• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Your Guardian Chef
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Start Here
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
    • Amazon
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Start Here
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Shop
    • Subscribe
    • Amazon
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Ingredients » Winter Vegetables

    Tips To Make And Use Soffritto (Italian Mirepoix)

    Published: Oct 29, 2015 · Modified: Jul 28, 2023. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    sofritto pin
    The combination of carrot onion celery called Mirepoix (or Sofrito in Spanish and Soffritto in Italian) is the base for many recipes.

    Italian soffritto is essential to many traditional Italian dishes and serves as a flavorful base for various recipes. Sometimes referred to as the "holy trinity" of Italian cuisine, soffritto consists of onions, carrots, and celery, which are slowly cooked in olive oil to release their nuanced flavors and aromas. This age-old preparation can transform your Italian kitchen, elevating favorite recipes such as stew, pasta and risotto dishes.

    carrot onion celery called mirepoix soffritto
    Jump to:
    • What is Soffritto?
    • Basic Ingredients
    • Best way to cut onions without crying
    • Instructions 
    • Adding Other Ingredients and Flavors
    • Incorporating Soffritto into Italian Dishes
    • Neapolitan Soffritto is not what you think
    • Storing and Freezing
    • Preparing the vegetables and freeze them
    • Tips and Tools
    • FAQ

    What is Soffritto?

    Soffritto, meaning stir-fried,  is a key ingredient in Italian cuisine.

    It consists of a blend of finely chopped onions, celery, and carrots, laying the foundation for various dishes.

    This aromatic mix of vegetables is slowly cooked in olive oil to create a flavorful and fragrant base for various Italian dishes, providing depth and richness to the overall taste.

    In comparison to French cuisine, soffritto is similar to the French mirepoix, which also combines onions, celery, and carrots.

    However, a French mirepoix is gently fried in butter and therefore has a richer flavor.

    A traditional Italian soffritto instead fries the vegetables in olive, giving the vegetables a fresher taste.

    Both methods are done at medium temperature to ensure the vegetables don't become overly browned or crispy.

    When creating a big batch of soffritto, you can easily store it in the refrigerator or freezer to have a ready-to-use, flavorful base for your upcoming Italian recipes.

    This versatile mix will elevate your dishes and bring a true taste of traditional Italian cooking to your kitchen.

    In classic Italian cooking, soffritto is an essential part of several recipes, and mastering its preparation will significantly enhance the flavor of your Italian dishes.

    This seemingly simple blend of aromatic vegetables is more than just a mix of ingredients; it's the cornerstone of delicious, home-cooked Italian food.

    onion, carrot and celery chopped on a chopping board

    Basic Ingredients

    When creating a traditional Italian soffritto recipe, there are a few key ingredients you should have on hand to make this flavorful base. To prepare your soffritto, here's what you'll need:

    • 1 medium onion
    • 1 medium carrot
    • 1 celery stalk
    • extra virgin olive oil
    • salt

    Maintaining a 1:1:1 ratio of vegetables is crucial, adjusting the quantities depending on the size of your vegetables.

    Once a month, I chop a big batch of carrots, onions and celery and freeze them.

    1 carrot, 1 onion, one celery stick

    Best way to cut onions without crying

    A month's worth of onions.....A lot of crying?

    Not so much!!

    I found the secret to reducing the onion effect.

    When you clean the onion, leave the top as it is till the very end.

    Only when you slice the top of the onion, you will start tearing.

    onions with the top

    Instructions 

    Preparing the Vegetables:

    cleaned and peeled vegetables
    1. Peel the carrot and the onion
    onion, carrot and celery chopped on a chopping board
    1. Cut the vegetables with a sharp knife or mezzaluna to finely chop the onions, carrots, and celery.

    Roughly or finely chopped

    The finer you chop the vegetables, the better the flavors will meld together in your soffritto.

    That is the preferred method for dishes that need to cook for a long time, like wild boar stew with chocolate sauce, or Daube Provencal or sauces like authentic Bolognese sauce or lamb ragu.   

    However, in some baked recipes like this Fish pie or beef sausage hand pie, it is nice to taste the little chunks of vegetables; therefore, roughly chopped vegetables would be more suitable.

    You can use a vegetable shredder or a food processor if you want to save time and need finely chopped vegetables.

    onion, carrot and celery chopped in a food processor

    In some recipes, you may also find a Battuto, which is finely chopped soffritto with added fat like bacon or guanciale.

