Why it works: Butter and cheese are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 8% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 7,962 recipes. Both carry delta-dodecalactone, which smells sweet, creamy. The science ↓
Southwestern Omelet
Ingredients
Directions
Make the egg mixture
Mix together eggs, water, and salt.
Stir in chiles and onion.
Cook the omelets
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy skillet until hot enough to sizzle.
Pour in one-fourth of egg mixture.
As mixture begins to cook, lift edges of omelet and tilt pan to allow uncooked portion to flow underneath.
When egg mixture is set and no longer flows freely, sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese over half of omelet.
Fold omelet in half, and place on a warm platter.
Repeat procedure with remaining ingredients.
Serve
Serve with taco sauce.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 6 of 9 ingredients. The other 3 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 6 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Cheese | 1 oz (28g) cheddar | 113 |
| Cheddar Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 113 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Water | not in our table | 0 |
| Taco | not in our table | 0 |
| Sauce | 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.
-
Butter + cheesetop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together7,962 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).
-
Butter + saucetop 15% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together15,338 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Onion + buttertop 15% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together42,912 recipes
Shared aroma: decanal (soap, orange peel).
-
Onion + cheesetop 16% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together4,849 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Egg + buttertop 17% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together118,967 recipes
Shared aroma: decanal (soap, orange peel).
Butter and sauce barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 15,338 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
- Eggs
- Set into the soft, fluffy structure of the omelet as they cook.
- Butter or margarine
- Adds richness and helps keep the omelet from sticking to the skillet.
- Monterey jack cheese or cheddar cheese
- Melts into the folded omelet, adding creaminess and savory flavor.
- Green chilies
- Add mild heat and a fresh, earthy flavor to the eggs.
- Onions
- Add savory sweetness and aroma as they soften in the eggs.
The step that matters
Waiting for the egg mixture to set before folding. Folding too early, while the eggs are still runny, makes the omelet tear and leak. Waiting until the surface is set lets the eggs hold together and keeps the cheese inside.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (egg, butter, cheese, sauce):
- Mustardfits better
- Asparagusfits better
- Capsicumfits about as well
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against egg, butter, cheese, sauce. 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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