Why it works: Onion and leek match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 4% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 1,326 recipes. Both carry ethyl butyrate, which smells apple, fruity. The science ↓
Bulalo
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare the stock
Place beef shank in water to cover and bring to a boil.
Boil for 10 minutes, then remove shank and discard water.
Boil the shank again in 8 cups water until the stock is flavored.
Reduce the water to half the amount.
Finish and serve
Add the onions, leeks and banana blossoms.
Season to taste with fish sauce and pepper, then add the tofu.
Serve hot.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 6 of 7 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 6 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Beef | 100g cooked | 250 |
| Banana | 1 medium (118g) | 105 |
| Tofu | 100g firm | 76 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Soy Sauce | 1 tbsp (15ml) | 9 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Water | not in our table | 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.
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Onion + leektop 4% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together1,326 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl butyrate (apple, fruity).
-
Beef + oniontop 7% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together17,092 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Onion + tofutop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together729 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Beef + peppertop 10% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together18,971 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Onion + peppertop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together68,474 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Beef shank
- Bone and marrow release body and savory depth into the stock as it simmers.
- Tofu
- Soaks up the broth and adds a soft, mild texture to the soup.
- Banana blossoms
- Add a tender, slightly crisp texture that soaks up the savory broth.
- Onion
- Adds aromatic sweetness that builds the flavor base of the broth.
The step that matters
Reducing the water to half. Simmering concentrates the stock's flavor and gives the soup body. Reducing too little leaves it thin and weak, while reducing too far makes it overly salty once fish sauce is added.
Swap the banana
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (beef, onion, leek, tofu, fish sauce, pepper):
- Limefits better
- Avocadofits better
- Coconutfits better
- Bananathe original
Fit is the average pairing score against beef, onion, leek, tofu, fish sauce, pepper. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
“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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