Why it works: Clove and pepper match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 5% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 17,451 recipes. Both carry ethyl octanoate, which smells fruity, wine. The science ↓
Quick Coriander Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
Directions
Marinate the chicken
Combine soy sauce, ground coriander, red wine vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, black pepper and poultry seasoning in a large bowl.
Add chicken, turning to coat.
Cook the chicken
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat until hot, then add chicken.
Cook 7 minutes.
Turn chicken over; pour any remaining sauce mixture over chicken.
Cook about 7 minutes more or until chicken is no longer pink in center.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 7 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 100g cooked | 165 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Soy Sauce | 1 tbsp (15ml) | 9 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Garlic | 1 clove (3g) | 4 |
| Vinegar | 1 tbsp (15ml) distilled | 3 |
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.
-
Clove + peppertop 5% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together17,451 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl octanoate (fruity, wine).
-
Garlic + chickentop 7% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together10,850 recipes
Shared aroma: 3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine (roasted, nutty).
-
Garlic + peppertop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together27,090 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
-
Red wine + clovetop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together849 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl cinnamate (sweet, balsamic).
-
Clove + garlictop 10% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together11,368 recipes
Shared aroma: linalool (floral, citrus).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Chicken breast halves
- Provides the main protein, which firms and turns opaque as it cooks.
- Soy sauce
- Adds salty, savory depth and helps the surface brown in the pan.
- Brown sugar
- Adds sweetness and promotes browning on the chicken's surface.
- Red wine vinegar
- Adds acidity that brightens the sauce and balances the sweetness.
- Garlic
- Adds pungent aroma that mellows and deepens as it cooks.
- Ground coriander
- Adds warm, citrusy aroma as the main spice in the marinade.
The step that matters
Checking doneness in the final cook. Chicken breast is lean and dries out quickly once it passes doneness, so check the center at the time given rather than cooking by habit. Pinkness is an imperfect guide, so confirm the center is no longer pink.
Swap the clove
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (sauce, red wine, vinegar, sugar, garlic, pepper, chicken):
- Rosemaryfits better
- Thymefits better
- Tarragonfits about as well
- Clovethe original
Fit is the average pairing score against sauce, red wine, vinegar, sugar, garlic, pepper, chicken. 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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