Why it works: Potato and onion are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 3% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 9,023 recipes. Both carry 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which smells earthy, pea. The science ↓
Kugelis II
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Peel potatoes.
Grate potatoes and onion finely.
Dice bacon and fry until crisp.
Make the batter
Pour bacon fat and bacon over grated potatoes.
Add hot milk, then add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
Add pepper, salt, and flour; mix well.
Pour mixture into a greased heavy skillet or pan.
Bake and serve
Bake at 400°F for 15 minutes.
Reduce heat to 375°F and bake for 45 minutes longer.
Cut into squares.
Serve hot with sour cream.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 8 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Potato | 1 medium (173g) baked | 161 |
| Milk | 1 cup (244ml) whole | 149 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Bacon | 1 slice cooked (8g) | 43 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| 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.
-
Potato + oniontop 3% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together9,023 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Potato + peppertop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together8,305 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Potato + milktop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,611 recipes
Shared aroma: (e,z)-2,6-nonadienal (cucumber, melon).
-
Onion + peppertop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together68,474 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Flour + milktop 14% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together78,219 recipes
Shared aroma: isobutyraldehyde (malty, green).
Flour and milk barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 78,219 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
- Potatoes
- Form the bulk of the pudding, providing starch that sets into a tender, sliceable body.
- Eggs
- Bind the grated potatoes and set during baking to give the pudding its structure.
- Flour
- Absorbs liquid and helps the pudding hold together when baked and cut.
- Bacon
- Adds fat and savory flavor, and its crisp pieces add browning and richness.
- Milk
- Adds moisture and richness, keeping the grated potato mixture tender as it bakes.
The step that matters
Grate the potatoes finely and get the batter in the hot pan promptly. Finely grated potatoes release starch that helps bind the pudding, and grated potato darkens quickly when exposed to air. Baking in a preheated, greased heavy pan helps the surface brown and release cleanly.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (potato, pepper, egg, flour, milk):
- Capsicumfits better
- Asparagusfits better
- Chivefits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against potato, pepper, egg, flour, milk. 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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