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Quenelle | Traditional Dumplings From Rhône-Alpes, France | TasteAtlas
Quenelle | Traditional Dumplings From Rhône-Alpes, France | TasteAtlas
Quenelle | Traditional Dumplings From Rhône-Alpes, France | TasteAtlas
Quenelle | Traditional Dumplings From Rhône-Alpes, France | TasteAtlas
Quenelle | Traditional Dumplings From Rhône-Alpes, France | TasteAtlas
Quenelle | Traditional Dumplings From Rhône-Alpes, France | TasteAtlas

Quenelle

What was once used as a garnish in haute cuisine is now its own dish, known as quenelle. Essentially, it is a tender dumpling that is filled with ground meat, poultry, fish, or vegetables, seasoned and combined with breadcrumbs, eggs, fat, flour, or cream.


The dumpling is traditionally oval in shape and poached in water or stock. Today, it is served either as an appetizer or as a main course, although it can still be used as a garnish. Originally, quenelle was invented in Lyon in the 19th century, and it was made exclusively with the flesh of pike–a light white fish.


Pike quenelles are usually served with sauce Nantua, a hearty sauce made with crayfish. Today, the term quenelle has another popular meaning in the culinary world, referring to an elegant scoop of ice cream, sorbet, mousse, or whipped cream, and it is used mostly in fine dining settings.

Types of Quenelle

Pairing tips

Wine Appellation

Corton-Charlemagne

Corton-Charlemagne is a grand cru vineyard located in Côte de Beaune (Côte-d’Or) wine region of Burgundy. The region produced Chardonnay-based white ... Read more

WHERE TO EAT The best Quenelle in the world (according to food experts)

1

La Tour d'Argent

ParisFrance
15 Quai de la Tournelle
Recommended by Alexander Lobrano and 8 other food critics.
"The pillowy quenelle, a pike-perch dumpling native to Lyon and environs and one of my favorite classical French dishes, was simply brilliant in an impeccably deconstructed sauce Nantua (crayfish sauce) that was a richly flavored as it was astonishing light. Ornamented by a little ring of tiny girolles mushrooms, baby peas, and fragile leaves of salad burnet and woodruff, the quenelle was very beautiful, too."
2

Aux Lyonnais

ParisFrance
32 Rue Saint Marc
Recommended by Lonely Planet and 7 other food critics.
"The venue is an art nouveau masterpiece that feels more real than movie set; the food is perfectly restructured Lyonnais classics, such as quenelles (creamed fish or meat shaped like a dumpling)."
3
Recommended by Lonely Planet
"You can't really go wrong – everything is pretty good – but if you want a recommendation, go for the quenelle de brochet."
4

Bouchon Tupin

LyonFrance
30 Rue Tupin
Recommended by Matija Babić
I've tried almost all the famous ones, and this one is the best. Lobster sauce makes all the difference.
5
Recommended by Gault&Millau France
"The menu is more elaborate, while maintaining its standards, including a good quenelle."
6

Restaurant Le Musée

LyonFrance
2 Rue des Forces
Recommended by Kate Snatchko
The best quenelle with a rich lobster sauce that absolutely melts in your mouth!
7

Daniel et Denise

LyonFrance
156 Rue de Créqui
Recommended by Gayle Keck
"This odd-looking blimp is actually a quenelle de brochet, one of the quintessential foods of Lyon. They're big dumplings made out of pike fish, covered in Sauce Nantua, a classic French sauce made with crayfish. Daniel et Denise, owned by an honored MOF (Meilleur Ouvrier de France) chef serves up an excellent example."

Other Quenelle varieties

Marron glacé

3.8
Rhône-Alpes, France

Pogne

n/a
Rhône-Alpes, France

Tartiflette

4.4
Savoie, France

Diot

3.9
Savoie, France

Gratin de crozets

4.1
Savoie, France

Ratings

3.5
Like
47%
Indifferent
45%
Don't like
8%
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