Why it works: Sesame and broccoli match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 372 recipes. Both carry 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, which smells clove, smoky. The science ↓
Long Life Noodles
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
In a hot wok or large frying pan, heat a small amount of oil and stir-fry the steak. Drain the steak and set it aside.
Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Drain the noodles and place them in a large bowl.
Blanch the vegetables in boiling water separately; drain them well.
Combine and season
Add the meat and vegetables to the bowl.
Mix the oils, soy sauce, pepper, and sugar; pour over the mixture and stir well.
Season with more soy sauce and sesame oil if needed.
You may also add water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, shrimp, or chicken strips if desired.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Beef | 100g cooked | 250 |
| Sesame | 1 tbsp (14g) | 120 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Pea | 1/2 cup (72g) | 62 |
| Broccoli | 1 cup chopped (156g) | 55 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Green Bell Pepper | 1 medium (119g) | 31 |
| Soy Sauce | 1 tbsp (15ml) | 9 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Bean | 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.
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Sesame + broccolitop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together372 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (clove, smoky).
-
Sesame + oniontop 4% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together2,192 recipes
Shared aroma: gamma-nonanolactone (coconut, sweet).
-
Broccoli + oniontop 6% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together3,294 recipes
Shared aroma: coumarin (sweet, hay).
-
Broccoli + peppertop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,747 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
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
- Steak
- Provides the main protein and savory meaty flavor in the dish.
- Noodles
- Form the bulk of the dish and carry the sauce through every bite.
- Vegetable oil
- Conducts heat for stir-frying and helps keep the steak from sticking.
- Soy sauce
- Adds salty, savory depth that seasons the noodles and vegetables.
- Sesame oil
- Adds a nutty aroma that finishes the dish.
- Bean sprouts
- Add crisp, juicy texture to the noodles.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (sesame, sauce, broccoli, pepper, sugar):
- Mustardfits better
- Capsicumfits better
- Welsh onionfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against sesame, sauce, broccoli, pepper, 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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