Why it works: Egg and ham are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 17% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 4,526 recipes. Both carry 2,4-decadienal, which smells seaweed. The science ↓
Schinkenfleckerln
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare the noodle mixture
Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a small mixing bowl combine milk, egg yolk, 2 ½ teaspoons margarine, and pepper, mixing thoroughly.
Add ham and noodles and stir well to thoroughly combine.
In a separate bowl beat egg white with salt until stiff but not dry. Gently fold into noodle mixture.
Bake
Grease a 2‑cup casserole dish with remaining margarine and spoon noodle mixture into casserole.
Bake until browned on top, 45 to 50 minutes.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 6 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Pork | 100g cooked | 242 |
| Milk | 1 cup (244ml) whole | 149 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| 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.
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Egg + hamtop 17% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together4,526 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Milk + eggtop 18% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together88,785 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).
-
Milk + peppertop 22% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together26,984 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).
-
Milk + hamtop 23% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,089 recipes
Shared aroma: gamma-nonanolactone (coconut, sweet).
-
Pepper + hamtop 23% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together6,058 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
- Egg
- The whipped egg white gives the casserole lift and a light, airy structure, while the yolk adds richness and binding.
- Margarine
- Adds fat for richness and helps the top brown in the oven.
- Skim milk
- Provides moisture and liquid that sets with the egg into a tender custard.
- Noodles
- Form the body of the casserole and soak up the custard for a soft, bound texture.
- Boiled ham
- Adds savory flavor and salt-cured meatiness throughout the dish.
The step that matters
Folding in the egg white. Egg whites whipped until stiff but not dry trap air that gives lift. Overmixing or deflating them while folding makes the casserole dense instead of light.
“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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