Why it works: Coriander and cumin match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 3,866 recipes. Both carry beta-phellandrene, which smells minty, terpene. The science ↓
Spicy Potato and Pea Soup
Ingredients
Directions
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add potatoes, onion, and garlic.
Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
Sprinkle garam masala, coriander, and cumin over the potato mixture and gently toss to coat, then cook an additional minute.
Add vegetable broth and crushed red pepper.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Add peas and yogurt, and season with salt and pepper.
Cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
Serve.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 10 of 11 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 10 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Potato | 1 medium (173g) baked | 161 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Yogurt | 170g plain Greek | 100 |
| Pea | 1/2 cup (72g) | 62 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Cumin | 1 tsp ground (2.1g) | 8 |
| Chili | 1 tsp (2.7g) | 8 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Garlic | 1 clove (3g) | 4 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Coriander | 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.
-
Coriander + cumintop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together3,866 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
-
Onion + garlictop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together29,058 recipes
Shared aroma: furaneol (caramel, strawberry).
-
Garlic + cumintop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together5,082 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
-
Garlic + coriandertop 3% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together6,474 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
-
Potato + oniontop 3% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together9,023 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
- Potatoes
- Break down partly as they simmer, giving the soup body and a thick, creamy texture.
- Yogurt
- Adds tang and creaminess, and is stirred in at the end so it stays smooth.
- Garam masala
- Blooms in the hot oil and vegetables to release warm, aromatic spice flavour.
- Peas
- Add sweetness and a bright green flavour, and cook quickly at the end.
- Onion
- Softens and sweetens as it sautés, forming the savoury base of the soup.
The step that matters
Adding the yogurt. Yogurt can curdle or split if it boils hard in acidic or very hot liquid. Adding it after the simmer and keeping the heat gentle helps it stay smooth and creamy.
Swap the peas
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (potato, onion, garlic, clove, coriander, cumin, pepper):
- Chickpeafits better
- Lentilsfits better
- Beansfits better
- Peasthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against potato, onion, garlic, clove, coriander, cumin, pepper. 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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