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 ↓
Pece Al Forno Simplice
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Lightly grease a large shallow baking dish.
Place fillets in one layer in dish and salt and pepper them.
Spread parsley and scallions over them evenly.
Dribble lemon juice over the fish.
Top and bake
Cover with a very thin layer of breadcrumbs. You may not use all the ¼ cup crumbs.
Slowly pour olive oil over fish, drop by drop so that all is well covered.
Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes.
Fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork. Avoid overcooking; test a little sooner than you think it is done.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 6 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Lemon | juice of 1 lemon (48ml) | 12 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Parsley | 1 tbsp chopped fresh (3.8g) | 1 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 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.
-
Parsley + lemontop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together14,037 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
-
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).
-
Parsley + olivetop 6% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together9,649 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Lemon + olivetop 7% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together11,922 recipes
Shared aroma: 3-hexenal (apple, fruity).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Sole
- Forms the main body of the dish, cooking through to a flaky texture.
- Breadcrumbs
- Form a thin crust on top that helps shield the fish as it bakes.
- Olive oil
- Adds fat and moisture, keeping the fish from drying out and aiding browning.
- Lemon juice
- Adds acidity that brightens the flavour of the fish.
The step that matters
Test for doneness early. Fish protein sets as it heats and turns dry and rubbery once overcooked. Flaking with a fork shows it is done, so checking a little before the expected time helps keep it moist.
“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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