Why it works: Cinnamon and pepper match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 9% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 4,890 recipes. Both carry methyl cinnamate, which smells strawberry. The science ↓
Turkey and Pineapple Skewers
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Cut turkey into 1 1/2-inch cubes.
Thread cubes on skewers, alternating with pineapple chunks.
Reserve the pineapple juice.
Brush the skewers with salad dressing.
Cook and glaze
Broil or barbecue 3 inches from the heat source, turning frequently, for about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine the reserved pineapple juice, soy or Worcestershire sauce, and spice in a small saucepan.
Simmer uncovered until the mixture thickens into a glaze.
Spoon the glaze over the turkey just before serving.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 7 of 10 ingredients. The other 3 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 7 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 100g cooked | 165 |
| Apple | 1 medium (182g) | 95 |
| Pineapple | 1 cup chunks (165g) | 82 |
| Soy Sauce | 1 tbsp (15ml) | 9 |
| Cinnamon | 1 tsp ground (2.6g) | 6 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Meat | not in our table | 0 |
| Salad Dressing | not in our table | 0 |
| Pie | 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.
-
Cinnamon + peppertop 9% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together4,890 recipes
Shared aroma: methyl cinnamate (strawberry).
-
Pineapple + cinnamontop 11% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together549 recipes
Shared aroma: methyl cinnamate (strawberry).
-
Pineapple + peppertop 12% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together533 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).
-
Turkey + meattop 13% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together540 recipes
Shared aroma: 1-octen-3-ol (mushroom, earthy).
-
Turkey + peppertop 15% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,636 recipes
Shared aroma: myristicin (spice, warm).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Boneless, skinless turkey meat
- Provides the lean protein that forms the body of the skewers.
- Pineapple chunks
- Add sweetness and acidity, and their juice becomes the glaze.
- Italian salad dressing
- Its oil and seasonings coat the meat, adding moisture and flavor while it cooks.
- Soy or worcestershire sauce
- Adds savory depth to the reduced glaze.
The step that matters
Simmer the glaze until it thickens. The pineapple juice mixture must reduce to a syrupy glaze; as water evaporates, sugars concentrate and it thickens. Stopping too early leaves a thin sauce that runs off the turkey.
Swap the pineapple
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (turkey, meat, sauce, cinnamon, pepper):
- Lemonfits better
- Limefits better
- Figfits better
- Pineapplethe original
Fit is the average pairing score against turkey, meat, sauce, cinnamon, 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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