Holy trinity (cuisine) 1731861 219636447 2008-06-16T04:55:46Z PlankBot 7310603 Robot-assisted disambiguation: Eggs - Changed link(s) to [[Egg (food)]] The '''holy trinity of cuisine''' refer to a trio of ingredients key to a particular [[cuisine]], although it is also used as a generic representation of the cornerstone ingredients of a particular national cuisine. Because these three ingredients are so common in the recipes of some cuisines, they are almost indivisible and often end up being treated as a single ingredient, and provide the distinctive flavoring of specific cuisines. Holy trinities can be essentially flavour bases that are often arrived at by sautéing a combination of any three aromatic vegetables, condiments, seasonings, herbs or spices. Cooking these few base ingredients in butter or oil releases their flavour, which is, in turn, infused into a mixture when other ingredients are added. This technique is most typically used when creating sauces, soups, stews and stir-fries. The name is an [[allusion]] to the [[Trinity|Holy Trinity]] of the [[Christianity|Christian]] faith, and its use originated from the [[Cajun cuisine|Cajun]] and [[Louisiana Creole cuisine|Creole]] cuisines of [[Louisiana]] in the [[Southern United States]], where chopped [[celery]], [[bell pepper]]s, and [[onion]]s is commonly accepted as the staple base for much of Cajun and Creole cooking. Common trinities in other cuisines are: * the [[Indian cuisine|Indian]] "wet" trinity of [[garlic]], [[ginger]] and [[onion]] * the [[Chinese_cuisine|Chinese]] trinity of [[scallions]], [[ginger]] and [[garlic]]<ref name=''Chinese trinity''>{{cite web|url=http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2007/04/09/the-holy-trinity-of-the-chinese-kitchen|title=Chinese trinity|accessdate=2008-05-22|date=December 2003}}</ref> ** the regional cuisine of [[Sichuan_cuisine|Sichuan]] has its own distinctive trinity of green [[garlic]], [[ginger]] and [[chili peppers]] * the [[Greek cuisine|Greek]] trinity of [[lemon juice]], [[olive oil]] and [[oregano]]<ref name=''Greek trinity''>{{cite web|url=http://www.souvlakiforthesoul.com/index_files/feb-2007.html|title=Greek trinity|accessdate=2008-05-22|date=December 2003}}</ref> * the [[Thai_cuisine|Thai]] trinity of [[galangal]], [[kaffir lime]] and [[lemon grass]] * the definitive trinity of [[French cuisine]] is widely accepted as a [[mirepoix_(cuisine)|Mirepoix]] of [[celery]], [[onion]] and [[carrot]] ** a flavour base trinity of [[butter]], [[cream]] and [[Egg (food)|eggs]] is typically found in classical French [[haute cuisine]]. ** a ''[[bouquet garni]]'' is at its core a combination of [[parsley]], [[thyme]] and [[bay leaves]] tied together as a flavour base for liquid dishes. * the [[Korean cuisine|Korean]] trinity of [[garlic]], [[ginseng]] and [[kimchi]]<ref name=''Korean trinity''>{{cite web|url=http://media.www.thechartonline.com/media/storage/paper630/news/2003/12/12/MccalebInitiative/Koreans.Believe.holy.Trinity.Prevents.Outbreak.Of.Sars-576745.shtml|title=Korean trinity|accessdate=2008-05-22|date=December 2003}}</ref> * the [[Lebanese cuisine|Lebanese]] trinity of [[garlic]], [[lemon juice]] and [[olive oil]] * the [[Italian cuisine|Italian]] trinity of [[tomato]], [[garlic]] and [[basil]]. ** another trinity in Italian cooking is a [[soffritto]] of [[carrot]], [[onion]] and [[celery]], essentially similar to the French mirepoix. * the [[Spanish_cuisine|Spanish]] trinity of [[bread]], [[olive oil]] and [[wine]].<ref name=''Spanish trinity''>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaindreams.com/eng/gastro.htm|title=Spanish trinity|accessdate=2008-05-22|date=December 2003}}</ref> ** the [[sofrito]] of [[garlic]], [[onion]] and [[tomato]] cooked in [[olive oil]] and widely used as a base for many Spanish recipes is also considered a staple trinity. * the [[Mexican cuisine|Mexican]] trinity of [[corn]], [[beans]] and [[chilies]].<ref name=''Mexican trinity''>{{cite web|url=http://www.iccjournal.biz/StudentScholars/Undergraduate/history_of_mexican_cuisine.htm|title=History of Mexican cuisine|accessdate=2008-05-22|date=December 2003}}</ref> Three types of dried chilies - [[ancho]], [[pasilla]], and [[guajillo chili|guajillo]] - are frequently combined to flavour dishes and are also referred as a "Holy Trinity". <ref name=''Mexican trinity''>{{cite web|url=http://bondcrecipes.blogspot.com/2007/07/about-mexican-cuisine.html|title=Holy Trinity of chilies|accessdate=2008-05-22|date=December 2003}}</ref> {{ingredient-stub}} ==Notes== {{Reflist|2}} ==References== *{{cite web|url=http://www.tigersandstrawberries.com/2007/04/09/the-holy-trinity-of-the-chinese-kitchen|title=Chinese holy trinity|accessdate=2008-05-22|date=December 2003}} *{{cite web|url=http://www.souvlakiforthesoul.com/index_files/feb-2007.html|title=Greek trinity|accessdate=2008-05-22|date=December 2003}} *{{cite web|url=http://media.www.thechartonline.com/media/storage/paper630/news/2003/12/12/MccalebInitiative/Koreans.Believe.holy.Trinity.Prevents.Outbreak.Of.Sars-576745.shtml|title=Korean cuisine holy trinity|accessdate=2008-05-22|date=December 2003}} *{{cite web|url=http://www.spaindreams.com/eng/gastro.htm|title=Spanish holy trinity|accessdate=2008-05-22|date=December 2003}} ==External Links== [http://www.foodtv.ca/content/entertaining/ContentDetail.aspx?ContentId=2423&Category=Entertaining The Holy Trinity: Ingredient Trios] [[Category:Food ingredients]] [[Category:Louisiana cuisine]] [[id:Holy trinity]]