Why it works: Nutmeg and clove match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 8,686 recipes. Both carry estragole, which smells anise, licorice. The science ↓
Acorn Squash Soup
Ingredients
Directions
Make the soup
Saute the leek in olive oil over low heat for a couple minutes.
Add the rest of vegetables plus 1/4 cup of water and continue to cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the tofu, seasoning, vegetable broth, and the rest of the water and cook over low to medium heat until vegetables are soft.
Remove the cloves.
Blend and serve
Puree the soup in a food processor or blender until smooth.
Return to the pot.
Add water if the soup is too thick.
Adjust the seasoning and cook over low heat for 5 minutes.
Serve.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 7 of 10 ingredients. The other 3 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 7 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Tofu | 100g firm | 76 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Nutmeg | 1 tsp ground (2.2g) | 12 |
| Turmeric | 1 tsp ground (3g) | 9 |
| Clove | 1 tsp ground (2g) | 7 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Pumpkin | not in our table | 0 |
| Yam | 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.
-
Nutmeg + clovetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together8,686 recipes
Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).
-
Yam + nutmegtop 4% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together29 recipes
Shared aroma: coumarin (sweet, hay).
-
Acorn + yamtop 5% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together0 recipes
Shared aroma: coumarin (sweet, hay).
-
Leek + clovetop 6% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together579 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonanone (fruity, floral).
-
Leek + nutmegtop 6% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together152 recipes
Shared aroma: coumarin (sweet, hay).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Acorn squash
- Provides the main body and natural sweetness, and thickens the soup when pureed.
- Yam
- Adds starch and body, helping the soup become thick and creamy when blended.
- Silken tofu
- Adds creaminess and moisture, giving the pureed soup a smooth, rich texture.
- Leek
- Softens into the base and adds a mild onion-like aroma and savoury flavour.
- Olive oil
- Carries fat-soluble aroma from the spices and softens the leek without browning it.
The step that matters
Puree until smooth. Vegetables must be fully soft before blending, or the soup stays grainy. Blending while the vegetables are still firm leaves lumps, and the soup's texture depends on thorough cooking and smooth pureeing.
Swap the acorn
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (tofu, leek, yam, olive, nutmeg, clove):
- Lentilsfits better
- Chickpeafits better
- Beansfits better
- Acornthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against tofu, leek, yam, olive, nutmeg, clove. 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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