Aromatic Vegetable Mix

Called an “aromatic condiment,” this mixture of carrot, onion, celery, and bay leaf is cooked with meats, vegetables (such as braised artichokes), and poultry, perfuming and flavoring them all.

Almost every cuisine has its own version: the soffritto in Italy (onions, tomatoes, herbs, and olive oil), the Puerto Rican and Caribbean versions (they add chopped salt pork, ham, and bell peppers), and the sofregit or picada of Catalonia (almonds, pine nuts, garlic, and