Julienne is a French term that refers to cutting vegetables into thin, match-like strips. It is the thinnest of all the culinary cuts, with strips measuring between 1/8 inch – 1/16 inch (fine julienne) wide and 2 inches long.
Julienne cut vegetables make the presentation of a dish stand out. They add the ideal texture and crunch when eaten raw in salads. The julienne also ensures a quicker and more even cooking rate.
Are you ready to take your knife techniques up a notch? Check out our guide on how to julienne cut vegetables in 3 simple steps.
A Few Tips Before Getting Started
Be sure to choose a suitable recipient for the julienne. Due to its small, specific dimensions, the julienne cut is a technique best left for firmer foods. We most commonly see it used with produce such as carrots, beets, celery, apples, and bell peppers.
As always in the kitchen, be sure your knife is sharp. A chef’s knife is popular for the julienne cut, although a santoku knife or utility knife can be used as well.
1. Let’s Get Squared Off
Wash and peel your vegetables, and then chop off both ends. Cut the remaining part of the vegetable into roughly 2-inch segments.
Starting with one segment, cut off a thin slice to create a flat side. Rotate and repeat the process on all 4 sides until you are left with a small rectangle. This is referred to as ‘squaring off’. Continue to do this with all of your segments.
2. Start Slicing
Carefully and uniformly slice each one of the squared-off segments lengthwise. This will leave you with a stack of thin rectangles. Take note of the width – as we mentioned, a julienne should be about 1/8 inch (or 1/16 for a fine julienne).
3. Get Stacking
Stack a few of the rectangles on top of each other so that you have a pile of planks. Slice through the pile lengthwise again, at the same thickness as in step 2. This will leave you with tidy, matchstick-shaped vegetables.
Congratulations, the julienne cut is now complete!
Another Way to Julienne
There is another route to perfectly julienned vegetables via the use of a vegetable chopper. These can be manual or electric and yield a whole variety of chops and slices.
The best vegetable choppers provide efficiency, simplicity of use, safety, and precise results. They have the potential to save you both time and energy.
When shopping around, be sure to always choose a product made from quality materials with stainless steel blades.
Get Ready, Get Set, Julienne!
Mastering the julienne is all in the method. We hope our guide has simplified the julienne cut and given you the confidence to incorporate it into your own kitchen. It can jazz up your presentation or ensure a more even rate of cooking.
Stay tuned to our blog for even more useful kitchen content like this!
