Name: Tandoori Seasoning
Ingredients: 1½ teaspoons garlic powder; 1½ teaspoons paprika; 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon ground coriander; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1 teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom; ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Why it works: Coriander and cumin match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 3,866 recipes. Both carry beta-phellandrene, which smells minty, terpene. The science ↓

Tandoori Seasoning

Ingredients

Directions

Mix all ingredients together and use as a rub for lamb, beef, pork and chicken.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

34Calories

1 gProtein

1 gFat

7 gCarbs

Counts 7 of 8 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.

What these numbers assume: 7 portions

Ingredient	Portion assumed	kcal
Chili	1 tsp (2.7g)	8
Cumin	1 tsp ground (2.1g)	8
Cardamom	1 tsp ground (2g)	6
Cinnamon	1 tsp ground (2.6g)	6
Garlic	1 clove (3g)	4
Ginger	1 tsp grated fresh (2g)	2
Salt	1 tsp (6g)	0
Coriander	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.

Coriander + cumintop 1% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together3,866 recipes

Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
Cardamom + cinnamontop 1% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together1,299 recipes

Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
Coriander + cardamomtop 1% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together872 recipes

Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
Ginger + cardamomtop 1% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together1,114 recipes

Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
Ginger + cinnamontop 1% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together6,380 recipes

Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).

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

What each ingredient does

Paprika: Gives the spice mix its red color and a mild, sweet flavor.
Cayenne pepper: Adds direct heat that builds the spice level of the rub.
Ground cumin: Contributes an earthy, warm aroma that anchors the blend.
Ground coriander: Adds a light citrusy, floral aroma that brightens the warm spices.
Garlic powder: Provides a savory, pungent base flavor.

Swap the garlic

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (pepper, coriander, cumin, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon):

Turmericfits better
Clovefits better
Saffronfits better
Garlicthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against pepper, coriander, cumin, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon. 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.