Why it works: Lime and oregano match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 2% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 291 recipes. Both carry beta-phellandrene, which smells minty, terpene. The science ↓
Broiled Santa Fe Steaks
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Mix salsa, beans, onion, cilantro, lime juice and ½ teaspoon of the chili powder.
Cover and refrigerate while preparing beef.
Season and broil
Set oven control to broil.
Sprinkle both sides of beef with remaining 1 teaspoon chili powder and oregano.
Gently press the seasoning into the beef.
Place beef on rack in broiler pan.
Broil with tops 4 to 6 inches from heat for 6 minutes.
Turn the steaks.
Broil 2 to 5 minutes longer for medium doneness.
Serve with salsa.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 8 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Beef | 100g cooked | 250 |
| Black Bean | 1/2 cup canned (120g) drained | 114 |
| Red Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Tomato | 1 medium (123g) | 22 |
| Lime | juice of 1 lime (44ml) | 11 |
| Chili | 1 tsp (2.7g) | 8 |
| Oregano | 1 tsp dried (1.8g) | 5 |
| Cilantro | 1 tbsp chopped fresh (1g) | 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.
-
Lime + oreganotop 2% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together291 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
-
Beans + limetop 6% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together700 recipes
Shared aroma: linalool (floral, citrus).
-
Beans + oreganotop 6% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together453 recipes
Shared aroma: hexyl acetate (fruity, apple).
-
Onion + beeftop 7% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together17,092 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Beans + oniontop 7% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together5,242 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Beef new york strip steaks
- Provides the main protein, which browns under the broiler and firms as it cooks.
- Black beans
- Add body and soft, starchy texture to the fresh salsa mixture.
- Salsa
- Supplies moisture, tomato acidity and savory flavor to the topping.
- Lime juice
- Adds acidity that brightens the salsa and balances the chili and beef.
- Chili powder
- Contributes warm, smoky aroma and color to the seasoned crust on the beef.
The step that matters
Broil for the stated time, then check doneness. Steaks thicken and cook quickly under high direct heat, so overcooking dries the meat. Checking doneness near the end of the time helps you reach medium without losing juiciness.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (beans, lime, beef, oregano):
- Tomatofits better
- Sweet potatofits better
- Capsicumfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against beans, lime, beef, oregano. 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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