Holy trinity (cooking) facts for kids
The holy trinity is a special mix of three vegetables used a lot in Cajun cuisine and Louisiana Creole cuisine. It's made of onions, bell peppers, and celery. This mix forms the tasty base for many famous dishes from Louisiana, like crawfish étouffée, gumbo, and jambalaya.
Sometimes, other ingredients are added to the holy trinity. For example, garlic, parsley, or shallots can be included. When garlic is added, people sometimes playfully call it adding "the pope" to the trinity.
The holy trinity is like the Cajun and Louisiana Creole version of a cooking base called mirepoix. Traditional mirepoix uses two parts onions, one part carrots, and one part celery. However, the holy trinity usually uses equal amounts of onions, green bell peppers, and celery. It also shares some history with the Spanish cooking base called sofrito, which includes onion, garlic, bell peppers, and tomatoes.
Why it's Called the Holy Trinity
The name "holy trinity" is a playful reference to the Roman Catholic idea of the Trinity. This is where God is seen as three parts: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The term was first used in writing around 1981. It became very popular, probably thanks to a famous chef named Paul Prudhomme.
