Dimelo Reader,
I hope this email finds you well and that the included information for your kitchen is useful.
Today, I would like to go over the French term “Mise en Place,” meaning everything in its place. I learned about mise en place when I first started culinary school.
In a restaurant setting, having everything on the ready and at hand is crucial to the service's effectiveness. Having foods that are already cut or partially cooked makes the guest experience that much more enjoyable and timely.
However, that might not be the scenario at home. We don’t have the pressures of a high-end restaurant; however, we still want to get from being hungry to dining as quickly as possible.
Mise en place helps us stay organized and focused on the task at hand, and I still follow this routine at home. When I do not, my cooking experience is rushed and chaotic. Leaving me feeling like the meal could be better, I miss ingredients or even steps.
So, how do we mise en place? Let’s take a look at my recipe for Arroz con Pollo. Mise en Place begins by reading the ingredients. Mark which ones you have and note the ones you still need. Can any of these items be substituted? Can I add other ingredients that need to be kept in the fridge or freezer, like frozen peas and carrots?
Ingredients:
- 4 Chicken Thighs
- 1 tablespoon Garlic Paste
- 1 tablespoon Adobo
- 1 tablespoon Paprika
- 1 Small Onion, or half of a medium/large Small Diced
- 1 tablespoon Sofrito
- 1 tablespoon Sazon
- 1 tablespoon Adobo
- 1 tablespoon Tomato Paste
- 1½ Cups Rice
- 1 tablespoon Achiote Oil
- 1 ½ cup Chicken broth
- 12 Manzanilla Olives
- 1 teaspoon Capers
- 1 Bay Leaf
The next step would be to read the recipe. Yes, this is one of the most important steps you can take. Reading the recipe tells you what is involved and gives you clues about which ingredients will be used in each step. Let’s take, for example, the first step: marinate the chicken. If you look at the ingredients, the seasonings right under the chicken thighs (highlighted in fushia) are the marinade.
Then the next question is: can the chicken be marinated overnight or for at least 30 minutes? It is always ideal to marinate meats overnight to infuse the muscles with flavor. However, with the million and one things we all have to do, marinating the meat over the counter for 30 minutes to an hour is the method most commonly used.
While the chicken marinates for 30 minutes, take the time to chop the onions and vegetables, measure the rice, and rinse it. Measure and place items for each step together so that when you begin, there is no confusion. I have highlighted the ingredients in different colors to mark how they will be used in the recipe. Also, notice the recipe card tells you which ingredients are involved in each step. This helps you organize your ingredients when preparing them for cooking. I am trying my best to make sure to highlight the ingredients in my recipe cards to help you get organized. I have not done this to all my recipe cards, but as I start updating my content, I will start updating this feature.
- Season and marinate the chicken with garlic paste, adobo, and paprika in advance. Allow the chicken to marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, or overnight if time allows. You want the chicken to hold its own flavor separate from the rice. 4 Chicken Thighs,1 tablespoon Garlic Paste,1 tablespoon Adobo,1 tablespoon Paprika
When we read the recipe, we also learn about the cooking techniques used and the timing. For example, 3-4 minutes, then flip it over. Do not walk away from the pot; onions could burn quickly. After five minutes, cover and bring the heat to low for an additional 15 minutes. This is a good time to see if there are any techniques you need to learn before starting this recipe.
Mise en place is a conscious effort, but in the long run, it helps you complete the recipe by preventing missing ingredients and steps. Keeping ingredients that go in the same step together, be it in the same bowl or near each other, helps eliminate the lament after finishing cooking of "Ay! I forgot to add sofrito!!."
¡Hasta entonces!
