Incredible Cabbage Rolls

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. Pepper + cabbagetop 5% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together4,081 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

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

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

3. Pepper + tomatotop 7% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together17,923 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

4. Cabbage + oniontop 7% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together3,001 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

5. Onion + tomatotop 8% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together20,633 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

Ground sirloin

Provides the meaty filling that holds the rolls together and gives them body.

Rice

Absorbs moisture and juices during simmering, keeping the filling tender and light.

Egg

Binds the meat and rice so the filling holds its shape when rolled.

Cabbage leaves

Wrap the filling and become tender and mild as they cook in the sauce.

Tomato soup

Forms the tangy, savory base of the sauce that the rolls simmer in.

Lemon juice

Adds acidity that brightens the sauce and balances the sweetness and richness.

The step that matters

Swap the cabbage

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

1. Capsicumfits better
2. Potatofits better
3. Asparagusfits better
4. Cabbagethe original

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