Why it works: Lemon and pepper match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 3% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 27,047 recipes. Both carry trans-2-nonenal, which smells cardboard, fatty. The science ↓
Stracciatella Soup
Ingredients
Directions
Make the base
Mix cornstarch and 1/4 cup water, then set aside.
Bring stock and remaining water to a boil in a saucepan, then reduce heat.
Add zest, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
Whisk in cornstarch mixture and stir for 2-3 minutes, simmering.
Finish and serve
Add egg in a slow stream and stir with a spoon.
Add spinach and return to a boil.
Remove from heat and serve with grated parmesan cheese as a garnish.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 8 of 9 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 8 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Chicken | 100g cooked | 165 |
| Parmesan Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 110 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Lemon | juice of 1 lemon (48ml) | 12 |
| Spinach | 1 cup raw (30g) | 7 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| 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.
-
Lemon + peppertop 3% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together27,047 recipes
Shared aroma: trans-2-nonenal (cardboard, fatty).
-
Lemon + spinachtop 6% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together1,109 recipes
Shared aroma: 1-octen-3-ol (mushroom, earthy).
-
Pepper + spinachtop 6% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,400 recipes
Shared aroma: nonanal (fat, citrus).
-
Spinach + parmesan cheesetop 10% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together889 recipes
Shared aroma: 1-octen-3-ol (mushroom, earthy).
-
Chicken + spinachtop 13% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,146 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
- Cornstarch
- Thickens the broth into a light body once heated and simmered.
- Egg
- Sets into delicate strands when poured slowly into the simmering broth.
- Chicken stock
- Forms the savory liquid base of the soup.
- Spinach
- Adds color and a tender leafy texture as it wilts in the hot broth.
- Lemon juice
- Adds bright acidity that balances the rich stock and egg.
The step that matters
Adding the egg in a slow stream. Pouring the egg slowly into simmering liquid lets it set into thin strands. Pouring quickly or stirring too early can leave it in clumps.
“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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