Mirepoix

Mirepoix (pronounced mirh-pwah) is an aromatic base for countless dishes from chicken soup to balsamic reduction. In its most basic form, Mirepoix is a dice of onions (or leeks), celery, and carrots used to add flavor to a dish or sauce. Variations on this staple include garlic, peppercorns, bay leaves, cloves, thyme, and rosemary. Termed by the French, some version of mirepoix exists in nearly every cuisine. Mexican and Spanish cooks employ a “sofrito” of  garlic, onion and tomato. The Chinese build dishes around scallions, ginger and garlic. These elemental trinities define a flavor profile that is immediately recognizable.