The $3.49 Trader Joe's Shortcut That Makes Weeknight Cooking Feel Effortless

Cutting down prep time makes it that much easier to get dinner on the table.

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Mirepoix (chopped celery, onion, carrot) is how almost every soup, stew, sauce, or casserole begins. This classic trio creates a sweet, rich, and aromatic base to build upon. However, it is undeniably annoying to prepare.

There's peeling, chopping, and having the three separate ingredients on hand. I always keep Trader Joe's Mirepoix on hand this time of year. It saves time on weeknights when I want to get a pot of soup simmering fast, and it means I don't have half a stalk of limp celery or shriveled carrot lingering in the vegetable drawer.

Trader Joe's Mirepoix

• Price: $3.49 for a 14.5 oz container
• Why I Love It: A fairly priced energy saver that will shave fifteen minutes off your prep time.

Why I Love Trader Joe's Mirepoix

I'm a long-time fan of the fruit and vegetable section at Trader Joe's, which is perfectly portioned and priced. I am suspicious of pre-prepped foods, skipping the prepared garlic or carrot sticks. However, the Trader Joe's Mirepoix is good. After many years of trial, the onions are never bitter, the celery never limp, and the carrots still crisp. 

Keeping a container of pre-prepped mirepoix on hand is far more practical than juggling onions, carrots, and celery. If you only need enough for mirepoix, buying the raw trio often costs more and risks spoiling in the fridge. And even for those of us who love cooking from scratch, I see this not as cheating but as a smart shortcut. And cutting down prep time makes it that much easier to get dinner on the table.

Simply Recipes / Trader Joe's

How I Use Trader Joe's Mirepoix

Mirepoix is usually the first ingredient to go into the pot, destined to sauté in fat, such as oil or butter. Additional ingredients will get layered on top to create deep flavor. With Trader Joe's Mirepoix, there's no prep needed; I dump it out of the container into the pot. However, I prefer to bring the container to room temperature before using it to speed up browning. 

Whether I'm starting a sumptuous fall soup, such as Italian Wedding Soup or Butternut Squash Soup, mirepoix is always a key ingredient. You'll find it called for in sauces like Classic Espagnole Sauce or  Bolognese.

Mirepoix is the modest beginning for cozy classics like Lentil Stew with Sausage and Italian Pot Roast, where its slow-cooked sweetness weaves into every bite.

It may seem like a simple mix of onions, carrots, and celery, but mirepoix is my quiet ally. I keep it on hand not only to save myself a little chopping but also to unlock the kind of flavor that makes everyday cooking feel effortless and deeply satisfying.

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