soffritto

plural soffrittos · alternative soffrito · alternative sofritto

1. countableuncountablecookingA fried mixture of chopped onions, carrots and celery, used as the beginning point of a dish, especially in Italian cuisine; may also contain garlic, shallot, and leek.

   Most European cultures use a patiently chopped, heated and stirred vegetable mixture, such as a mirepoix or soffritto, always including members of the onion family, and Pollan explores the chemistry of these, as well as their adaptive value.

   2013 May 22, Paul Levy, “Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation by Michael Pollan – review”, in The Guardian

   Synonyms: mirepoix