Why it works: Wheat and flour are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 12% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 4,373 recipes. Both carry isobutyraldehyde, which smells malty, green. The science ↓
Nutritional Yeast Gravy
Ingredients
Directions
In a saucepan, toast the flour over medium heat until it starts to brown and becomes aromatic.
Stir in the nutritional yeast and oil and let cook a few minutes, until it starts to bubble and sizzle.
Slowly stir in the water and soy sauce with a wire whisk, and cook on medium-low heat until thickened to the desired consistency.
Add the pepper and serve hot!
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 5 of 6 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 5 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Soy Sauce | 1 tbsp (15ml) | 9 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Water | 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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Wheat + flourtop 12% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together4,373 recipes
Shared aroma: isobutyraldehyde (malty, green).
-
Wheat + peppertop 15% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together984 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).
-
Flour + saucetop 18% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together8,078 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Flour + peppertop 19% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together50,459 recipes
Shared aroma: isobutyraldehyde (malty, green).
-
Sauce + peppertop 27% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together15,303 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
Sauce and pepper barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 15,303 recipes: they work on texture and structure more than aroma.
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Whole wheat flour
- Toasting and thickening with the oil forms a roux that gives the gravy body.
- Nutritional yeast flakes
- Adds a savory, cheesy aroma and depth of flavor to the gravy.
- Light, natural oil
- Carries fat that cooks the flour and yeast, helping them toast and blend smoothly.
- Water or vegetable stock
- Liquid that hydrates the roux as it thickens into a gravy.
- Soy sauce
- Adds salty, savory depth and a little browning color to the gravy.
The step that matters
Slowly whisk in the liquid. Adding the water or stock gradually while whisking keeps the flour mixture smooth. Adding it all at once can trap lumps of starch that are hard to remove once thickened.
“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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