Why it works: Parsley and pepper match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 2% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 34,122 recipes. Both carry 4'-methylacetophenone, which smells bitter almond. The science ↓
Gehaktbrood
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare the potatoes
Chop potatoes into small (about 1 inch square) pieces, skinning them if you wish, and boil until soft.
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place in a bowl large enough for all ingredients and mash.
Mix and shape
Add all other ingredients and knead with hands until mixed. Note: The potatoes will be VERY hot! You may want to wait a bit for them to cool before using your hands. Also, the meats will be very cold on your hands if not taken out of the refrigerator an hour ahead of time.
Mold into an ungreased 9x13x2 pan and bake for 1 hour.
Bake and serve
Loaf will pull away from sides of pan and be surrounded by grease from the meat (more or less depending on the fat content of the meat you used). Cut into pieces and enjoy.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 8 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Sausage | 100g cooked | 301 |
| Beef | 100g cooked | 250 |
| Potato | 1 medium (173g) baked | 161 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Nutmeg | 1 tsp ground (2.2g) | 12 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Parsley | 1 tbsp chopped fresh (3.8g) | 1 |
| 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.
-
Parsley + peppertop 2% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together34,122 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
Nutmeg + parsleytop 3% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together5,062 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
Potato + parsleytop 5% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,855 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
Nutmeg + peppertop 7% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together13,015 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
Beef + potatotop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,052 recipes
Shared aroma: sotolon (curry, maple).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Ground beef
- Provides the main meaty body and moisture of the loaf.
- Ground sausage
- Adds fat and seasoning, keeping the loaf moist and flavorful as it bakes.
- Potatoes
- Add starch and moisture, helping the loaf stay tender rather than dense.
- Egg
- Binds the mixture so the loaf holds its shape when sliced.
The step that matters
Let the potatoes and meat cool before kneading. Mashed potatoes straight from boiling are too hot to handle comfortably, and cold meat firms the fat, so the mixture may not blend evenly. Letting both come closer to room temperature makes kneading easier and helps the fat and binders distribute through the loaf.
Swap the potato
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (beef, egg, nutmeg, parsley, pepper):
- Carrotfits better
- Spinachfits about as well
- Shallotfits about as well
- Potatothe original
Fit is the average pairing score against beef, egg, nutmeg, parsley, 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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