Tuesday, May 26, 2026

๐Ÿฒ Cuisine

The Mirepoix Principle

Before cooking anything substantial, the French start with mirepoix: diced onion, carrot, and celery sweated slowly in butter. This aromatic base takes 10 minutes but gives depth that no shortcut replicates.

Dice one onion, one carrot, and one celery stalk into small, even pieces. Cook in butter over medium-low heat for 10 minutes until soft but not browned. Use this as the base for your next soup, sauce, or braise.

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The French cut mirepoix based on cooking time. Quick dishes get a fine brunoise (2mm). Long braises get a rough chop (1cm). The vegetables should dissolve into the background. If you can identify them in the finished dish, they were cut too large or cooked too little.

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