Why it works: Raisin and almond are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 2% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 1,781 recipes. Both carry 2-nonanone, which smells fruity, floral. The science ↓
Shemai
Ingredients
Directions
Melt butter in a 4 qt pot.
Break vermicelli into 3" pieces.
Stir vermicelli into butter over low heat until it turns light brown.
Pour in the milk and stir over medium heat until it boils.
Add raisins, almonds, and sugar.
Continue cooking under low heat for 10 minutes.
Add whipping cream and continue cooking for a couple of minutes.
Remove from heat and, when cool, chill in the refrigerator before serving.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 6 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | 1 cup (244ml) whole | 149 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Grape | 1/2 cup (76g) | 62 |
| Cream | 1 tbsp (15ml) heavy | 51 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Almond | 1 almond (1.2g) | 7 |
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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Raisin + almondtop 2% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,781 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonanone (fruity, floral).
-
Butter + milktop 7% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together81,283 recipes
Shared aroma: (z)-4-heptenal (biscuit, cream).
-
Butter + creamtop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together41,516 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).
-
Cream + sugartop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together43,450 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,3-butanedione (butter, sweet).
-
Butter + almondtop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together9,245 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,3-pentanedione (butter, sweet).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Vermicelli
- Provides the starchy strands that thicken the milk and give the dish its body.
- Butter
- Carries fat for frying the vermicelli, adding richness and toasty browning.
- Milk
- Forms the liquid base that the vermicelli softens and thickens in.
- Whipping cream
- Adds fat and richness, giving a smoother, creamier texture.
- Sugar
- Adds sweetness and balances the toasted flavour of the vermicelli.
The step that matters
Toasting the vermicelli in butter until light brown. Browning the pasta in butter develops a nutty, toasted flavour. Stopping too early leaves it tasting raw, while going too far makes it bitter.
“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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