Why it works: Tofu and onion work together. They rank in the top 9% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 729 recipes. Both carry 2,4-decadienal, which smells seaweed. The science ↓
Shrimp Tofu Patties
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Put cake of tofu in cloth and squeeze out all the water.
In a large bowl, mix tofu, green onions, shrimp, salt, sugar, egg and Ajinomoto.
Line large skillet with oil.
Cook
Form patties and fry each side until golden brown.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Shrimp | 100g cooked | 99 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Tofu | 100g firm | 76 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Cake | 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.
-
Tofu + oniontop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together729 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Onion + shrimptop 15% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,437 recipes
Shared aroma: decanal (soap, orange peel).
-
Tofu + shrimptop 18% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together33 recipes
Shared aroma: methyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).
-
Egg + sugartop 21% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together122,807 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).
-
Tofu + sugartop 26% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together310 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
- Tofu
- Provides the bulk of the patty; squeezing out water keeps the mixture firm rather than soggy.
- Shrimp
- Adds savory flavor and a tender, bouncy texture to the patties.
- Egg
- Binds the mixture together so the patties hold their shape while frying.
The step that matters
Squeezing out the tofu's water. Tofu releases a lot of liquid. If it stays in the mixture, the patties turn loose and soggy and will not brown well in the pan. Removing the water first keeps them firm and helps them develop a golden crust.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (tofu, shrimp, egg, sugar):
- Welsh onionfits better
- Chivefits better
- Asparagusfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against tofu, shrimp, egg, sugar. 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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