Fat-free Chili Beans

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. Tomato + beanstop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together2,713 recipes

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

3. Garlic + tomatotop 3% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together14,076 recipes

   Shared aroma: furaneol (caramel, strawberry).

4. Rice + beanstop 4% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together1,017 recipes

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

5. Carrot + beanstop 4% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together1,443 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine (green bell pepper, earthy).

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

What each ingredient does

Kidney or pinto beans

Add body and protein-rich bulk, holding their shape through the simmer to give the chili texture.

Pre-cooked brown rice

Absorbs liquid and thickens the chili while adding bulk and a chewy texture.

Tomato paste

Concentrates tomato flavour and adds depth and body to the sauce.

Tomato sauce

Forms the liquid base of the chili, carrying the spices and softening the other ingredients.

Swap the clove

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (onion, carrot, garlic, sauce, tomato, rice, beans):

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

Fit is the average pairing score against onion, carrot, garlic, sauce, tomato, rice, beans. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.