Why it works: Tomato and beans match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 2,713 recipes. Both carry 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which smells earthy, pea. The science ↓
Braised Lamb
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Wash the meat and cut into pieces (2 or 3 per portion).
If available, use a 2 or 3 litre stoneware casserole.
Assemble and bake
Add finely chopped onion, chunks of potatoes, tomatoes cut in half, string beans from which the strings have been removed, diced eggplant, parsley greens or kindza.
Season with salt and pepper.
Add two cupful of water.
Cover with a lid and bake for 1 to 2 hours.
Serve in the casserole.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 8 of 10 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 8 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Lamb | 100g cooked | 294 |
| Potato | 1 medium (173g) baked | 161 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Eggplant | 1 cup cubed (82g) | 35 |
| Tomato | 1 medium (123g) | 22 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Parsley | 1 tbsp chopped fresh (3.8g) | 1 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Bean | not in our table | 0 |
| Coriander | 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.
-
Tomato + beanstop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together2,713 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Pepper + parsleytop 2% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together34,122 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
Tomato + eggplanttop 3% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together651 recipes
Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).
-
Eggplant + parsleytop 3% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together328 recipes
Shared aroma: alpha-pinene (pine, turpentine).
-
Potato + oniontop 3% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together9,023 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Lamb
- Provides the meat that becomes tender and flavourful during long, slow braising.
- Potatoes
- Absorb the braising liquid and soften, adding starch and body to the stew.
- Tomatoes
- Break down into the cooking liquid, adding acidity and a savoury, fresh flavour.
- Eggplant
- Softens as it cooks, releasing moisture that thickens and enriches the braise.
The step that matters
Cover with a lid and bake for 1 to 2 hours. The lid traps steam so the liquid cannot evaporate too fast, letting tough lamb fibres slowly break down while the meat stays moist.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (lamb, potato, tomato, eggplant, beans, pepper, parsley):
- Okrafits better
- Capsicumfits better
- Spinachfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against lamb, potato, tomato, eggplant, beans, pepper, parsley. 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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