Why it works: Onion and cucumber match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 8% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 6,050 recipes. Both carry 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which smells earthy, pea. The science ↓
Oka I'a
Ingredients
Directions
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl and refrigerate for ½ hour to an hour.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 6 of 7 ingredients. The other 1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Coconut | 1/2 cup shredded (40g) | 283 |
| Salmon | 100g cooked | 208 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Cucumber | 1/2 cup sliced (52g) | 16 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| 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 + cucumbertop 8% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together6,050 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Coconut + milktop 10% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,648 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).
-
Onion + peppertop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together68,474 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Cucumber + peppertop 12% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together5,991 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Coconut + cucumbertop 13% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together154 recipes
Shared aroma: decanal (soap, orange peel).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Raw fish
- Forms the main body of the dish and provides its protein and flavor.
- Coconut milk
- Adds richness, fat, and a creamy texture that softens the sharp edges of the acid.
- Onions
- Adds sharp, aromatic flavor that contrasts with the richness of the coconut milk.
- Crabmeat
- Adds sweet, savory seafood flavor and additional tender texture.
- Cucumbers
- Adds cool, crisp texture and fresh, mild flavor.
The step that matters
Chilling the mixture. Raw fish must be kept cold throughout to limit bacterial growth. Chilling for the full recorded time also lets the flavors meld and the fish firm slightly in the coconut milk.
Swap the cucumber
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (fish, coconut, milk, onion, pepper):
- Capsicumfits better
- Potatofits better
- Tomatofits better
- Cucumberthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against fish, coconut, milk, onion, pepper. 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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