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 ↓
Uitsmijter
Ingredients
Directions
Fry the eggs
Heat the butter until it is light brown.
Break the eggs in the frying pan and let them slide in gently.
Leave until the white is solid.
Assemble the sandwich
Butter two or three slices of white bread.
Put the ham slices on the bread, and the cheese slices.
Slide the fried egg gently onto the cheese, ensuring that the runny yolk does not break. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 6 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Pork | 100g cooked | 242 |
| Cheese | 1 oz (28g) cheddar | 113 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 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).
-
Ham + cheesetop 15% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together303 recipes
Shared aroma: gamma-nonanolactone (coconut, sweet).
-
Ham + buttertop 16% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together5,475 recipes
Shared aroma: trans-2-decenal (waxy, orange).
-
Egg + hamtop 17% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together4,526 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Egg + buttertop 17% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together118,967 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
- Eggs
- The whites set into structure when heated, while the yolk stays runny and adds richness.
- Ham
- Adds savory, salty flavor and a meaty contrast to the egg and cheese.
- Butter
- Provides fat for frying, and browning it adds a nutty, toasty aroma.
- Cheese
- Melts slightly against the warm bread and egg, adding savory flavor and a binding texture.
The step that matters
Slide the egg in gently and let the white set. Egg white proteins set as they heat. Sliding the egg in gently and waiting until the white is solid keeps it from spreading and helps the yolk stay whole and runny when moved.
“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.
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.
Macaroni and Cheese102 recipes
Cheese Making50 recipes
Cheese Fritters34 recipes
Cheese Omelette31 recipes