Why it works: Clove and cinnamon match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 14,189 recipes. Both carry ethyl cinnamate, which smells sweet, balsamic. The science ↓
Rhubarb Relish
Ingredients
Directions
Cook
Mix all together and boil slowly for 1 1/2 hours or until thick.
Stir occasionally to keep from burning to bottom of pot.
Jar
Pour into sterilized jars and seal with wax.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Clove | 1 tsp ground (2g) | 7 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Celery | 1 stalk (40g) | 6 |
| Cinnamon | 1 tsp ground (2.6g) | 6 |
| Vinegar | 1 tbsp (15ml) distilled | 3 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Rhubarb | 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.
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Clove + cinnamontop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together14,189 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl cinnamate (sweet, balsamic).
-
Rhubarb + cinnamontop 3% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together279 recipes
Shared aroma: methyl cinnamate (strawberry).
-
Pepper + clovetop 5% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together17,451 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl octanoate (fruity, wine).
-
Pepper + celerytop 5% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together16,012 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
Celery + clovetop 6% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together4,668 recipes
Shared aroma: gamma-decalactone (peach, creamy).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Rhubarb
- Provides the tart base flavor and breaks down into the relish's body as it cooks.
- Onion
- Adds savory depth and aroma, and softens into the thick texture as it cooks.
- Vinegar
- Adds sharp acidity that balances the sweetness and sharpens the flavor.
- Brown sugar
- Adds sweetness and, as it cooks down, helps the relish thicken into a glossy mass.
The step that matters
Stir occasionally during the long boil. As the mixture thickens, the sugar and fruit can scorch on the hot bottom of the pot. Regular stirring spreads heat evenly and keeps the relish from developing a burnt taste.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (rhubarb, vinegar, sugar, pepper, celery, clove, cinnamon):
- Mustardfits better
- Capsicumfits better
- Beetrootfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against rhubarb, vinegar, sugar, pepper, celery, clove, cinnamon. 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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