Why it works: Potato and onion are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 3% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 9,023 recipes. Both carry 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which smells earthy, pea. The science ↓
Pan Haggerty
Ingredients
Directions
Cook the casserole
Heat butter and oil in a large heavy-based frying pan.
Remove the pan from the heat.
Layer sliced potatoes, onions, and grated cheese, ending with a top layer of cheese.
Cover and cook gently for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes and onions are almost cooked.
Finish and serve
Uncover and brown the top under a hot grill.
Serve straight from the pan.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 6 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Potato | 1 medium (173g) baked | 161 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Cheddar Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 113 |
| Cheese | 1 oz (28g) cheddar | 113 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
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.
-
Potato + oniontop 3% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together9,023 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Butter + cheesetop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together7,962 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).
-
Butter + potatotop 13% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together6,456 recipes
Shared aroma: (z)-4-heptenal (biscuit, cream).
-
Potato + cheesetop 15% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together959 recipes
Shared aroma: sotolon (curry, maple).
-
Butter + oniontop 15% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together42,912 recipes
Shared aroma: decanal (soap, orange peel).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Potatoes
- Form the bulk and structure of the casserole, becoming tender as they cook through gently.
- Onions
- Soften during gentle cooking and add sweetness and savoury depth to the layers.
- Cheese
- Melts into the layers and browns on top under the grill, adding richness and flavour.
- Butter
- Adds fat and flavour to the pan and helps prevent the first layer from sticking.
The step that matters
Cover and cook gently. Low, covered heat cooks the potato and onion layers through by steam without scorching the base. High heat would burn the bottom before the centre softens.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (butter, potato, cheese):
- Onionthe original
- Chivefits about as well
- Asparagusfits less well
- Tomatofits less well
Fit is the average pairing score against butter, potato, cheese. 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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