Why it works: Potato and olive are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 7% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 6,458 recipes. Both carry 2-undecenal, which smells sweet. The science ↓
Potato Wedges
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Scrub 6 large potatoes and cut each into about 10 wedges.
Soak the wedges in cold water for about 10 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 220 °C (425 °F).
Drain the wedges and pat dry with paper towels.
Arrange the wedges in a shallow baking dish in a single layer.
Add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and toss until well‑covered.
Bake and serve
Bake for 45–50 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden.
Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 3 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Potato | 1 medium (173g) baked | 161 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
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.
-
Potato + olivetop 7% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together6,458 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-undecenal (sweet).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Potatoes
- Starch and body; their interior turns fluffy while the outside crisps when baked.
- Olive oil
- Fat that conducts heat to the surface, helping the wedges brown and crisp.
The step that matters
Drying the wedges before oiling. Surface water must evaporate before the outside can brown and crisp. Patting the wedges dry removes water that would otherwise steam them and keep them soft.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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