Provencal RecipesSeasonal MenusTaste

Sunday Lunch in Provence a Summer Buffet

Provence is a wonderful place to visit all year, but the summer it’s – OohProvence! The cicadas start chanting as the temperatures rise in late June. When the lavender and sunflowers bloom in July and August, shaded restaurant tables are in high demand.

Summer entertaining should be stress-free and casual. Imagine a gathering of friends in a shaded courtyard shaded while everyone enjoys a leisurely Sunday lunch. With that in mind, Christopher Curtis and Laurent Nurisso, the founders of OohProvence (independent travel with a WOW!), curated this summer menu.

Please note the QR code at the bottom of this post. The code provides a 15% discount on your first OohProvence tour.

This no-fuss menu includes a series of small dishes that can be made in advance and served buffet-style. All the recipes use fresh, local Provencal produce found in local markets. The variety of dishes allows for choice, and most importantly, the host(s) can relax as the food is prepared the day before and/or the morning of the party. Make sure to leave room for dessert and serve plenty of chilled rosé.


Small Starters:

Tomato Goat Cheese Tart @ATableenProvence

Fresh Tomato Goat Cheese Tart
This easy-to-make tart combines flavourful tomatoes and tangy goat cheese in a pretty shape.
Check out this recipe
Tomato Goat Cheese Tart @ATableenProvence

A savoury tart combining fresh, tasty tomatoes and local goat cheese. This A Table en Provence recipe includes making your own dough, but you can buy a prepared version if you are short on time.

Radish Green Olive Tartare Sourdough Bread

Radish and green Olive Tartare on sourdough bread
Easy, tangy appetizer
Check out this recipe
Radish Green Olive Tartare Sourdough Bread

This appetizer requires no cooking, which is perfect for a hot summer day. The preparation time is limited, and the combination of red radish with green olive makes for a lovely tangy “tartare.” Enjoy the mixture on top of fresh bread.

Salads:

Fig Tomato Salad Recipe @AtableenProvence

Fig and Tomato Salad
This is a easy and delicious salad that combines sweet fig and tangy tomatoes on one plate.
Check out this recipe
Fig Tomato Salad Recipe @AtableenProvence

This simple salad recipe combines slightly tart tomatoes with sweet, fresh figs (from your own tree if you are lucky enough). The figs counter-balance the acidity in the late-season tomatoes, and the cheese, although optional, adds some extra, creamy roundness to the flavours.

Summer Salad Grilled Octopus Recipe

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.
Check out this recipe
Summer Salad Grilled Octopus Recipe

Have you ever tried grilled octopus? It’s a Mediterranean delicacy, and NOW is the time to be adventurous in the kitchen. This Summer salad recipe with grilled octopus is fresh, delicious, and colourful. The salade composée is a visual treat, as well as a yummy starter for your guests.

Larger Plates:

Boulettes de Poisson Marseillaise @Cocoa&Lavender

Boulettes de Poisson à la Marsaillaise {Marseille-Style Fish Balls}
This fish recipe was adapted from the book "Flavors from the French Mediterranean" by Michelin 3-star chef Gérald Passedat. This dish can be prepared in advance and assembled when you serve.
Check out this recipe
Boulettes de Poisson Marseillaise @Cocoa&Lavender

Marseille-style fish balls (boulettes) is adapted from the book “Flavors from the French Mediterranean” by Michelin 3-star chef Gérald Passedat. This dish can be prepared in advance and assembled when you serve.

Poulet Basilic aux Tomates Confites

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.
Check out this recipe
Poulet Basilic aux Tomates Confites

This chicken recipe combines the Mediterranean’s flavours – basil, tomatoes, olive oil and pine nuts- into a versatile main dish. You can serve Poulet Basilic aux Tomates Confites (chicken with caramelized tomatoes) hot or at room temperature. This recipe is simple to prepare, uses fresh ingredients and is great for a picnic – a perfect summer dish.

Dessert:

Apricot Pistachio Tarte Tartin Mirabeau Wine

Apricot and Pistachio Tarte Tartin
This apricot tarte tatin is not only beautiful it is easy to make.
Check out this recipe
Apricot Pistachio Tarte Tartin Mirabeau Wine

Take a culinary deviation from the original apple version with this Apricot and Pistachio Tarte Tartin. It is a quick and easy dessert to round off a perfectly Provençal meal. The tangy sweetness of the apricots is a lovely antidote to the richly astringent thyme flavour.

Madeleines Made Orange Blossom Water Madeleines à la fleur d'oranger

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.
Check out this recipe
Madeleines Made Orange Blossom Water Madeleines à la fleur d'oranger
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 than this variation of madeleines. These madeleines have gentle citrus notes from the orange blossom water.
Verbena Ice Cream
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.
Check out this recipe
Verbena Ice Cream

Verbena has a lovely lemony flavour, the flowering plant is pretty enough, but it is the leaves you can use for hot water infusions or flavouring dishes. 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.

Please send a note if you would like to have a PDF copy of this menu.

For Pinterest fans:

Summer Menu 2021

15% Booking Discount OohProvence

.

Please share this with friends and family.

All rights reserved. Perfectly Provence articles and other content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten (including translations into other languages) or redistributed without written permission. For usage information, please contact us.
Syndication Information
Affiliate Information
As an Amazon Associate, this website earns from qualifying purchases. Some recipes, posts and pages may have affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, we receive a small commission that does not impact your price. Thank you in advance for supporting our work to maintain Perfectly Provence.
Previous post

Marius Where to Shop in Arles for Artisan Creators

Next post

Roasted Red Beet Hummus a Vegan Recipe

Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).

No Comment

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.