Why it works: Parsnip and carrot match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and 1,096 recipes mention both. Both carry 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which smells green bell pepper, earthy. The science ↓
The recipe
6 servingsIngredients
Directions
Method written by CompKitchen from the ingredient list. Not the original author's method, not kitchen-tested.
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line two rimmed baking sheets with foil or parchment.
Divide the olive oil between the two sheets, about 1 tablespoon each, and spread it lightly.
Toss the yam, parsnip and baby carrots with half of the oil, half the kosher salt and half the black pepper. Spread them on one sheet in a single layer.
Toss the zucchini, asparagus and roasted red peppers with the remaining oil and salt and pepper. Spread them on the second sheet in a single layer.
Roast the yam and root vegetables for about 35 minutes, turning once halfway, until tender and browned at the edges.
Roast the zucchini and asparagus sheet for about 15 to 20 minutes, until tender-crisp, then add the red peppers and roast 5 more minutes.
Meanwhile, mix the minced garlic with the chopped basil in a small bowl.
Transfer all the vegetables to a large serving bowl, scatter the garlic and basil mixture over them and toss gently to combine. Serve warm.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much aroma chemistry they share, and how many recipes mention both.
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Parsnip + carrottop 1% of all pairsAroma overlapstrongMentioned together1,096 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine (green bell pepper, earthy).
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Pepper + basiltop 3% of all pairsAroma overlapstrongMentioned together5,292 recipes
Shared aroma: methyl cinnamate (strawberry).
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Olive + garlictop 3% of all pairsAroma overlapmoderateMentioned together23,449 recipes
Shared aroma: linalool (floral, citrus).
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Olive + basiltop 3% of all pairsAroma overlapstrongMentioned together4,868 recipes
Shared aroma: 3-hexenal (apple, fruity).
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Carrot + basiltop 3% of all pairsAroma overlapstrongMentioned together1,112 recipes
Shared aroma: methyl cinnamate (strawberry).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
Flavor stand-ins for the yam
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (olive, parsnip, carrot, asparagus, pepper, garlic, basil):
- Tomatobetter flavor fit
- Capsicumbetter flavor fit
- Potatobetter flavor fit
- Yamthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against olive, parsnip, carrot, asparagus, pepper, garlic, basil. 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).
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