Why it works: Oregano and basil match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 1,390 recipes. Both carry estragole, which smells anise, licorice. The science ↓
Italian Casserole
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare the tofu
Drain and mash tofu.
Heat oil in a skillet.
Add tofu and all spices. Mix well and stir until tofu stops steaming (5 to 10 minutes).
Add one cup of spaghetti sauce and simmer 5 minutes.
Assemble and bake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Boil macaroni until tender.
In a 2-quart baking dish, layer 1/2 of the cooked macaroni, 1 1/2 cups of spaghetti sauce, 1/2 of the tofu mixture and 1/2 of the cheese.
Repeat, using all remaining cheese on top.
Bake for about 30 minutes or until cheese melts and sauce bubbles.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 8 of 10 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 8 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Cheddar Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 113 |
| Tofu | 100g firm | 76 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Oregano | 1 tsp dried (1.8g) | 5 |
| Garlic | 1 clove (3g) | 4 |
| Parsley | 1 tbsp chopped fresh (3.8g) | 1 |
| Basil | 5 leaves fresh (2.5g) | 1 |
| Sauce | not in our table | 0 |
| Macaroni | 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.
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Oregano + basiltop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together1,390 recipes
Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).
-
Onion + garlictop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together29,058 recipes
Shared aroma: furaneol (caramel, strawberry).
-
Parsley + basiltop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together2,351 recipes
Shared aroma: myristicin (spice, warm).
-
Parsley + oreganotop 2% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together1,184 recipes
Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).
-
Garlic + oreganotop 2% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,756 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Firm tofu
- Provides the bulk and protein-rich body of the filling, holding its shape as it cooks.
- Spaghetti sauce
- Supplies moisture and acidity that keep the layers saucy and flavorful as they bake.
- Large shell macaroni
- Forms the starchy base layers that give the casserole its structure when sliced.
- Cheddar cheese
- Melts over the top to add richness and a golden, savory crust.
The step that matters
Stir the tofu until it stops steaming. Cooking off the moisture from the mashed tofu lets it brown slightly and keeps the filling from making the casserole watery after baking.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (tofu, garlic, parsley, oregano, basil, sauce, cheddar cheese):
- Eggplantfits better
- Tomatofits better
- Chivefits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against tofu, garlic, parsley, oregano, basil, sauce, cheddar 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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