Hot Cabbage Slaw

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.

1. Celery + mustardtop 2% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together4,169 recipes

   Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).

2. Cabbage + mustardtop 3% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together1,645 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

3. Pepper + celerytop 5% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together16,012 recipes

   Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).

4. Cabbage + peppertop 5% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together4,081 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

5. Onion + mustardtop 6% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together9,259 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

Cabbage

Forms the bulk of the slaw and provides its crisp texture.

Sugar

Adds sweetness that balances the sharpness of the vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar

Adds acidity that brightens the flavor and cuts the richness of the oil.

Salad oil

Adds fat that carries flavor and gives the dressing a smooth mouthfeel.

The step that matters

Swap the onion

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (cabbage, pepper, sugar, apple cider vinegar, celery, mustard):

1. Broccolifits better
2. Horseradishfits better
3. Lettucefits better
4. Onionthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against cabbage, pepper, sugar, apple cider vinegar, celery, mustard. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.