Penne Mediterranean Delight Salad

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.

1. Olive + tomatotop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together15,539 recipes

   Shared aroma: 3-hexenal (apple, fruity).

2. Lemon + basiltop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together1,823 recipes

   Shared aroma: 3-hexenal (apple, fruity).

3. Tomato + basiltop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together3,979 recipes

   Shared aroma: 3-hexenal (apple, fruity).

4. Olive + caperstop 3% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together1,688 recipes

   Shared aroma: coumarin (sweet, hay).

5. Pepper + lemontop 3% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together27,047 recipes

   Shared aroma: trans-2-nonenal (cardboard, fatty).

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

What each ingredient does

Penne rigate pasta

Provides the bulk and chewy structure that holds the salad together.

Hummus

Adds creamy moisture that coats the pasta and binds the other ingredients.

Extra virgin olive oil

Adds fat and richness, carrying flavor across the pasta and vegetables.

Feta cheese

Contributes salty, tangy flavor and a crumbly texture.

Lemon juice

Adds acidity that brightens the dish and balances the richness of oil and hummus.

Olives

Add salty, briny flavor and firm texture.

Swap the capers

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (olive, cherry, tomato, pepper, lemon, basil, feta cheese):

1. Oreganofits better
2. Thymefits better
3. Peppermintfits better
4. Capersthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against olive, cherry, tomato, pepper, lemon, basil, feta cheese. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.