Mince Pies Without Meat

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

1. Apple + cidertop 2% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together1,238 recipes

   Shared aroma: 1-octen-3-one (mushroom, metallic).

2. Raisin + nutmegtop 6% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together5,377 recipes

   Shared aroma: alpha-terpineol (lilac, floral).

3. Vinegar + cidertop 6% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together3,431 recipes

   Shared aroma: 4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol (smoky, clove).

4. Molasses + sugartop 11% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together9,225 recipes

   Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).

5. Raisin + molassestop 12% of all pairs
   Smell alikelow
   Cooked together3,577 recipes

   Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Chopped apples

Provide bulk and tart flavour, and soften into the body of the filling.

Molasses

Adds dark sweetness and depth of flavour, and helps keep the filling moist.

Sugar

Adds sweetness and helps preserve the filling during long storage.

Boiled cider

Adds concentrated apple flavour and a sweet-tart note.

Vinegar

Adds acidity that brightens the flavour and helps preserve the filling.

Flavor stand-ins for the nutmeg

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (apple, raisin, vinegar, molasses, sugar, cider):

1. Cinnamonbetter flavor fit
2. Clovebetter flavor fit
3. Allspicebetter flavor fit
4. Nutmegthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against apple, raisin, vinegar, molasses, sugar, cider. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes. This compares flavor only: it does not check the job the ingredient does in the dish (bulk, moisture, acidity, structure).