Why it works: Cumin and lime match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 1,216 recipes. Both carry beta-phellandrene, which smells minty, terpene. The science ↓
Southwestern Squash Saute
Ingredients
Directions
1. Set a large skillet over med-high heat.
2. When hot, add 2 T.oil and let it heat.
3. Add the onion, season with a little salt, and sauté until translucent, about 2 minutes.
4. Add the diced red pepper and a little more salt and sauté for another 1 to 2 minutes.
5. Transfer the pepper and and onion mixture to a bowl or a plate.
6. Turn the heat to high, add one more T.oil and the squash.
7. Season with salt and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring only occasionally, so that it begins to brown lightly and the flesh turns slightly translucent and is tender (do not over cook).
8. Put the peppers and onions back in the pan, and the corn, garlic and chilies, season again with salt and sauté a few minutes more.
9. Season with a few grinds of pepper, and the cumin.
10. Toss in the cilantro, squeeze the lime overall, toss and serve.
Category:Southwestern Recipes
Category:Southwestern Vegetarian
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 11 of 12 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 11 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Corn | 1/2 cup kernels (82g) | 77 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Bell Pepper | 1 medium (119g) | 31 |
| Cucumber | 1/2 cup sliced (52g) | 16 |
| Lime | juice of 1 lime (44ml) | 11 |
| Chili | 1 tsp (2.7g) | 8 |
| Cumin | 1 tsp ground (2.1g) | 8 |
| Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Cilantro | 1 tbsp chopped fresh (1g) | 1 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Pumpkin | 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.
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.
-
Cumin + limetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together1,216 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
-
Jalapeno + cumintop 1% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together688 recipes
Shared aroma: isobutyraldehyde (malty, green).
-
Jalapeno + limetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,035 recipes
Shared aroma: isobutyraldehyde (malty, green).
-
Pepper + limetop 2% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together3,491 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
-
Corn + limetop 5% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together773 recipes
Shared aroma: decanal (soap, orange peel).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (olive, pepper, corn, jalapeno, cumin, lime):
- Capsicumfits better
- Tomatofits better
- Spinachfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against olive, pepper, corn, jalapeno, cumin, lime. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
You might also like
The 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.
Corn Fritters203 recipes
Cream of Corn Soup50 recipes
Green Corn Soup46 recipes
Cornmeal Gruel41 recipes