Why it works: Onion and mustard match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 6% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 9,259 recipes. Both carry 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which smells earthy, pea. The science ↓
Sloppy Joes III
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Use leftover pieces of any rustic bread that's otherwise too hard to eat; it will hold up better than fresher breads.
Cook
In a very large covered frying pan, saute onions and peppers in water or oil.
When soft, add remaining ingredients and stir well.
Cook on low-medium heat for 20 minutes, covered, stirring occasionally.
Serve
When done, serve over toast, toasted English muffins, or rice.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 9 of 10 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 9 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Tomato | 1 medium (123g) | 22 |
| Soy Sauce | 1 tbsp (15ml) | 9 |
| Chili | 1 tsp (2.7g) | 8 |
| Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Mustard | 1 tsp (5g) yellow | 3 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Water | 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.
-
Onion + mustardtop 6% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together9,259 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Pepper + tomatotop 7% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together17,923 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Onion + tomatotop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together20,633 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Pepper + mustardtop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together15,430 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Pepper + oniontop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together68,474 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Tvp
- Rehydrates in the hot liquid to form the meaty, chewy body of the filling.
- Tomato sauce
- Provides the liquid base and tomato flavor that the filling simmers in.
- Onions
- Softened in the pan, they add sweetness and savory depth to the filling.
- Green peppers
- Softened in the pan, they add a fresh, slightly bitter vegetable flavor.
- Mustard
- Adds sharp tang that balances the sweetness and richness of the sauce.
The step that matters
Cook on low-medium heat, covered, stirring occasionally. Gentle covered heat lets the TVP absorb the liquid and soften evenly while the sauce thickens. Too much heat or uncovered cooking can scorch the bottom or leave the filling dry and uneven.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (pepper, tomato, sauce, mustard, sugar):
- Capsicumfits better
- Horseradishfits better
- Lettucefits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against pepper, tomato, sauce, mustard, sugar. 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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