Why it works: Onion and rice are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 9% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 10,433 recipes. Both carry 2,4-decadienal, which smells seaweed. The science ↓
Cheddar-Rice Patties
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare the batter
Combine rice, cheese, onion, flour, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.
Beat egg whites with cream of tartar in a small bowl until stiff but not dry.
Fold the beaten egg whites into the rice mixture.
Cook and serve
Coat a large skillet with cooking spray and place over medium heat until hot.
Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of batter into the skillet for each patty and shape into a diamond using a spatula.
Cook the patties, turning once, until golden brown on both sides.
Serve warm with applesauce or sour cream.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 10 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Rice | 1 cup cooked (158g) white | 206 |
| Vegetable | 1 tbsp (14g) | 120 |
| Cheddar Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 113 |
| Yogurt | 170g plain Greek | 100 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Cream | 1 tbsp (15ml) heavy | 51 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| 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.
-
Onion + ricetop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together10,433 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Onion + peppertop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together68,474 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Pepper + ricetop 12% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together8,379 recipes
Shared aroma: trans-2-nonenal (cardboard, fatty).
-
Cheddar cheese + oniontop 13% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,669 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Cheddar cheese + creamtop 14% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,036 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Egg whites
- Whipped to stiff peaks, they lighten the batter and help the patties rise and stay tender.
- Cheddar cheese
- Melts and binds the rice together while adding savory flavor and helping the surface brown.
- Cooked rice
- Forms the body of the patties, giving them structure and a soft interior texture.
- All-purpose flour
- Absorbs moisture and helps the mixture hold together when shaped and cooked.
- Onion
- Adds aroma and savory sweetness that deepens as the patties cook.
The step that matters
Folding the beaten egg whites into the rice mixture. Egg whites hold air only while whipped; overmixing or deflating them makes the patties dense instead of light. Fold gently so the air stays trapped in the batter.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (cheddar cheese, flour, pepper, egg, cream, rice):
- Spinachfits better
- Chivefits better
- Capsicumfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against cheddar cheese, flour, pepper, egg, cream, rice. 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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