Why it works: Potato and mozzarella cheese work together. They rank in the top 18% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 115 recipes. Both carry methyl 2-methylbutyrate, which smells apple, fatty. The science ↓
Ecuadorian Tortillas
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare the potatoes
Wash, peel and cut potatoes.
Boil in salted water until soft enough to mash.
Let mashed potatoes cool a little.
Shape and fry
Take a handful of potatoes and make a small pocket in the center with your fingers.
Stuff it with small pieces of mozzarella cheese and mold to form a patty.
Fry over medium heat in 2 tablespoons oil until brown.
Turn over and fry other side, adding more oil as needed.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 3 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Potato | 1 medium (173g) baked | 161 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Mozzarella Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 85 |
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 + mozzarella cheesetop 18% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together115 recipes
Shared aroma: methyl 2-methylbutyrate (apple, fatty).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Potatoes
- Form the soft, moldable body of the tortilla once mashed.
- Mozzarella cheese
- Melts inside the patty, adding richness and a creamy center.
- Cooking oil
- Conducts heat and browns the outside of the patties during frying.
The step that matters
Frying the stuffed patties. Medium heat lets the centers warm and the cheese melt before the outside over-browns. Enough oil keeps the surface evenly golden and prevents sticking.
“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.
You might also like
Fritters56 recipes
Crisp Crackers7 recipesThe free Flavor Lab newsletter: one surprising pairing a week and the molecular reason it works, in 60 seconds. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer an account? Create a free account to save pairings and unlock the full chemistry.