Why it works: Cabbage and onion match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 7% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 3,001 recipes. Both carry 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which smells earthy, pea. The science ↓
Kimchichigue
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Slice pork into bite‑size pieces and cut kimchi into the same size.
Cook
Cook and stir pork in hot oil over medium heat.
When pork is nearly done, stir in drained kimchi.
Reserve the kimchi liquid.
Stir in the kimchi liquid and continue cooking.
Add water, bring to a boil, and remove from heat.
Add tofu, mushrooms, and green onion.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 6 of 9 ingredients. The other 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pork | 100g cooked | 242 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Tofu | 100g firm | 76 |
| Broccoli | 1 cup chopped (156g) | 55 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Mushrooms | 1/2 cup sliced (35g) | 15 |
| Kimchi | not in our table | 0 |
| Water | not in our table | 0 |
| Salad | 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.
-
Cabbage + oniontop 7% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together3,001 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Pork + mushroomtop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,875 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-methoxy-4-propylphenol (allspice, anise).
-
Tofu + oniontop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together729 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Tofu + mushroomtop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together201 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-nonadienal (fatty, green).
-
Onion + mushroomtop 10% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together10,626 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Pork chop
- Provides the meat that becomes tender and flavourful as it cooks in the stew.
- Kimchi
- Adds sourness, heat and savoury depth that define the stew's flavour.
- Tofu
- Soaks up the broth and adds a soft, absorbent texture.
- Dried mushrooms
- Contribute savoury, umami depth to the broth as they rehydrate.
The step that matters
Stir in the kimchi liquid and continue cooking. Kimchi liquid is acidic and salty, so adding it too early or in excess can make the stew over-sour or overly salty. Cooking it through mellows the sharpness and blends the flavours into the broth.
Swap the cabbage
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (pork, tofu, onion, mushroom):
- Potatofits better
- Chivefits better
- Spinachfits better
- Cabbagethe original
Fit is the average pairing score against pork, tofu, onion, mushroom. 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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