Why it works: Sugar and egg are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 21% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 122,807 recipes. Both carry 2-nonenal, which smells fatty, green. The science ↓
Pudim De Claras
Ingredients
Directions
Make the meringue
Gradually whisk the egg whites until foamy.
Increase the speed and add the sugar by spoonfuls.
When the meringue forms stiff peaks, fold in the lime zest.
Bake and chill
Use a rubber spatula to gently spoon the meringue into the mold.
Bake until the surface is golden brown (about 5 minutes in my oven, which is really hot).
Cool and refrigerate, covered, overnight.
Unmold and serve
Just before serving, run the tip of a knife around the inside of the mold.
Place a deep platter over the mold and invert: the pudim should slide out easily.
If not, give the mold a firm but careful shake.
Spoon the caramel sauce on top and serve.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 3 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Lime | juice of 1 lime (44ml) | 11 |
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.
-
Sugar + eggtop 21% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together122,807 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).
-
Sugar + limetop 29% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together3,332 recipes
Shared aroma: 1-penten-3-one (fish, pungent).
-
Egg + limetop 34% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together1,658 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
- Egg whites
- Whipped into a foam that forms the light, airy structure of the pudding.
- Sugar
- Sweetens the meringue and helps stabilise the whipped foam.
- Lime zest
- Adds aromatic citrus flavour to the meringue.
The step that matters
Folding in the lime zest once stiff peaks form. Overmixing at this point deflates the foam, and the pudding loses the airy structure that the whipped egg whites provide.
Swap the lime
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (sugar, egg):
- Vanillafits better
- Raisinfits better
- Lemonfits better
- Limethe original
Fit is the average pairing score against sugar, egg. 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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