Why it works: Corn and milk are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 10% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 6,955 recipes. Both carry hexanal, which smells green, grassy. The science ↓
Cheese-scalloped Corn
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Heat oven to 375 °F.
Coat a 2‑quart casserole with vegetable oil spray.
Mix and bake
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the eggs, corn, milk, cracker crumbs, onion, green pepper (if using), cheese, salt, and pepper.
Pour the mixture into the casserole.
Bake uncovered for about 50 minutes, until the corn is set in the middle and begins to pull away from the sides of the casserole.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 11 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Milk | 1 cup (244ml) whole | 149 |
| Cheddar Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 113 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Corn | 1/2 cup kernels (82g) | 77 |
| Cracker | 5 saltine crackers (15g) | 66 |
| Cream | 1 tbsp (15ml) heavy | 51 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Bell Pepper | 1 medium (119g) | 31 |
| 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.
-
Corn + milktop 10% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together6,955 recipes
Shared aroma: hexanal (green, grassy).
-
Corn + peppertop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together5,324 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).
-
Milk + cheddar cheesetop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,964 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).
-
Onion + peppertop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together68,474 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Onion + cheddar cheesetop 13% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,669 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Eggs
- Bind the mixture and set into a sliceable, custard-like texture when baked.
- Cream corn
- Provides the main body, sweetness and moisture of the casserole.
- Milk
- Adds moisture and helps the egg custard set softly.
- Cracker crumbs
- Absorb liquid and give the casserole structure and body.
- Cheddar cheese
- Adds fat, savory flavor and browning on the surface.
The step that matters
Baking until the corn is set. Eggs set as they heat, so underbaking leaves the middle loose and wet, while overbaking can make the custard dry and rubbery. Look for a firm center and edges pulling away from the sides.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (egg, cream, corn, milk, pepper, cheddar cheese):
- Capsicumfits better
- Potatofits better
- Asparagusfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against egg, cream, corn, milk, pepper, 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.
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