Why it works: Cheddar cheese and cheese match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 984 recipes. Both carry 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which smells earthy, pea. The science ↓
Surullitos De Maiz
Ingredients
Directions
Make the dough
Pour water and salt into a saucepan and bring to a boil.
Lower heat and slowly stir in cornmeal continuously to avoid lumps.
Continue cooking on low heat until the mixture separates easily from the bottom and sides of the saucepan.
Remove from heat, add the cheese, and blend well.
Shape and chill
Scoop enough mixture to fill a teaspoon and form a ball with the palm of your hand.
Place on a clean flat surface and roll balls into small cylinders roughly 1/2 inch in diameter.
Continue until all mixture is used.
Place on a flat plate or tray, covering layers with wax paper, and let the cornmeal sticks rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Fry and serve
Heat oil or shortening to about 375°F in a deep fryer or pot.
Fry until golden brown and drain on a paper towel before serving.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 5 of 6 ingredients. The other 1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Cheddar Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 113 |
| Cheese | 1 oz (28g) cheddar | 113 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 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.
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Cheddar cheese + cheesetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together984 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Cheddar cheese + buttertop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,436 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).
-
Cheese + buttertop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together7,962 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Yellow cornmeal
- Forms the main body of the sticks, setting into a firm, sliceable dough when cooked.
- Cheese
- Adds savory flavor and richness, and helps the fried sticks brown.
- Water
- Hydrates the cornmeal so it cooks into a smooth, cohesive dough.
The step that matters
Stirring in the cornmeal slowly. Adding cornmeal too fast to boiling water creates lumps that stay in the dough. Stirring constantly while adding it in a slow stream lets each grain hydrate evenly and gives a smooth mixture.
“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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