Bordeaux Sauce

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. Turmeric + gingertop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together2,776 recipes

   Shared aroma: eucalyptol (eucalyptus, herbal).

2. Clove + gingertop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together6,038 recipes

   Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).

3. Turmeric + clovetop 4% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together1,876 recipes

   Shared aroma: eucalyptol (eucalyptus, herbal).

4. Turmeric + celerytop 4% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together1,356 recipes

   Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).

5. Tomato + celerytop 4% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together3,377 recipes

   Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).

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

What each ingredient does

Cabbage

Provides bulk and a crisp, chopped texture that softens as the sauce cooks.

Green tomatoes

Supply tartness and body as they break down during the long simmer.

Onions

Add savory depth and sweetness as they soften and cook down.

Vinegar

Adds acidity that sharpens the flavor and helps preserve the sauce.

Brown sugar

Adds sweetness that balances the acidity of the vinegar and tomatoes.

White mustard seed

Contributes pungency and a sharp, mustardy bite as it cooks.

Swap the onion

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (cabbage, tomato, turmeric, celery, clove, pepper, ginger):

1. Carrotfits better
2. Capsicumfits better
3. Mustardfits better
4. Onionthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against cabbage, tomato, turmeric, celery, clove, pepper, ginger. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.