    Make a battuto with onion, celery and carrot and bacon

    Sautéing the vegetables

    Heat the extra virgin olive oil 
    1. In a large sauté pan, heat the extra virgin olive oil over low to medium heat.
    Add the chopped vegetables
    1. Add the chopped vegetables to the pan once the oil is heated.

    Hint: for a richer flavor you can add some butter to the olive oil.

    Stir the mixture so the vegetables are well-coated
    1. Stir the mixture so the vegetables are well-coated with the oil.
    Sauté the vegetables on low heat
    1. Sauté the vegetables on low heat for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally

    Hint: The goal is to cook the vegetables slowly, bringing out their natural sweetness without burning them.

    Adding Other Ingredients and Flavors

    While the traditional Italian soffritto consists of finely diced onions, carrots, and celery, you can also personalize it by adding other ingredients and flavors to enhance your dish.

    For a richer and more aromatic soffritto, consider incorporating spices, fresh herbs, or even wine, depending on your preferences and the dish you are preparing.

    Some sauces and stews benefit from the inclusion of garlic cloves, white wine, or even a bit of tomato paste for added depth and richness.

    When using aromatic herbs, such as fresh basil leaves, make sure to add them towards the end of the cooking process, as they can lose their flavor if cooked for too long.

    For instance, Italian parsley would be a natural choice when preparing pasta e fagioli, while thyme might be more appropriate for certain stews or sauces.

    Lastly, don't forget you can also use a battuto as a base for your pot.

    Battuto is a soffritto with the addition of fat like bacon or guanciale.

    They are added to stir fry at the same time as the vegetables.

    Add the onion, carrot and celery and stir fry

    Incorporating Soffritto into Italian Dishes

    When you master soffritto, you'll be able to elevate various Italian dishes with its rich and savory flavor as a base.

    You can incorporate the soffritto in a range of meals, including soups like minestrone and pasta, sauces, stews, and risotto dishes.

    In tomato-based dishes, you can enhance the taste by combining your soffritto with either tomato paste or tomato sauce.

    This combination works wonderfully in creating a delicious and well-rounded flavor.

    For a slightly sweeter approach, experiment with adding fresh or canned tomatoes.

    There are many Italian dishes where incorporating soffritto will significantly boost the depth of flavors.

    Some popular options include:

    📋Authentic Italian Bolognese Sauce Recipe
    Authentic Bolognese sauce, also known as "ragù alla Bolognese," is a meaty sauce that has been simmered for hours, allowing the flavors to meld together perfectly. Hailing from the northern Italian city of Bologna, this slow-cooked sauce is a classic accompaniment to egg pasta, and the official recipe has been registered with the Bologna Chamber of Commerce and the Accademia Italiana della Cucina.
    Check out this recipe
    Authentic Italian Bolognese Sauce Recipe
    📋 Braised Shank Lamb Ragu
    Shank lamb ragu has much more flavor and texture than a lamb ragu made with meat only. The bone and its connective tissues add richness to the sauce, creating a creamy consistency and intense aroma. Braised with carrots, onion, and celery, it can be blended with red wine or Marsala. Serve it with pasta, polenta or rice for a rich winter meal.
    Check out this recipe
    📋Daube Provencal
    Beef Daube Provencal is a classic dish from the South of France, it is beef stewed in red wine flavored with vegetables, herbs and orange peels. It can be served with rice, fresh tagliatelle, warm or cold.
    Check out this recipe
    Daube Provencal served with fresh tagliatelle
    📋Wild Boar Meat Stew With Rich Spicy Chocolate Sauce
    Wild boar meat is similar to pork but with a strong wild and nutty flavor, an old Italian recipe book from the 19th century recommends cooking it in a stew with a spicy chocolate sauce. A real delight!
    Check out this recipe
    Wild Boar Meat Stew With Rich Spicy Chocolate Sauce
    📋Cod Scallops Salmon Fish Pie With Prawns Recipe
    This classic cod and salmon fish pie with scallops and prawns has a creamy white sauce and a crispy topping made with breadcrumbs flavored with basil, garlic and Parmesan cheese. It is packed with vegetables like leeks, carrots and celery. This creamy salmon pie is inspired by an Irish fish pie I had in Howth near Dublin, where the fishing vessels freshly brought the Atlantic seafood into the harbor.
    Check out this recipe
    Cod salmon fish pie
    📋Beef Sausage Hand Pie Recipe
    This beef sausage hand pie recipe is a complete meal perfect for picnics as you can eat with your hands without any mess. The filling is made with half beef and half pork mixed with grated carrot, celery, and onion.
    Check out this recipe
    Beef sausage hand pies on a cutting board one pie cut open
    📋Creamy Romanesco Broccoli Soup With Cheese and Sausages
    Romanesco Soup is an artful and exciting dish that has gained popularity among food enthusiasts. This unique soup features Romanesco, also known as Romanesco broccoli or Roman cauliflower, as the star ingredient. As you explore new green meal options, Romanesco soup might become one of your new favorite green meals.
    Check out this recipe
    ‘Whatever Vegetables’ soup with spicy merguez sausages
    📋 The Best Italian Sausage Stuffing Wrapped in Bacon
    This Italian sausage stuffing recipe brings you a delightful holiday classic inspired by Italian traditions. In Italy, chestnut stuffing is a cherished part of holiday meals, especially during Christmas. These sausage and chestnut stuffing rolls are a perfect addition to your holiday table. You can make them in advance, freeze, and defrost as needed.
    Check out this recipe
    Sausagemeat and Chestnut Stuffing Wrapped in Bacon
    Traditional Cassoulet Recipe
    The Cassoulet is a complete meal rich in proteins, carbs, fibres and vegetables and for the price you pay for the meat, a very successful homemade feast which will serve/feed a crowd. Traditional French Cassoulet made with beans pork, duck and sausages
    Check out this recipe
    Traditional French Cassoulet beans Haricot Tarbais

