Name: SpiceLinda
Ingredients: 3-4 large yams, cubed in 1" chunks; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 cup orange juice; 1/4-1/2 cup water; 1 tsp cornstarch (optional); 1 tsp cinnamon; 1 tsp nutmeg; 1/2 tsp cloves

Why it works: Cinnamon and nutmeg match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 11,917 recipes. Both carry estragole, which smells anise, licorice. The science ↓

SpiceLinda

Oven350°F

Time1–2 hours

Ingredients

Directions

Prepare

Place cubed yams in a large roasting pan, preferably one big enough to make a single layer.
Drizzle the olive oil over the yams and stir to coat.

Bake and serve

Bake in a 350-degree oven for 1–2 hours until soft and slightly browned.
Mix orange juice, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cornstarch (if using) and pour the mixture over the yams.
Bake for another 5–10 minutes.
Serve.
Alternatively, heat the orange sauce separately and pour over the yams just before serving.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

661Calories

14 gProtein

16 gFat

115 gCarbs

Counts 6 of 8 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.

What these numbers assume: 6 portions

Ingredient	Portion assumed	kcal
Flour	1 cup (125g) all-purpose	455
Olive Oil	1 tbsp (14g)	119
Orange	1 medium (131g)	62
Nutmeg	1 tsp ground (2.2g)	12
Clove	1 tsp ground (2g)	7
Cinnamon	1 tsp ground (2.6g)	6
Yam	not in our table	0
Water	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.

Recipe from the Recipes Wiki (Fandom).

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.

Cinnamon + nutmegtop 1% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together11,917 recipes

Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).
Cinnamon + clovetop 1% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together14,189 recipes

Shared aroma: ethyl cinnamate (sweet, balsamic).
Nutmeg + clovetop 1% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together8,686 recipes

Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).
Yam + cinnamontop 1% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together41 recipes

Shared aroma: coumarin (sweet, hay).
Orange + cinnamontop 3% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together3,437 recipes

Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Yams: Starchy base that softens during baking and becomes tender through the middle.
Olive oil: Coats the yams so they brown slightly and carry the spices.
Orange juice: Adds sweetness and acidity to the sauce that flavours the yams.
Cornstarch: Thickens the orange sauce so it clings to the yams.

Swap the orange

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (yam, olive, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove):

Limefits better
Orangethe original
Coconutfits about as well
Avocadofits about as well

Fit is the average pairing score against yam, olive, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove. 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.