Smoked Veggie Cajun Holy Trinity

Author Notes

Cajun and creole food like gumbo, red beans, or jambalaya often start with the Holy Trinity, a mix of chopped celery, bell pepper and onions sauteed as the base of a dish. Many recipes also call for smoked meats such as tasso or andouille. For those who want to add some extra smokiness or go vegetarian without sacrificing the smokey taste, the answer is to smoke your veggies before you saute them. When I am smoking meats, I always throw on onions, celery and bell pepper to smoke and freeze for later use. Once you taste these smokey vegetables in your dishes, you'll want to go beyond Cajun dishes - add smoked onions to greens or mix in all the vegetables for soups. —Shawn Yujuico