Mirepoix
Southwestern French town
Mirepoix is a mixture of diced vegetables—typically onion, carrot, and celery—used as a flavor base in French cooking.
The vegetables are sautéed in butter or oil, then form the aromatic foundation for stocks, soups, braises, and sauces.
The standard ratio is two parts onion to one part each carrot and celery: Start your beef stew with a good mirepoix.
Scent-giving substances
- onionPungent layered bulb
- celeryEdible ribbed stalks
- carrotEdible orange taproot
- soffrittoItalian cooking base
holy trinity · base · sauté · dice · stock · soup · sauce · braise
Cutting proficiency with blades
- sweatingMoisture through pores
- low heatMinimal cooking temperature
- caramelizationSugar's heat transformation
- sautéingQuick cooking in fat
mise en place · ratio · cooking time · translucent · butter · oil · Dutch oven · stockpot
Cooking from France
- soffrittoItalian cooking base
- EscoffierPioneering French culinary master
- LouisianaGulf Coast pelican state
- culinary traditionInherited food preparation customs
European · New Orleans · bell pepper · leek · parsley root · tomato · garlic
Western European constitutional monarchy
- communeShared-living community
- eponymPerson lending their name
- French nobilityFrance's hereditary elite
- eighteenth centuryYears 1701-1800
château · aristocracy · culinary history · namesake · etymology
aromatics
Scent-giving substances
soffritto · holy trinity · base · sauté · dice · stock · soup · sauce · braise · sweat
knife skills
Cutting proficiency with blades
- sweatingMoisture through pores
- low heatMinimal cooking temperature
- caramelizationSugar's heat transformation
sautéing · mise en place · ratio · cooking time · translucent · butter · oil · Dutch oven · stockpot · patience
French cuisine
Cooking from France
- soffrittoItalian cooking base
- EscoffierPioneering French culinary master
- LouisianaGulf Coast pelican state
culinary tradition · European · New Orleans · bell pepper · leek · parsley root · tomato · garlic
Belgium
Western European constitutional monarchy
- communeShared-living community
- eponymPerson lending their name
- French nobilityFrance's hereditary elite
eighteenth century · château · aristocracy · culinary history · namesake · etymology
Mirepoixunseasoned
Lacking flavor or experience
bland · flavorless · plain · unflavored · unadorned