Why it works: Barley and onion are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 10% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 1,166 recipes. Both carry 2,4-decadienal, which smells seaweed. The science ↓
Mulgikapsad
Ingredients
Directions
Make the stew
Put sauerkraut, barley, and bacon in a saucepan. Cover with water and stew under the lid.
Ensure the water does not boil off.
When the stew gets hot (a little before boiling), add salt and sugar.
Add the onions and serve
Cut the onions into small cubes.
Fry the onions with a little fat or oil.
Add the fried onions to the sauerkraut.
Serve with boiled potatoes or pork.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 5 of 7 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 5 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Barley | 1 cup cooked (157g) | 193 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Bacon | 1 slice cooked (8g) | 43 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Sauerkraut | not in our table | 0 |
| Water | not in our table | 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.
-
Barley + oniontop 10% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,166 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Barley + sugartop 21% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together755 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
-
Onion + sugartop 36% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together15,747 recipes
Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).
Onion and sugar barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 15,747 recipes: they work on texture and structure more than aroma.
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Sauerkraut
- Provides the sour flavour and the main body of the stew.
- Barley grouts
- Thickens the stew and adds a chewy, starchy texture as it cooks.
- Bacon
- Adds fat and smoky, savoury flavour to the stew.
- Onions
- Add sweetness and aroma when fried before being added to the stew.
The step that matters
Ensure the water does not boil off. Sauerkraut and barley cook slowly in their own liquid under a lid. If the water boils away, the mixture can scorch on the bottom of the pan and the barley will not cook through evenly.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (barley, sugar):
- Leekfits better
- Sweet potatofits better
- Arrowrootfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against barley, sugar. 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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