Why it works: Olive and cheese are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 11% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 3,802 recipes. Both carry methyl 2-methylbutyrate, which smells apple, fatty. The science ↓
Colby and Monterey Jack Pizza
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Brush 2 pizza pans with olive oil.
Roll or press pizza dough into two 12" circles, slightly thicker at the edges.
Place dough in prepared pans.
Top and bake
Spread ¾ cup sauce in the center of each pizza, leaving one inch around the edges bare.
Combine Colby and Monterey jack cheeses.
Distribute 2 cups cheese mixture evenly over each pizza, leaving edges bare.
Place first pizza in the center of the oven.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the crust is lightly browned and cheese is melted.
Remove pizza from oven carefully.
Set aside to rest briefly before slicing.
Repeat process with second pie.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 2 of 4 ingredients. The other 2 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 2 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Cheese | 1 oz (28g) cheddar | 113 |
| Pizza | not in our table | 0 |
| Sauce | 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.
-
Olive + cheesetop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,802 recipes
Shared aroma: methyl 2-methylbutyrate (apple, fatty).
-
Sauce + cheesetop 19% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together1,987 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Olive + saucetop 20% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together5,568 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Pizza dough
- Forms the base and crust, which puffs and browns in the oven.
- Pizza sauce
- Adds moisture and acidity that flavours the base under the cheese.
- Colby cheese
- Melts into a soft, stretchy layer and browns on top.
- Monterey jack cheese
- Melts smoothly and adds creamy texture and mild flavour.
- Olive oil
- Adds fat that helps the crust brown and keeps it from sticking to the pan.
The step that matters
Leaving the edges bare. Keeping sauce and cheese off the outer inch lets the crust brown and set, so it does not become soggy under the toppings.
“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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