Why it works: Egg and sugar are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 21% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 122,807 recipes. Both carry 2-nonenal, which smells fatty, green. The science ↓
Buñuelos
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Grind the cheese.
Mix the cheese with the cornstarch, eggs, brown sugar and salt.
Roll into balls the size of golf balls and drop into medium-hot vegetable oil and fry slowly.
Fry and drain
After a few minutes increase temperature and fry until they are golden.
Remove and place on absorbent paper.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 6 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Cheese | 1 oz (28g) cheddar | 113 |
| Cottage Cheese | 1/2 cup (113g) 2% | 98 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| 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.
-
Egg + sugartop 21% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together122,807 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).
-
Cheese + eggtop 28% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together6,253 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).
-
Cheese + sugartop 36% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together1,387 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
- White cheese or cottage cheese
- Provides the main body and moisture, forming a soft, tender interior.
- Cornstarch
- Gives the fritters structure and a crisp, light outer crust when fried.
- Eggs
- Bind the mixture together so the balls hold their shape while frying.
- Brown sugar
- Adds sweetness and promotes golden browning during frying.
The step that matters
Increase the oil temperature after a few minutes. Frying slowly first lets the centres cook through without scorching, while the later rise in heat crisps and browns the outside. Skipping the increase leaves the surface pale and greasy.
“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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