Why it works: Onion and mustard match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 6% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 9,259 recipes. Both carry 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which smells earthy, pea. The science ↓
Creamy Cheddar Cheese Soup
Ingredients
Directions
Melt butter in a 2‑quart saucepan over medium heat.
Cook onion in butter about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.
Stir in flour, pepper, and mustard.
Stir in milk and broth.
Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute.
Stir in cheese; heat over low heat, stirring occasionally, just until cheese is melted.
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 |
| Cheddar Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 113 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Mustard | 1 tsp (5g) yellow | 3 |
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.
-
Onion + mustardtop 6% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together9,259 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Butter + milktop 7% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together81,283 recipes
Shared aroma: (z)-4-heptenal (biscuit, cream).
-
Onion + chickentop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together17,814 recipes
Shared aroma: gamma-nonanolactone (coconut, sweet).
-
Butter + cheddar cheesetop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,436 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).
-
Pepper + mustardtop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together15,430 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
- Butter
- Enriches the soup and carries the onion's flavor while it softens.
- Flour
- Thickens the milk and broth into a smooth, creamy base.
- Wisconsin cheddar cheese
- Provides the main flavor and, melted in, gives the soup its body.
- Whole milk
- Adds creaminess and richness to the thickened base.
The step that matters
Melting the cheese over low heat. Cheese proteins tighten and turn grainy or stringy when overheated, so it should be stirred in off high heat and warmed only until just melted.
Swap the mustard
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (butter, onion, flour, pepper, milk, chicken, cheddar cheese):
- Potatofits better
- Capsicumfits better
- Chivefits better
- Mustardthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against butter, onion, flour, pepper, milk, chicken, cheddar cheese. 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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