Why it works: Parsley and lemon match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 14,037 recipes. Both carry beta-phellandrene, which smells minty, terpene. The science ↓
Fillets of Sole Provençale with Tomatoes, Onions and Cheese
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare the fish
Sprinkle fillets generously with pepper, garlic powder and paprika in a 12 x 16 inch roasting pan, lay fillets in 1 layer.
Top and bake
Scatter the tomatoes, green onions, parsley and cheese evenly over the fish.
Lay lemon slices evenly over all.
Bake in a 350°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Do not overbake.
Serve with the tomato-onion mixture spooned over the top.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 7 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Parmesan Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 110 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Tomato | 1 medium (123g) | 22 |
| Lemon | juice of 1 lemon (48ml) | 12 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Garlic | 1 clove (3g) | 4 |
| Parsley | 1 tbsp chopped fresh (3.8g) | 1 |
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.
-
Parsley + lemontop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together14,037 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
-
Garlic + oniontop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together29,058 recipes
Shared aroma: furaneol (caramel, strawberry).
-
Pepper + parsleytop 2% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together34,122 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
Pepper + lemontop 3% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together27,047 recipes
Shared aroma: trans-2-nonenal (cardboard, fatty).
-
Garlic + tomatotop 3% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together14,076 recipes
Shared aroma: furaneol (caramel, strawberry).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Fillets of sole
- Provide the delicate white flesh that cooks quickly and flakes when done.
- Stewed tomatoes
- Add moisture and acidity that keep the fish from drying out while baking.
- Parmesan cheese
- Melts and browns on top, adding savory flavor and a golden crust.
- Green onions
- Add mild sharpness and aroma that brighten the topping.
The step that matters
Bake until just flaky. Sole is thin and lean, so it cooks fast. Overbaking squeezes out moisture and leaves the fish dry and tough. Check at the earliest time, when it flakes easily with a fork.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (pepper, garlic, tomato, parsley, parmesan cheese, lemon):
- Spinachfits better
- Broccolifits better
- Capsicumfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against pepper, garlic, tomato, parsley, parmesan cheese, lemon. 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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