The Simple Shortcut Every Chef Learns in Culinary School
Updated: Mar. 20, 2019
You might already be doing this!
For even the most humble home cooks, it’s time to bask in the glory of knowing you probably do something chefs learn in culinary school: making and using mirepoix. It’s pronounced meer-PWAH and it’s every chef’s secret to quick and savory cooking. It’s also part of what makes your best one-dish dinners so delectable that your family’s always demanding seconds!
What exactly IS mirepoix?
It’s a simple mixture of three or more chopped vegetables, including onion, carrots and celery. Sautéed slowly (and without browning) in butter or oil to gently coax out its flavors, mirepoix forms the aromatic base for a wide variety of savory dishes. It’s a staple for cooking hearty and comforting meals like chili and Chicken Noodle Soup.
It’s not always called mirepoix, though. Sometimes a recipe–for example, this Slow Cooker Beef Stew–will ask you to start with onions, carrots and celery, but won’t refer to the mixture as mirepoix. Your aromatic base might also include garlic, peppercorns, bell peppers, herbs and even bacon, depending on the recipe.
Prep mirepoix like a chef
Keep carrots, celery and onion on hand–and chop ’em all before you start cooking. This simple technique, called mise en place, helps chefs (and home cooks) make sure they have everything they need before the stove is turned on.
See 15 more things chefs learn at culinary school.
You can also store pre-chopped mirepoix in plastic bags (or on a sheet pan like Ree Drummond), and you’ll be ready to go any time you want to cook a delectable, savory stew, soup or casserole.
How to improvise with mirepoix
While we generally recommend following recipes (at least the first time you make a dish), as the top chef in your own kitchen, it can be fun to improvise. Mirepoix lets you do that easily. For example, feel like an easy roast chicken dinner tonight? Try this easy mirexpoix/chicken improv:
Sauté large chunks of carrots, celery and onion (throw in chunks of potato for good measure) in a cast iron skillet, then top with a quartered chicken (skin on for more intense flavor), and bake at 350° until the vegetables are sweetly roasted and the chicken is 165° F (or the juices run clear).
Serve with a slice of homemade bread and butter for the perfect Sunday supper!
Use mirepoix in these classic soups
The Ultimate Chicken Noodle Soup
Whether you’re feeling under the weather or simply love traditional soup recipes, chicken noodle will hit the spot every time. If this is already a go-to meal for you, test out some of the variations this homemade recipe has to offer, like Greek egg and lemon soup or chicken tortilla soup.
Homemade Pasta Fagioli SoupYou won't need to visit an Italian restaurant to enjoy pasta fagioli! With its hearty mix of sausage, vegetables, beans and noodles, this soup is filling enough to be a meal all by itself.
Fennel Carrot SoupTalk about bright, cheery soups! If you’re looking for something to serve with grilled cheese instead of tomato soup, try this fennel carrot version.
Creamy Chicken Rice SoupThis creamy chicken soup uses rice instead of noodles, so it won't need more than a quick side salad to become a hearty meal. The recipe only calls for half an onion, so use a handy onion storage container to stash the other half.
Beet BorschtThis borscht is packed with vibrant color—cook up this soup when you need a bright side for a hearty meat-and-potatoes dinner.
Cheesy Cream of Asparagus SoupThis is the type of soup you would have looked at as a kid and thought, no way. Hopefully as an adult you’re willing to explore vegetable-based foods, because you won’t want to miss this cheesy cream of asparagus soup!
Spanish Chicken SoupA hearty soup that's made from scratch is the perfect antidote for chilly weather. Save leftovers of this Spanish chicken soup for weekday lunches sent to work in a thermos or quickly reheated in the microwave. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Cheddar Potato ChowderTwo comfort foods in one pot? We’ll take it! This cheddar potato chowder may not last long once it hits the dinner table, but if you do have leftovers, simply freeze and reheat whenever you need a quick lunch or dinner.
Italian Sausage and Zucchini SoupThis soup works as a quick, 30-minute stovetop recipe—or you can adapt it for the slow cooker. Either way, it'll have you reaching for seconds. Pair bowls of soup with soft homemade dinner rolls or garlic bread.
Best Ever Potato SoupIs there anything better than creamy potato soup on a cold night? The recipe calls for Velveeta cheese, but if you don’t have that on hand, use cheddar or Colby Jack instead.
Stuffed Pepper SoupSoup recipes are perfect weeknight dinners—you save so much time cooking and cleaning up. There are quite a few different ways to make stuffed peppers, but this stuffed pepper soup might be the simplest.
Cheesy Ham ChowderIf you love homemade bread, you’re going to have to bake one of your favorite recipes to pair with this super cheesy, flavor-packed chowder. Have a little fun and serve your chowder in a bread bowl.
Cream of Cauliflower SoupBroccoli cheddar soup is always a hit, but if you want to switch up your vegetables and flavors, cream of cauliflower soup is a tasty, cheesy alternative. Bookmark this recipe for a busy night when you need a quick and comforting meal.
Veggie Meatball SoupPop the ingredients in a slow cooker, head to work and come home to a ready-to-eat dinner. This soup recipe calls for simple ingredients and you can dump them all in the slow cooker without browning any meat first.
Quick Mushroom Barley SoupAside from making the cutest home decor ever, mushrooms are also a great addition to soups because of their flavor and texture. With relatively few ingredients and a short cooking time, this quick mushroom barley soup will be great to try out when you want something cozy but light.
Hearty Beef Barley SoupThough the ingredient list for this hearty beef barley soup is pretty typical, it does call for fresh mushrooms, so pick up your favorite types of mushrooms to add to the pot.
Chicken Potpie SoupThis soup is a fun way to switch up a traditional chicken potpie recipe. We topped ours with a heart-shaped crust, but use a cookie cutter to make any shape you like! The crust needs time to chill, so keep that in mind when you're getting ready to prep this recipe.
Split Pea Soup with Bacon & CrabIf you’re a big fan of soup, chances are you’ve tried a split pea recipe. To change things up a bit, this version calls for bacon and crab. For any leftovers you have, freeze the soup separately from the add-ons so the bacon and crab don’t get too soggy.
Potato Clam ChowderThis is one of the best soup recipes to warm you up after a long day. Keep the ingredients handy for a busy day when you want cold weather comfort food.
Up Next: The Best Soup Recipes of 2022
Originally Published: June 14, 2018
