Why it works: Parmesan cheese and cheese match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 3% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 1,041 recipes. Both carry ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, which smells fruity, apple. The science ↓
Caramelized Onion, Smoked Gouda and Pecan Rice Tart
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Heat butter in large skillet over medium heat.
Add onion and saute 8 to 10 minutes, stirring periodically until browned and caramelized.
Meanwhile, combine rice, Parmesan and eggs in a medium bowl.
Press mixture into bottom of a 10-inch removable bottom pan.
Top and bake
Distribute onion over crust and top with smoked Gouda and pecans.
Bake in preheated oven 12 to 15 minutes, until pecans are toasted.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 7 of 8 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 7 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Rice | 1 cup cooked (158g) white | 206 |
| Pecans | 1 oz (28g / ~19 halves) | 196 |
| Cheese | 1 oz (28g) cheddar | 113 |
| Parmesan Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 110 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Gouda | 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.
-
Parmesan cheese + cheesetop 3% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together1,041 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).
-
Butter + cheesetop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together7,962 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).
-
Butter + parmesan cheesetop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together4,163 recipes
Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).
-
Rice + parmesan cheesetop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together879 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
Onion + ricetop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together10,433 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Cooked rice
- Forms the base crust that holds the tart together.
- Eggs
- Bind the rice and Parmesan into a firm crust as they set.
- Parmesan cheese
- Adds savory, salty flavor and helps the crust brown.
- Sweet mild onion
- Caramelized onion adds sweetness and deep savory flavor.
- Smoked gouda cheese
- Melts into the topping, adding creaminess and smoky aroma.
- Pecans
- Toast in the oven, adding crunch and nutty aroma.
The step that matters
Caramelize the onion until browned. Onions need steady medium heat and stirring to brown slowly; under-browned onions stay pale and bland, while the sugars that caramelize give the tart its sweet, deep flavor.
Swap the pecans
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (butter, onion, rice, parmesan cheese, egg, cheese):
- Beansfits better
- Sesamefits better
- Walnutfits better
- Pecansthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against butter, onion, rice, parmesan cheese, egg, 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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