Name: Cheesy Poblano Rice Soup
Ingredients: 1/4 cup minced shallots; 3 poblano peppers, seeded and chopped into 1-inch pieces; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 3 14 1/2-ounce cans chicken broth; 1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained; 3 cups cooked rice; 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Why it works: Chicken and rice are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 5% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 4,769 recipes. Both carry (e,e)-2,4-decadienal, which smells fatty, deep fried. The science ↓

Cheesy Poblano Rice Soup

Time3 to 5 minutes

Ingredients

1/4 cup minced shallots
3 poblano peppers, seeded and chopped into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 14 1/2-ounce cans chicken broth
1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
3 cups cooked rice
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

Saute shallots and peppers in oil in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat until tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
Stir in broth and tomatoes; bring to a boil.
Add rice and cheese; cook and stir until cheese is melted.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

683Calories

45 gProtein

28 gFat

63 gCarbs

What these numbers assume: 8 portions

Ingredient	Portion assumed	kcal
Rice	1 cup cooked (158g) white	206
Chicken	100g cooked	165
Olive Oil	1 tbsp (14g)	119
Cheddar Cheese	1 oz (28g)	113
Onion	1 medium (110g)	44
Tomato	1 medium (123g)	22
Chili	1 tsp (2.7g)	8
Pepper	1 tsp ground (2.3g)	6

One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.

Recipe from the Recipes Wiki (Fandom).

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.

Chicken + ricetop 5% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together4,769 recipes

Shared aroma: (e,e)-2,4-decadienal (fatty, deep fried).
Tomato + ricetop 6% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together3,065 recipes

Shared aroma: trans-2-nonenal (cardboard, fatty).
Pepper + tomatotop 7% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together17,923 recipes

Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Chicken + tomatotop 8% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together6,031 recipes

Shared aroma: 3-hexenal (apple, fruity).
Shallot + ricetop 9% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together284 recipes

Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).

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

What each ingredient does

Poblano peppers: Provide the main vegetable body and mild, earthy flavor as they soften in the oil.
Cooked rice: Adds body and substance, thickening the soup and making it more filling.
Cheddar cheese: Melts into the broth to give richness, creaminess and a savory cheesy flavor.
Chicken broth: Forms the liquid base of the soup, carrying the flavors of the other ingredients.
Diced tomatoes: Add acidity and a bright, savory note that balances the rich cheese.

Swap the shallot

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (pepper, chicken, tomato, rice, cheddar cheese):

Capsicumfits better
Potatofits better
Asparagusfits better
Shallotthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against pepper, chicken, tomato, rice, 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.