Why it works: Mushroom and pork are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 8% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 3,875 recipes. Both carry 2-methoxy-4-propylphenol, which smells allspice, anise. The science ↓
Pork Chop and Rice Casserole
Ingredients
Directions
Make the rice base
Combine soup and rice.
Add water and mix.
Pour mixture into a casserole dish.
Brown and bake
Brown pork chops on both sides.
Place browned pork chops on top of rice mixture.
Bake at 350°F for 1 hour.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 4 of 6 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 4 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Pork | 100g cooked | 242 |
| Rice | 1 cup cooked (158g) white | 206 |
| Cream | 1 tbsp (15ml) heavy | 51 |
| Mushroom | 1/2 cup sliced (35g) | 15 |
| Soup | 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.
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Mushroom + porktop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,875 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-methoxy-4-propylphenol (allspice, anise).
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Rice + mushroomtop 9% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together1,515 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-nonadienal (fatty, green).
-
Rice + porktop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,137 recipes
Shared aroma: (e,e)-2,4-decadienal (fatty, deep fried).
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Cream + mushroomtop 15% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together4,500 recipes
Shared aroma: 1-octen-3-one (mushroom, metallic).
-
Cream + porktop 16% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together3,093 recipes
Shared aroma: 1-octen-3-one (mushroom, metallic).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Minute rice
- Absorbs the liquid as it bakes, cooking into the body of the casserole.
- Cream of mushroom soup
- Provides creamy sauce and moisture that cooks the rice and keeps the dish tender.
- Pork chops
- Main protein; browning first adds savory flavor to the finished dish.
The step that matters
Brown pork chops on both sides. Searing creates browned, savory flavor through the Maillard reaction. Skipping it leaves the chops pale and less flavorful after baking in the moist casserole.
“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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