Why it works: Broccoli and cauliflower match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 127 recipes. Both carry 4'-methylacetophenone, which smells bitter almond. The science ↓
Stewed Fish Over Rice and Noodles
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Wash and clean the fish and vegetables.
Cut the fish into cubes while frozen.
Cook
Sauté vegetables and seasoning in a tablespoon of oil so that they don't stick to the pot.
When tender, add fish and two cups of water.
Boil over medium heat, stirring frequently, until done. This will be about 10-20 minutes.
Add the package of beef stew mix to 1/2 cup of water and then add the remaining ingredients.
Serve
Serve with rice or over noodles.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 10 of 12 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 10 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Beef | 100g cooked | 250 |
| Salmon | 100g cooked | 208 |
| Broccoli | 1 cup chopped (156g) | 55 |
| Carrot | 1 medium (61g) | 25 |
| Tomato | 1 medium (123g) | 22 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Oregano | 1 tsp dried (1.8g) | 5 |
| Sage | 1 tsp ground (0.7g) | 2 |
| Parsley | 1 tbsp chopped fresh (3.8g) | 1 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Capsicum | not in our table | 0 |
| Stew | 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.
-
Broccoli + cauliflowertop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together127 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
Carrot + parsleytop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together8,053 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Capsicum + tomatotop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together10,520 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Tomato + oreganotop 2% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,767 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-hexenal (green, leafy).
-
Parsley + oreganotop 2% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together1,184 recipes
Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- King fish
- Provides the main protein, which firms and turns opaque as it cooks through.
- Tomato
- Adds acidity and moisture that help build the body of the stew liquid.
- Carrots
- Add sweetness and firm texture that holds up during simmering.
- Beef stew mix
- Supplies seasoning and savoury flavour to the broth.
The step that matters
Boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Fish is delicate and can overcook into dry, tough flakes if boiled too hard or too long. Stirring helps distribute heat evenly so the pieces cook through without sticking to the pot.
Swap the oregano
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (fish, capsicum, carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, tomato, parsley):
- Cuminfits better
- Celeryfits better
- Capersfits better
- Oreganothe original
Fit is the average pairing score against fish, capsicum, carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, tomato, 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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