Why it works: Cream cheese and parmesan cheese match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 311 recipes. Both carry ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, which smells fruity, apple. The science ↓
Hot Onion Soufflé
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Press onion between layers of paper towels to remove excess moisture.
Combine onion and remaining ingredients in a medium bowl; stir well.
Spoon into a lightly greased 2 quart soufflé dish.
Bake and serve
Bake, uncovered, at 425°F for 15 to 17 minutes or until golden.
Serve warm with corn chips or assorted crackers.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 4 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Parmesan Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 110 |
| Cream Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 99 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
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.
-
Cream cheese + parmesan cheesetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together311 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).
-
Onion + parmesan cheesetop 15% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,717 recipes
Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).
-
Onion + cream cheesetop 20% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,097 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl butyrate (apple, fruity).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Frozen chopped onion
- Adds savory flavor and bulk; pressing out moisture keeps the dip from becoming watery.
- Cream cheese
- Provides the creamy body and rich, smooth texture of the dip.
- Parmesan cheese
- Adds salty, savory flavor and helps the top brown as it bakes.
- Mayonnaise
- Adds fat and moisture, keeping the dip smooth and creamy when baked.
The step that matters
Press the onion dry. Thawed frozen onion holds a lot of water. Removing excess moisture before mixing keeps the dip thick rather than loose and runny after baking.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (cream cheese, parmesan cheese):
- Tomatofits better
- Chivefits better
- Spinachfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against cream cheese, parmesan 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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