Why it works: Olive and tomato are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 15,539 recipes. Both carry 3-hexenal, which smells apple, fruity. The science ↓
Chili Beans with Olives
Ingredients
Directions
Sauté onion in oil until limp.
Add all remaining ingredients and mix well.
Simmer until bubbly and hot.
Add extra chili powder to taste.
A small can of whole kernel corn can be added for variety.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Parmesan Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 110 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Tomato | 1 medium (123g) | 22 |
| Chili | 1 tsp (2.7g) | 8 |
| Olive | 1 large (4g) | 4 |
| Red Kidney Bean | 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.
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.
-
Olive + tomatotop 1% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together15,539 recipes
Shared aroma: 3-hexenal (apple, fruity).
-
Onion + tomatotop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together20,633 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Onion + olivetop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together29,779 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Tomato + parmesan cheesetop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,490 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
Olive + parmesan cheesetop 10% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together4,233 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl isobutyrate (fruity, ethereal).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Kidney beans
- Add body and a starchy, hearty texture to the chili.
- Tomato sauce
- Provides liquid and acidity that carries the chili seasoning.
- Chili mix
- Supplies the spice blend that gives the chili its main flavor.
- Onion
- Softens as it cooks, adding sweetness and an aromatic base.
- Black olives
- Add a briny, salty note to the chili.
The step that matters
Simmer until bubbly and hot. Simmering heats the beans through and lets the spices and tomato sauce meld into one flavor. Tomato-based mixtures can scorch on the bottom of the pan if they are not stirred, so stir occasionally while they simmer.
Swap the kidney beans
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (onion, olive, tomato, sauce, parmesan cheese):
- Beansfits better
- Chickpeafits better
- Sesamefits better
- Kidney beansthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against onion, olive, tomato, sauce, 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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