Why it works: Cumin and coriander match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 3,866 recipes. Both carry beta-phellandrene, which smells minty, terpene. The science ↓
Coleslaw II
Ingredients
Directions
Salt the cabbage
Toss cabbage with a few big handfuls of kosher salt. Place in a colander in a bowl and let sit at room temperature 2 hours.
Drain cabbage. Rinse with clean water and let them go for a spin in your salad spinner until relatively dry.
Make the dressing
Combine vinegar and spices. Microwave on high until mixture comes to a boil.
Combine and chill
Fold in mayonnaise and cabbage. Chill until cold.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 8 of 9 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 8 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Broccoli | 1 cup chopped (156g) | 55 |
| Napa Cabbage | 1 cup shredded (89g) | 22 |
| Cumin | 1 tsp ground (2.1g) | 8 |
| Celery Seed | 1 stalk (40g) | 6 |
| Vinegar | 1 tbsp (15ml) distilled | 3 |
| Mustard | 1 tsp (5g) yellow | 3 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Coriander | 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.
-
Cumin + coriandertop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together3,866 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
-
Celery + mustardtop 2% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together4,169 recipes
Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).
-
Cabbage + mustardtop 3% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together1,645 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Celery + cumintop 5% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together439 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
-
Cabbage + celerytop 6% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,840 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Napa cabbage
- Provides the crisp, watery bulk that gives coleslaw its crunch.
- Red cabbage
- Adds crunch and colour while holding its texture in the dressing.
- Mayonnaise
- Supplies fat and creaminess that coat the shredded cabbage.
- Apple cider vinegar
- Adds acidity that brightens the dressing and balances the richness of the mayonnaise.
- Dry mustard powder
- Contributes pungent, sharp flavour that deepens the dressing.
The step that matters
Drain and dry the cabbage. Salting draws out water, and any water left on the cabbage thins the mayonnaise dressing and makes the coleslaw watery. Drying thoroughly keeps the dressing thick and creamy.
Swap the cabbage
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (apple cider vinegar, celery, cumin, coriander, mustard):
- Broccolifits better
- Lettucefits better
- Kalefits better
- Cabbagethe original
Fit is the average pairing score against apple cider vinegar, celery, cumin, coriander, mustard. 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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