Pulgoki

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. Onion + garlictop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together29,058 recipes

   Shared aroma: furaneol (caramel, strawberry).

2. Sesame + oniontop 4% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together2,192 recipes

   Shared aroma: gamma-nonanolactone (coconut, sweet).

3. Sesame + gingertop 4% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together1,531 recipes

   Shared aroma: nonanal (fat, citrus).

4. Sesame + garlictop 5% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together2,000 recipes

   Shared aroma: furaneol (caramel, strawberry).

5. Ginger + garlictop 6% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together6,402 recipes

   Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).

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

What each ingredient does

Beef rib steak

Provides the protein that becomes tender and juicy when sliced thin and marinated.

Soy sauce

Adds salt and savory depth that seasons the meat through the marinade.

Sugar

Adds sweetness and helps the surface brown during broiling.

Garlic

Adds aroma and pungent flavor that deepens in the marinade.

Apple

Contains enzymes that help soften the meat while it marinates.

The step that matters

Swap the apple

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (beef, sesame, onion, ginger, garlic, sauce, wine):

1. Avocadofits better
2. Limefits better
3. Lemonfits better
4. Applethe original

Fit is the average pairing score against beef, sesame, onion, ginger, garlic, sauce, wine. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.