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 ↓
French Dressing
6 (¼ cup each)Ingredients
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
Pour the sauce into a bowl and chill, covered, in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before use.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 6 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Tomato | 1 medium (123g) | 22 |
| Soy Sauce | 1 tbsp (15ml) | 9 |
| Vinegar | 1 tbsp (15ml) distilled | 3 |
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.
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Ketchup + saucetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together1,099 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Ketchup + sugartop 8% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together260 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
White wine + vinegartop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,776 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
-
White wine + oniontop 12% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together4,535 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Sugar + saucetop 13% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together5,147 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
- Vegetable oil
- Adds fat for a smooth, rich mouthfeel and softens the sharpness of the vinegar.
- White wine vinegar
- Provides the acidity that gives the dressing its tangy bite.
- White granulated sugar
- Adds sweetness that balances the acidity of the vinegar and ketchup.
- Ketchup
- Forms the tomato base, adding body, colour and savory sweetness.
- Minced onion
- Adds savory aroma and flavor to the dressing.
The step that matters
Chill the dressing for at least 30 minutes. Chilling lets the flavors meld and mellows the raw bite of the onion and vinegar. Serving it straight from the blender tastes sharper and less rounded.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (ketchup, sugar, white wine, vinegar, sauce):
- Capsicumfits better
- Mustardfits better
- Horseradishfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against ketchup, sugar, white wine, vinegar, sauce. 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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