Why it works: Ketchup and sauce match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 1,099 recipes. Both carry ethanol, which smells alcoholic, ethereal. The science ↓
Cola BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
Directions
Make the sauce
Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil.
Cook over high heat for 10 minutes.
Store
Store refrigerated in a nonreactive container for up to 1 week.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 4 of 5 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 4 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | 1 medium (123g) | 22 |
| Soy Sauce | 1 tbsp (15ml) | 9 |
| Chili | 1 tsp (2.7g) | 8 |
| Vinegar | 1 tbsp (15ml) distilled | 3 |
| Cider | 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.
-
Ketchup + saucetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together1,099 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Cider + vinegartop 6% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,431 recipes
Shared aroma: 4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol (smoky, clove).
-
Ketchup + vinegartop 21% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together737 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Sauce + vinegartop 26% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together3,844 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Ketchup + cidertop 32% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together31 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
- Ketchup
- Provides the sweet, tangy tomato base and body of the sauce.
- Cola
- Adds sweetness and caramel notes while thinning the sauce as it reduces.
- Soy sauce
- Adds savory depth and salty umami to balance the sweetness.
- Cider vinegar
- Adds acidity that brightens the flavor and balances the sugar in the cola and ketchup.
- Worcestershire sauce
- Adds fermented, savory depth and complexity to the sauce.
The step that matters
Cook over high heat for 10 minutes. Once the sauce reaches a boil, it can scorch on the bottom and thicken unevenly if left unattended. Stirring keeps the sugars from burning and lets the liquid reduce into a smooth, glossy sauce.
“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.
You might also like
Ham in Cider10 recipes
Tomato Soup526 recipes
Brown Bread461 recipes
Mutton Broth292 recipesThe free Flavor Lab newsletter: one surprising pairing a week and the molecular reason it works, in 60 seconds. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer an account? Create a free account to save pairings and unlock the full chemistry.