Why it works: Clove and ginger match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 6,038 recipes. Both carry estragole, which smells anise, licorice. The science ↓
Curry Chicken II
Serves 4Ingredients
Directions
Add oil and chopped onion to a cooking vessel over medium-high heat, sauté until light brown.
Add chicken and salt, leave for 3–5 minutes, stirring in between.
Add crushed ginger and garlic, stir for 2 minutes.
Stir in masala powder, cook for 2 minutes.
Add water, let it boil for 5 minutes.
Reduce heat to low, let it cook for 15 minutes, or until the liquid has reduced.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 7 of 8 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 7 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 100g cooked | 165 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Garlic | 1 clove (3g) | 4 |
| Ginger | 1 tsp grated fresh (2g) | 2 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
| Water | 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.
-
Clove + gingertop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together6,038 recipes
Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).
-
Onion + garlictop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together29,058 recipes
Shared aroma: furaneol (caramel, strawberry).
-
Olive + garlictop 2% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together25,665 recipes
Shared aroma: linalool (floral, citrus).
-
Garlic + gingertop 6% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together6,402 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
-
Chicken + garlictop 7% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together10,850 recipes
Shared aroma: 3-ethyl-2,5-dimethylpyrazine (roasted, nutty).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Chicken thighs
- Provide the main protein, which becomes tender as the curry simmers.
- Onion
- Browning in the hot oil builds sweetness and savory depth into the sauce.
- Butter chicken masala powder
- Blooming the spices in oil releases aroma and flavor into the sauce.
- Water
- Forms the liquid base that reduces during simmering into a thicker sauce.
The step that matters
Reduce heat to low and simmer until the liquid has reduced. Low heat lets the sauce thicken gradually without scorching the onions and spices on the bottom of the pan, while the chicken cooks through.
Swap the clove
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (olive, onion, chicken, garlic, ginger, butter):
- Cuminfits better
- Thymefits better
- Turmericfits better
- Clovethe original
Fit is the average pairing score against olive, onion, chicken, garlic, ginger, butter. 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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