Why it works: Flour and walnut are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 12% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 5,873 recipes. Both carry isobutyraldehyde, which smells malty, green. The science ↓
Nutty Bunuelos
Ingredients
Directions
Make the dough
Whisk eggs together in a large bowl.
Combine the cake flour, confectioners' sugar and salt; gradually stir into the eggs to make a stiff dough.
Fry and finish
Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large heavy skillet to 375°F (190°C).
Pinch off walnut-sized pieces of dough, and roll them out into thin circles on a lightly floured surface.
Fry in hot oil for 3 to 4 minutes, turning once to brown evenly on both sides.
Drain on paper towels, and cool.
Drizzle honey over the tops, and sprinkle with chopped nuts.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 7 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Honey | 1 tbsp (21g) | 64 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Walnut | 1 walnut half (4g) | 26 |
| 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.
-
Flour + walnuttop 12% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together5,873 recipes
Shared aroma: isobutyraldehyde (malty, green).
-
Flour + sugartop 15% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together92,116 recipes
Shared aroma: phenylacetaldehyde (hawthorne, honey).
-
Honey + walnuttop 15% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together554 recipes
Shared aroma: eucalyptol (eucalyptus, herbal).
-
Egg + flourtop 15% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together106,462 recipes
Shared aroma: isobutyraldehyde (malty, green).
-
Egg + sugartop 21% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together122,807 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).
Egg and flour barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 106,462 recipes: they work on texture and structure more than aroma.
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Eggs
- Bind the flour into a stiff dough and add structure and richness to the fried circles.
- Cake flour
- Forms the dough's structure, which holds its shape in the hot oil.
- Honey
- Adds sweetness and a sticky glaze on the cooled fritters.
- Walnuts
- Add crunch and a nutty flavor to the finished fritters.
The step that matters
Frying at 375°F (190°C). Oil that is too cool lets the dough absorb grease and turn heavy, while oil that is too hot browns the outside before the inside cooks. Holding the oil near 375°F gives a crisp, evenly browned fritter.
Swap the walnut
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (egg, flour, sugar, honey):
- Almondfits better
- Milletfits better
- Cashew nutfits better
- Walnutthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against egg, flour, sugar, honey. 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.
You might also like
White Cake431 recipes
Pound Cake373 recipes
Orange Bundt Cake349 recipes
Spice Cake344 recipesThe free Flavor Lab newsletter: one surprising pairing a week and the molecular reason it works, in 60 seconds. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer an account? Create a free account to save pairings and unlock the full chemistry.