Mexicali Rose Taco Salad

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.

1. Coriander + limetop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together3,536 recipes

   Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).

2. Avocado + limetop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together1,117 recipes

   Shared aroma: decanal (soap, orange peel).

3. Lettuce + avocadotop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together464 recipes

   Shared aroma: trans-2-hexenal (green, leafy).

4. Avocado + coriandertop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together1,094 recipes

   Shared aroma: decanal (soap, orange peel).

5. Olive + tomatotop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together15,539 recipes

   Shared aroma: 3-hexenal (apple, fruity).

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

What each ingredient does

Red leaf lettuce

Forms the crisp base layer that holds the salad and dressing.

Black or navy beans

Provides hearty body and protein-rich bulk to the salad.

Avocado

Adds creamy richness that softens the sharp, acidic dressing.

Olive oil

Provides fat that carries the chili and lime flavors and coats the vegetables.

Tomatoes

Contributes juiciness and acidity that brighten the salad.

Swap the lettuce

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (beans, corn, olive, tomato, avocado, coriander, lime):

1. Capsicumfits better
2. Sweet potatofits about as well
3. Lettucethe original
4. Welsh onionfits about as well

Fit is the average pairing score against beans, corn, olive, tomato, avocado, coriander, lime. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.