Mediterranean Shrimp and Pasta Stir-fry

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. Olive + tomatotop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together15,539 recipes

   Shared aroma: 3-hexenal (apple, fruity).

2. Tomato + basiltop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together3,979 recipes

   Shared aroma: 3-hexenal (apple, fruity).

3. Garlic + pastatop 2% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together2,079 recipes

   Shared aroma: acetic acid (sour, vinegar).

4. Olive + garlictop 2% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together25,665 recipes

   Shared aroma: linalool (floral, citrus).

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

   Shared aroma: furaneol (caramel, strawberry).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Shrimp

Provides the main protein and cooks quickly in the hot skillet, turning opaque and firm.

Parmesan or asiago cheese

Adds salty, savory flavor and a sharp finish to the dish.

Olive oil

Carries heat and flavor across the skillet and helps the vegetables and shrimp brown.

Penne pasta

Makes the dish substantial and soaks up the pan juices and seasonings.

Garlic

Adds aroma and pungent flavor that mellows as it cooks in the oil.

The step that matters

Swap the basil

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (olive, garlic, tomato, shrimp, cheese, pasta, pepper):

1. Oreganofits about as well
2. Basilthe original
3. Capersfits about as well
4. Cuminfits about as well

Fit is the average pairing score against olive, garlic, tomato, shrimp, cheese, pasta, pepper. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.