Classic Spanish Rice

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.

1. Onion + garlictop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together29,058 recipes

   Shared aroma: furaneol (caramel, strawberry).

2. Garlic + tomatotop 3% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together14,076 recipes

   Shared aroma: furaneol (caramel, strawberry).

3. Clove + peppertop 5% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together17,451 recipes

   Shared aroma: ethyl octanoate (fruity, wine).

4. Rice + tomatotop 6% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together3,065 recipes

   Shared aroma: trans-2-nonenal (cardboard, fatty).

5. Tomato + peppertop 7% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together17,923 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

Original minute rice

Forms the bulk of the dish and absorbs the liquid as it cooks.

Onion

Adds savory sweetness that deepens as it softens and browns in the fat.

Margarine or butter

Carries the heat for browning and adds richness to the rice.

Tomato sauce

Supplies the liquid and acidity that give the rice its tomato flavor and color.

Green pepper

Contributes a fresh, slightly bitter vegetable note and some texture.

The step that matters

Swap the clove

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (rice, onion, garlic, butter, tomato, sauce, pepper):

1. Parsleyfits better
2. Cuminfits better
3. Thymefits better
4. Clovethe original

Fit is the average pairing score against rice, onion, garlic, butter, tomato, sauce, pepper. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.