Rice and Egg Salad

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. Celery + mustardtop 2% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together4,169 recipes

   Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).

2. Pepper + lemontop 3% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together27,047 recipes

   Shared aroma: trans-2-nonenal (cardboard, fatty).

3. Celery + lemontop 3% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together3,467 recipes

   Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).

4. Celery + peppertop 5% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together16,012 recipes

   Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).

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

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

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

What each ingredient does

Cooked rice

Forms the bulk of the salad and gives it a light, substantial texture.

Hard-cooked eggs

Add richness and a soft, creamy texture throughout the salad.

Mayonnaise

Provides fat and moisture that bind the salad and carry the seasonings.

Sour cream

Adds tang and creaminess, keeping the dressing smooth and moist.

Celery

Adds crunch and a fresh, watery bite that contrasts with the soft ingredients.

Lemon juice

Adds acidity that brightens the dressing and balances the richness.

Swap the onion

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (rice, celery, egg, cream, pepper, lemon, mustard):

1. Spinachfits better
2. Horseradishfits better
3. Asparagusfits better
4. Onionthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against rice, celery, egg, cream, pepper, lemon, mustard. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.