Why it works: Cheese and olive are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 11% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 3,802 recipes. Both carry methyl 2-methylbutyrate, which smells apple, fatty. The science ↓
Antipasto Kabobs
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Cut the tortellini as the package directs; drain and rinse in cold water.
In a resealable plastic bag, combine the tortellini, olives, and salad dressing.
Seal and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Drain and discard the dressing.
Assemble
Thread a stuffed olive, folded pepperoni slice, tortellini, folded salami piece, and ripe olive onto a toothpick or short skewer for each appetizer.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 2 of 3 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 2 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Cheese | 1 oz (28g) cheddar | 113 |
| Olive | 1 large (4g) | 4 |
| Salad Dressing | not in our table | 0 |
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.
-
Cheese + olivetop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,802 recipes
Shared aroma: methyl 2-methylbutyrate (apple, fatty).
-
Olive + salamitop 18% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together139 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl butyrate (apple, fruity).
-
Cheese + salamitop 20% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together44 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl octanoate (fruity, wine).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Refrigerated cheese tortellini
- Provides the soft, chewy bite that holds the kabob together and soaks up the dressing flavor.
- Italian salad dressing
- Adds acidity and herb flavor, which it carries into the tortellini during marinating.
- Pepperoni
- Adds savory, slightly spicy flavor and fat that complements the cheese and olives.
- Hard salami
- Contributes salty, savory flavor and a firm texture that contrasts with the tortellini.
The step that matters
Marinating the tortellini. Refrigerating for at least 4 hours lets the dressing season the pasta through absorption. Draining off the dressing afterward keeps the kabobs from being greasy or overly wet.
“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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