Though not much a fan of helpful hints for cooks in the Heloise style, I think this one is worthy of your consideration: keep a container of carefully-selected, chopped vegetables in your refrigerator
Just as mirepoix – a mixture of onion, celery and carrots – is the starting point for countless stocks, sauces and stews in French cooking; and the “trinity” (onion, celery and green bell peppers) is the foundation for Cajun gumbos, jambalayas and other dishes, so a carefully chosen vegetable mix can make your life in the kitchen easier and your food more interesting.
There are plenty of good choices. For example, the rough preparation you see in the picture is about half a large white onion, two small carrots, a half a large yellow bell pepper, half a small zucchini and a bunch of green onions. All are roughly chopped.
Onions predominate because they are foundational. I have a friend, an excellent cook, who when asked what’s for dinner, says, “Oh, I don’t know. Go chop me a couple of onions and I’ll think about it.”
So what can you do with your bag of chopped vegetables?
Sauté a handful in olive oil with a dash of thyme, pepper and salt. Whip one egg with a tablespoon of cream, pour into hot olive oil or butter, swirl. Add sauté and a bit of cheese. Instant breakfast.
Or, put half a handful in a pot over very hot oil, add a bit of rub (I make my own, but store-bought work fine), stir until onions start to soften but not blacken, add a cup of rice (sushi-grade is wonderful, but use what you’ve got) and stir to cover with oil. Pour in a 1 1/2 cup of stock (or water), bring to a boil and then simmer covered until done.
Or, sauté the entire bag in olive oil until softened. Add chopped tomatoes, or in winter, a large can of whole tomatoes ( l like to pour in the juice and then hand squeeze the tomatoes to crush them). Season with thyme and kosher salt (no iodine taste) and freshly-ground pepper. Use as a topping for pasta, as the core of a lasagna, or put it on top of a piece of broiled or fried fish.
Make your life a little better – and healthier. Chop up a few vegetables and keep them around.