So you want to dabble in Provencal Cooking? Well you’ll need to have these 5 ingredients in your pantry: Olive oil, garlic, onion, tomato & bell peppers. Any dish calling itself “a la provençale” will very likely have most of, if not all of these ingredients. Provencal cooking is a healthy cuisine. It is lighter, and vitamin rich so you can enjoy it with little to no guilt.
Some spices which you will find in Provencal cooking are of course herbs de Provence – which is a mix of rosemary, thyme, . . . ., saffron & star anise.
Provencal cooking originates from the southeast of France. It is part of the Mediterranean cuisine. We focus on both Provencal cooking as well as the Mediterranean cuisine of southern France.
We imagine that Provencal cooking is a quick cooking method but in reality there are many Provencal dishes that require time to simmer, time to reduce and time to gain in flavor. The fact that when they present Provencal cooking to us in a restaurant, that we think it was a snap to whip up, is a testament to the great skill of the Provencal cook.
The way we approach Provencal cooking at Cook’n With Class Uzès, is by using perfect seasonal products cooked simply to ensure that the flavor of the product is exactly what we are looking for. In the Summer you can expect more dishes including, ratatouille which is made of eggplant, zucchini, tomato, bell peppers, onion & garlic. In the Winter your Provencal cooking could include bouillabaisse using fennel, leeks, onion & carrot. Not to say that you can’t have a bouillabaisse in Summer since the ingredients are available almost year-round but each season typically has its dish.
A typical dish that you may find on the menu of a Provençal restaurant is Squid a la Provençal. Check out our recipe below and enjoy a delicious taste of the south of France.
Stuffed Squid A la Sètois
Serves
6
Prep Time
30 min
Cooking Time
90 Min
Difficulty
Medium
Season
All Seasons
Ingredients:
6 medium squid
250 gr. / 8.8 oz. ground pork
100 gr. / 3.5 oz. choriz0 fresh
20 gr. / 0.7 oz. garlic
fresh thyme and rosemary
5 gr. / 0.2 oz. piment espelette
salt pepper
57 gr. / 2 oz. Ricard or pernod
85 gr. / 3 oz. olive oil
2 tomato
5 pistils saffron
basil and parsley. bay leaf, cilantro
1 slice bread
28 gr. / 1 oz. milk
2 shallots
200 gr. / 7.1 oz. rice (best is red from Camargue)
2 l. fish stock or water
Procedure:
In a large bowl mix: pork, chorizo, basil, cilantro and parsley (chopped), piment, bread, milk, salt and pepper.
Cut off the head of the squid and keep for later frying. Clean the squid and the head careful.
Stuff the squid body (but not too much or it will explode when it will cook) with your stuffing, close it with a toothpick.
The sauce:
in a large saucepan, warm the olive oil, ad the the chopped tomato, chopped shallot and garlic, bay leaf, thym, rosemary, saffron. cook it well and ad the fish stock or water. salt pepper and then add the squid.
Cook for 90 mn with a lid on a reduce heat burner (slowly slowly). Dip the Squid head in milk, then in flour and deep fry it, 2 or 3 mn is enough
Cook your rice the way you like and serve with the stuffed squid and the fried head
Come & explore our local French markets every Wednesday in Uzès & partake in an important part of French culture. Learn how to select the freshest ingredients for wonderful and delicious Mediterranean French recipes. Join us!
We will start off at the market, selecting the freshest fish & seafood. No need to be afraid of fish. We’ll assist you to create the perfect fish stock, bouillabaisse and other Mediterranean fish recipes in a very hands-on French cooking class experience.
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French Bistro Cooking Class
€90.00Join us for a hands-on French cooking lesson where we revisit some of the great French bistro classics with a modern touch. you’ll prepare entrée, plat, & dessert. After the lesson, you’ll sit down and enjoy a 3-course lunch with wine.
With a good base, you can make a great stock. In this class, you will learn all about the mother sauces. You will make stocks, sauces for meat, fish, & vegetables. From this base of mother sauces, you will be able to make countless variations.
Become more proficient in the kitchen by improving your knife skills. This class will help you become more at ease with your knife. We will be chopping, mincing, dicing, filleting and deboning fish, poultry, & fruits and vegetables. Light lunch is included.
Pâte brisée, pâte sablé, pâte feuillété, pâte sucré, and more. This class will take you through the basics of French pastry dough making. Learn how to consistently make the perfect dough. Savory & sweet doughs, as well as a basic bread dough, are included.
Provençal Desserts
€80.00Come learn delicious & decadent desserts renowned in the South of France. Think fruits, nuts, and olive oil. In this class we will delve into desserts such as the nougat glacé, the fougasse d’aigues mortes and use ingredients like safran & lavender.
Bread Master Class
€400.00Learn to make bread at home like a pro. We’ll teach you the technics you need to beef up your bread making skills. This 3-day Bread master class is perfect for anyone who would like to learn how to make, maintain and use a starter. Open to bakers of all levels.
Truffle Classes
€170.00The black truffle is the star of this special French cooking class in Uzès. Come and participate in an exception hands-on cooking classes focused on the truffle. Not just a cooking class but also a wine tasting and chance to experience the truffle hunt.
Private French Cooking Lessons
€600.00Need a little bit more attention or traveling as a group? Why not consider a private French cooking class which is tailored to your needs & desires. Great fun for families, friends, colleagues or individuals who want some extra chef time.
Your holiday includes 6 days of cooking, baking, tours, and tasting. Hands-on French cooking classes. Explore markets, visit producers, and be immersed in French cuisine. All skill levels are welcome. 7-nights lodging included.
Customized Culinary Holidays
€1,800.00Let’s design a Culinary vacation package for your group. Classes can include but are not limited to any of our regular courses & tours or. Customized packages include all but transportation to and lodging in Uzès. Contact us to get started.