Seven-layer Pizza Dip

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. Cream cheese + mozzarella cheesetop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together137 recipes

   Shared aroma: ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).

2. Mozzarella cheese + olivetop 7% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together1,773 recipes

   Shared aroma: methyl 2-methylbutyrate (apple, fatty).

3. Onion + olivetop 8% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together29,779 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).

4. Olive + breadtop 9% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together1,091 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-undecenal (sweet).

5. Pepper + oniontop 11% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together68,474 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

Cream cheese

Forms the creamy base layer that holds the other toppings and gives the dip its body.

Mozzarella cheese

Melts over the top when heated, creating a stretchy, browned cheese layer.

Pepperoni

Adds savory, slightly fatty flavour that browns and seasons the dip as it heats.

Spaghetti sauce

Adds tomato acidity and moisture that carries the pizza flavour through the layers.

Black olives

Contribute salty, briny flavour that balances the rich cheeses.

Swap the onion

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (cream cheese, pepper, mozzarella cheese, olive, sauce, bread):

1. Tomatofits better
2. Capsicumfits better
3. Spinachfits better
4. Onionthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against cream cheese, pepper, mozzarella cheese, olive, sauce, bread. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.