Name: Mexican Cheese Dip
Ingredients: 1 small can chile peppers, drained; 1 small can tomatoes, drained; 1 small Velveeta cheese; 1 small onion, chopped

Why it works: Pepper and tomato are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 7% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 17,923 recipes. Both carry 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which smells earthy, pea. The science ↓

Mexican Cheese Dip

Ingredients

1 small can chile peppers, drained
1 small can tomatoes, drained
1 small Velveeta cheese
1 small onion, chopped

Directions

Melt the cheese.
Add the rest of the ingredients.
Serve hot with Tostito chips.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

185Calories

10 gProtein

10 gFat

17 gCarbs

What these numbers assume: 4 portions

Ingredient	Portion assumed	kcal
Cheese	1 oz (28g) cheddar	113
Onion	1 medium (110g)	44
Tomato	1 medium (123g)	22
Pepper	1 tsp ground (2.3g)	6

One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.

Recipe from the Recipes Wiki (Fandom).

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.

Pepper + tomatotop 7% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together17,923 recipes

Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Tomato + oniontop 8% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together20,633 recipes

Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Pepper + oniontop 11% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together68,474 recipes

Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Tomato + cheesetop 13% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together2,896 recipes

Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Cheese + oniontop 16% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together4,849 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

Velveeta cheese: Melts into a smooth, creamy base that holds the dip together.
Chile peppers: Add heat and a spicy, savory flavor to the dip.
Tomatoes: Add moisture and a bright acidity that balances the rich cheese.
Onion: Adds a sharp, savory aroma and bite.