Why it works: Shallot and parsley match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 3,737 recipes. Both carry 2,4-decadienal, which smells seaweed. The science ↓
Creamy Clam Dip
Ingredients
Directions
In a bowl, whisk together cream cheese and sour cream until smooth.
Stir in the remaining ingredients and salt to taste.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 8 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Yogurt | 170g plain Greek | 100 |
| Cream Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 99 |
| Shrimp | 100g cooked | 99 |
| Red Bell Pepper | 1 medium (119g) | 31 |
| Soy Sauce | 1 tbsp (15ml) | 9 |
| Shallot | 1 tbsp minced (10g) | 7 |
| Cayenne | 1 tsp (1.8g) | 6 |
| Parsley | 1 tbsp chopped fresh (3.8g) | 1 |
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.
-
Shallot + parsleytop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together3,737 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Pepper + parsleytop 2% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together34,122 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
Cream + saucetop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together4,787 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Pepper + shallottop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together5,898 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Shallot + saucetop 14% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,303 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Cream cheese
- Forms the thick, creamy base that gives the dip its body.
- Sour cream
- Adds moisture and tang, keeping the dip soft and smooth.
- Minced clams
- Provide the main savory, briny flavor of the dip.
- Red bell pepper
- Adds crisp texture and a mild, slightly sweet flavor.
- Shallot
- Adds a mild, sharp onion-like aroma and bite.
The step that matters
Softening and whisking the cream cheese. Cream cheese that is cold or not fully softened stays lumpy when whisked, and lumps are hard to remove once other ingredients are stirred in. Beating it until smooth first gives an even, creamy base for the rest of the dip.
Swap the shallot
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (cream cheese, cream, clam, pepper, parsley, sauce):
- Potatofits better
- Capsicumfits about as well
- Shallotthe original
- Chivefits about as well
Fit is the average pairing score against cream cheese, cream, clam, pepper, parsley, sauce. 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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