    Neapolitan Soffritto is not what you think

    Be very careful when you are in Naple and find a soffritto on the menu. 

    Soffritto Napoletano is a spicy stew made with offal, tomato, and bay leaf.

    If pork heart, spleen, liver, and lung are not your favorite, you may want to skip it

    Neapolitan soffritto made with offals

    Storing and Freezing

    Soffritto is essential to many Italian recipes, bringing a burst of delicious flavor to various dishes.

    Knowing how to properly store and freeze soffritto can save you time in the kitchen and keep the ingredients fresh for later use.

    You can store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. 

    Once a month, I like to prepare a big batch of chopped onions, carrots and celery, and freeze them uncooked.

    You could also freeze your cooked soffritto, but I think the flavor of freshly cooked vegetables is much better.

    To make it even more convenient, try dividing the soffritto into small portions.

    I divide it into small plastic bags to have the portions I need.

    I do not use ice cube trays because they are too small for a family meal.

    Even if you cook for only one person, you would need at least 3 cubes as they reduce in size once cooked.

    When the time comes to use your frozen vegetables, you can either let them thaw in the fridge or simply add it directly into the pan to stir fry.

    Be careful, as the ice in contact with the hot oil will splatter.

    Storing and freezing your soffritto properly will save you time in the kitchen, making meal prep more efficient and enjoyable.

    onions, carrots and celery in a bucket

    Preparing the vegetables and freeze them

    With my KitchenAid Mixer, I use the slicer option for the celery and the shredder option for the carrots and onions.

    Then I mix all the vegetables and put 3 tablespoons into small freezable bags.

    I prefer to freeze small quantities and if I need more I can always take 2 bags.

    slicing carrots celery and onions

    Freezing celery sticks

    I also usually keep a few stalks of celery aside to freeze whole.

    Why? Homemade stock or broth only calls for 1 stalk.

    It doesn't matter if the celery is frozen as it is just for flavour and not for eating.

    So, I keep some in the freezer to use as and when needed instead of buying a whole bunch each time.

    It perishes way before I can use it up.

    bags with prep food ready to go in the freezer

    What else I put in the freezer

    If you want to know more about what else I have in the freezer you can read the article: Once a Month Frozen Meal Prep.

