Why it works: Tomato and corn match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 6% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 2,099 recipes. Both carry 2-nonenal, which smells fatty, green. The science ↓
Chicken Corn Chowder
Ingredients
Directions
Make the chowder base
In a large saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter or margarine.
Add onion and cook until tender.
Blend in flour.
Gradually stir in tomato juice, milk, and pepper until smooth.
Cook until mixture boils and thickens slightly, stirring constantly.
Add the chicken and corn
Add chicken or turkey and corn.
Heat through.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 8 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Chicken | 100g cooked | 165 |
| Milk | 1 cup (244ml) whole | 149 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Corn | 1/2 cup kernels (82g) | 77 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Tomato | 1 medium (123g) | 22 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
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.
-
Tomato + corntop 6% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together2,099 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).
-
Butter + milktop 7% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together81,283 recipes
Shared aroma: (z)-4-heptenal (biscuit, cream).
-
Tomato + peppertop 7% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together17,923 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Onion + tomatotop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together20,633 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Tomato + chickentop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together6,031 recipes
Shared aroma: 3-hexenal (apple, fruity).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Flour
- Thickens the liquid into a smooth, slightly thick chowder as it cooks.
- Butter or margarine
- Carries the onion and flour and adds richness to the base.
- Onion
- Softens as it cooks, adding savory flavor to the base.
- Tomato juice
- Forms the main liquid and adds tangy, acidic flavor.
- Milk
- Adds creaminess and softens the tomato flavor.
- Chicken or turkey, cooked
- Provides the protein and bulk of the chowder.
The step that matters
Stirring while the mixture thickens. Flour can clump and scorch on the bottom of the pan if not stirred constantly while the liquid comes to a boil. Stirring keeps the starch dispersed so the chowder thickens smoothly.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (butter, flour, tomato, milk, pepper, chicken, corn):
- Capsicumfits better
- Potatofits better
- Okrafits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against butter, flour, tomato, milk, pepper, chicken, corn. 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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