Name: Baked Black Bean Dip
Ingredients: 1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained; 1 cup sour cream; 3 tablespoons salsa; 1/2 cup Mexican lime juice; 1/2 cup Monterey jack cheese, shredded; 1 scallion, chopped

Why it works: Beans and lime match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 6% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 700 recipes. Both carry linalool, which smells floral, citrus. The science ↓

Baked Black Bean Dip

Time20–25 minutes

Ingredients

Directions

Make the dip

Combine beans, sour cream, salsa, and lime juice in a blender until smooth.
Pour mixture into an 8‑inch square pan sprayed with nonstick spray.

Bake and serve

Sprinkle with cheese and scallion.
Bake for 20–25 minutes.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

360Calories

33 gProtein

11 gFat

35 gCarbs

What these numbers assume: 5 portions

Ingredient	Portion assumed	kcal
Black Bean	1/2 cup canned (120g) drained	114
Cheese	1 oz (28g) cheddar	113
Yogurt	170g plain Greek	100
Tomato	1 medium (123g)	22
Mexican Lime	juice of 1 lime (44ml)	11

One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.

Recipe from the Recipes Wiki (Fandom).

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.

Beans + limetop 6% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together700 recipes

Shared aroma: linalool (floral, citrus).
Beans + cheesetop 14% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together741 recipes

Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Cream + cheesetop 15% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together2,655 recipes

Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).
Beans + creamtop 24% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together1,341 recipes

Shared aroma: 2-heptanol (bitter, floral).
Lime + cheesetop 25% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together355 recipes

Shared aroma: eucalyptol (eucalyptus, herbal).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Black beans: Provide the bulk and body of the dip, thickening it as they blend into a smooth purée.
Sour cream: Adds moisture and creaminess, giving the dip a smooth, rich texture.
Monterey jack cheese: Melts over the top in the oven, adding fat and a golden, stretchy topping.
Lime juice: Adds acidity that brightens the rich beans, sour cream, and cheese.