    Once a Month Frozen Meal Prep

    Tips and Tools

    • When making a classic Italian soffritto, start with fresh vegetables as they provide the best flavors. You'll need onion, carrot, and stalk of celery in a ratio of 1-1-1 (one parts onion, one part carrot, and one part celery). However, these proportions can be flexible, and different amounts of each vegetable work just fine too.
    • To prepare the vegetables, finely mince them to create a consistent, well-blended mixture. This will ensure the aromatics cook evenly and release their flavors effectively. The right tool for this task is a sharp chef's knife or a food processor, both of which can make quick work of chopping the vegetables.
    • Heat some extra-virgin olive oil or butter in a wide pan, as this will ensure that the minced vegetables cook evenly. Keep the heat low, as the key to a perfect soffritto is slow, gentle cooking. You want to brown the vegetables, not fry them. Patience is essential during this process to extract the umami-rich flavors that will form the base of your dish.
    • Consider adding herbs and other ingredients to enhance the flavor of your soffritto. Some common additions include garlic, parsley, rosemary, sage, and bay leaves. Keep in mind that these variations depend on the specific dish you're preparing or your personal taste preferences.
    Add diced carrot, celery and onion and stir fry to make a soffritto

    FAQ

    How do you make a soffritto-based pasta sauce?

    To make a soffritto-based pasta sauce, first prepare your soffritto by dicing onions, carrots, and celery in equal parts. Gently fry the vegetables in olive oil until soft and fragrant. Next, add crushed tomatoes, and your choice of fresh herbs like basil or parsley. Simmer the sauce on low heat for at least 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Finally, season with salt and pepper to taste, and toss with cooked pasta.

    What dishes can I use soffritto in?

    Soffritto is a versatile base that can be used in various Italian dishes, such as pasta sauces, risotto, soups, braised meats, and stews. Its rich and flavorful profile enhances the taste of these dishes, providing a solid foundation for other ingredients.

    What makes soffritto unique to Italian cuisine?

    Soffritto's unique quality stems from its simplicity, showcasing the fresh flavors of onion, carrot, and celery with a balance of herbs and olive oil. This combination acts as the foundation of many Italian recipes, providing depth and complexity that is distinct to Italian cuisine.

    Is there a difference between soffritto and mirepoix?

    Yes, there is a difference between soffritto and mirepoix. Both utilize onions, carrots, and celery as a base, but the primary distinction lies in the cooking method. Soffritto is gently fried in olive oil, while mirepoix is sautéed in butter. This difference in fats lends unique flavor profiles to each, making them distinct in their respective culinary traditions—Italian and French.

    How does sofrito differ from soffritto?

    Sofrito is similar to soffritto, but it originates from Spanish and Latin American cuisines. While soffritto features onions, carrots, and celery, sofrito typically includes ingredients like bell peppers, tomatoes, and garlic. The preparation method also differs, with sofrito often being puréed or finely chopped. Additionally, sofrito may include various herbs and spices, depending on regional preferences.

    What recipes do you make with Italian soffritto? Leave your comment below I would like to hear from you. You can find more delicious ideas if you FOLLOW ME on Facebook, YouTube, or sign up to my newsletter.

    More Winter Vegetables

    • italian stuffed mushroom recipe
      Baked Stuffed Italian Mushrooms with Pistachios
    • Green pie ligurian torta verde
      Torta Verde Ligure Savory Green Pie Recipe
    • Italian sauteed spinach
      Easy Italian Sauteed Spinach with Garlic Recipe
    • Agretti saltwort
      Simple Italian Agretti Recipe With Lemon (Salsola Soda)

    Your Guardian Chef Mug Collection

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Margene Yoho

      March 29, 2022 at 6:09 am

      I actually would rather pull out the food processor or Nutrabullet to do my kitchen work than I would use one of these clunky old things. I’ve never actually been able to use one without worrying about grating my fingers or knuckles alongside my food.

      Reply
      • Laura

        March 30, 2022 at 5:19 am

        I definitely agree with you

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Laura Giunta Tobin

    Hi, I’m Laura. Welcome to my blog! While many talk about Italian food, I’ve lived it firsthand. Here, I share real Italian home cooking, just as it’s made in Italy. Won’t you join me?

    More →

    Popular posts

    • Stuffed Round Courgettes
      Stuffed Round Courgettes - Round Zucchini
    • Italian gelato recipe vanilla, chocolate and pistachio balls in a serving bowl
      Italian Gelato Recipe (Vanilla, Chocolate and Pistachio)
    • Pasta a frittata Italian fried pasta
      Pasta a Frittata: Italian Fried Pasta
    • Chiacchiare Italian fried cookies
      Chiacchiere - Italian Fried Cookies

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Acceptable use policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About
    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Your Guardian Chef