Why it works: Cucumber and sesame match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 3% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 364 recipes. Both carry trans-2-nonenal, which smells cardboard, fatty. The science ↓
Taiwan Pickles
Ingredients
Directions
Place sliced cucumbers in a serving bowl and sprinkle with salt to taste.
Mix dressing ingredients in a small bowl and pour over cucumber slices, then stir to coat.
Sprinkle with dried chilies to taste, stir, and serve cold.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 6 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Sesame | 1 tbsp (14g) | 120 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Cucumber | 1/2 cup sliced (52g) | 16 |
| Chili | 1 tsp (2.7g) | 8 |
| Vinegar | 1 tbsp (15ml) distilled | 3 |
| 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.
-
Cucumber + sesametop 3% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together364 recipes
Shared aroma: trans-2-nonenal (cardboard, fatty).
-
Sesame + ricetop 3% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together984 recipes
Shared aroma: trans-2-nonenal (cardboard, fatty).
-
Cucumber + ricetop 5% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together734 recipes
Shared aroma: trans-2-nonenal (cardboard, fatty).
-
Cucumber + vinegartop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together4,734 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-methylbutyl acetate (fruit).
-
Sesame + vinegartop 12% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,133 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-hydroxy-3-butanone (caramel-like, roast).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- English cucumber
- Provides the crisp, watery base that the salt draws moisture from and the dressing clings to.
- Sesame oil
- Adds a nutty, aromatic fat that carries the flavour of the dressing.
- Rice vinegar
- Adds gentle acidity that brightens the cucumber and balances the oils.
The step that matters
Salting the cucumber. Salt draws water out of the cucumber by osmosis. Seasoning to taste before dressing matters because the salt concentrates as liquid pools, so adding too much can make the pickles harsh or soggy.
“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.
You might also like
Rice Fritters84 recipes
Steamed Rice48 recipes
Rice Griddle Cakes28 recipes
Rice and Cheese Casserole23 recipesThe free Flavor Lab newsletter: one surprising pairing a week and the molecular reason it works, in 60 seconds. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer an account? Create a free account to save pairings and unlock the full chemistry.