How to make medium dice (parmentier)
Trim into a rectangle, slice into thick slabs, cut into batonnets, then dice into medium cubes.
Parmentier (medium dice) follows the same principle as smaller dice cuts but at a larger size. The transcript demonstrates trimming carrots into manageable lengths, squaring to a rectangle, slicing lengthwise into thick slabs, cutting into batonnets, then dicing.
The short version
- Use the same workflow at larger dimensions: square → slabs → sticks → dice
What you need
- chef's knife
- cutting board
How to do it
- 1
Trim the vegetable (example: carrot) into about 2 in / 5 cm portions.
Shorter lengths are easier to square and slice evenly.
Watch this step - 2
- 3
Slice the rectangle lengthwise into thick slabs (about 1/2 in / 1.2 cm).
Keep the slab thickness consistent.
Watch this step - 4
Cut the slabs into batonnets (sticks).
Watch this step - 5
Dice the batonnets into medium cubes (parmentier).
Watch this step
What goes wrong
Trying to dice a round carrot without squaring it first
Square to a rectangle before making slabs.
Why it works
Portioning and squaring create stable geometry so thicker cuts stay even and safe to execute.
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