Why it works: Spinach and nutmeg match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 4% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 603 recipes. Both carry coumarin, which smells sweet, hay. The science ↓
Spinach Pom Pons
Ingredients
Directions
Make the mixture
Combine rice and butter in large mixing bowl.
Squeeze all liquid from spinach.
Add spinach, cheese, eggs, salt, pepper and nutmeg to rice. Mix thoroughly.
Shape and chill
Form into 12 balls (a generous 1/3 cup each).
Place on greased baking pan.
Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
Bake and serve
Bake at 350 degrees 25 to 30 minutes.
Serve with a spicy mustard sauce, if desired.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 8 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Rice | 1 cup cooked (158g) white | 206 |
| Parmesan Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 110 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Nutmeg | 1 tsp ground (2.2g) | 12 |
| Spinach | 1 cup raw (30g) | 7 |
| 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.
-
Spinach + nutmegtop 4% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together603 recipes
Shared aroma: coumarin (sweet, hay).
-
Spinach + peppertop 6% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,400 recipes
Shared aroma: nonanal (fat, citrus).
-
Pepper + nutmegtop 7% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together13,015 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
Rice + spinachtop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together518 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (clove, smoky).
-
Butter + parmesan cheesetop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together4,163 recipes
Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).
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 firm, sliceable texture when baked.
- Cooked rice
- Provides the bulk that gives each ball its body.
- Parmesan cheese
- Adds savory, salty flavor and helps the balls brown slightly.
- Butter or margarine
- Adds fat for richness and a tender, moist crumb.
- Spinach
- Supplies the green color and earthy flavor of the balls.
The step that matters
Squeeze all liquid from spinach. Excess water from thawed spinach dilutes the binding eggs and makes the balls soggy and loose, so they may not hold their shape or set properly in the oven.
Swap the nutmeg
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (rice, butter, spinach, parmesan cheese, egg, pepper):
- Parsleyfits about as well
- Nutmegthe original
- Capersfits about as well
- Turmericfits about as well
Fit is the average pairing score against rice, butter, spinach, parmesan cheese, egg, pepper. 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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