Neufchatel Rice

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.

1. Onion + garlictop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together29,058 recipes

   Shared aroma: furaneol (caramel, strawberry).

2. Cheddar cheese + cheesetop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together984 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

3. Garlic + mustardtop 6% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together4,053 recipes

   Shared aroma: linalool (floral, citrus).

4. Onion + mustardtop 6% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together9,259 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

5. Rice + milktop 7% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together7,374 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Rice

Forms the bulk of the dish and absorbs the sauce, giving it a soft, hearty body.

Cheddar cheese

Melts into the sauce to add rich flavor and a stretchy, cohesive texture.

Neufchatel cheese

Adds creaminess and moisture, helping the sauce stay smooth when heated.

Milk

Thins the cheese mixture into a pourable sauce that coats the rice and vegetables.

Italian-style vegetables

Add moisture, color and mild flavor throughout the baked casserole.

The step that matters

Swap the clove

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (rice, cheddar cheese, cheese, milk, onion, garlic, mustard):

1. Cuminfits better
2. Capersfits better
3. Celeryfits better
4. Clovethe original

Fit is the average pairing score against rice, cheddar cheese, cheese, milk, onion, garlic, mustard. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.