process creates a juicy lamb and the za'atar will add a little spice!

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Slow-Cooked Shoulder of Lamb with Garlic and Rosemary

There is no easier dish for a heartwarming meal among family and friends. You can use a leg of lamb, but the shoulder is juicier because there is a bit more fat. Cooked in a heavy casserole dish (such as a Creuset) that can go in the oven, I like to place the meat simply on a bed of several rosemary sprigs, onion, and garlic for a beautiful dish that serves 4.

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Provencal Lamb Daube ‘Gui Gedda’

This slow-cooked daube is just the thing for cold winter nights. These wonderful aromas wafting through your kitchen as tender lamb cooks gently in a rich, savoury rose and herb-infused broth. And if you have the willpower not to eat it right away, it truly is best made a day in advance and then reheated upon serving.

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Souris d’Agneau Slow-Cooked Lamb Shank

This recipe is one you can pretty much leave alone. Set a timer for the 1/2 waypoint, so you don't forget to turn the meat over. Check occasionally to make sure there is enough liquid. The mouthwatering aromas will fill your house.

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Crispy Duck Confit and Fried Potatoes

This dish is a surefire way to impress family, friends, or virtually anyone you'd like to have over for dinner. There's nothing better than extra crispy duck skin coupled with tender, juicy duck meat flavoured with robust spices and butter. Accompany this gourmet-style duck with perfectly-fried Yukon Gold potatoes, and anyone would guess you're a 5-star chef.

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Provencal Duck Stew with Dried Fruits

This duck stew is a great dish for dinner parties (or long lunches) because it is best prepared ahead of time and reheated. It will allow you to enjoy the meal as much as your friends.

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Chicken Tagine with Green Olives and Preserved Lemon

Adapted from a recipe by Tyler Florence.

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Moroccan Tagine with Seasonal Vegetables

Preparing a tagine requires a bit of effort to clean and cut the vegetables. After that, it is all about layering and allowing the slow-cooking process to take over. Please note that your vegetable selection may vary depending on what is available.

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