Why it works: Almond and orange are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 6% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 3,125 recipes. Both carry 2,4-decadienal, which smells seaweed. The science ↓
Sharbat Bil Loz
Ingredients
Directions
Make the almond liquid
Grind the almonds finely in a blender.
Add the water and continue to grind.
Strain the liquid through a sieve lined with cheesecloth, reserving the liquid.
When drained, squeeze the remaining pulp to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the pulp.
Make the syrup
Pour the liquid into a heavy saucepan, then stir in the sugar (optional).
Boil, stirring constantly, then lower the heat and simmer very gently for 5–10 minutes.
Turn off the heat, add the orange blossom water, and let the syrup cool.
Serve
To serve, pour ¼ cup of syrup into a glass, add ice water, and stir well.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
Counts 3 of 4 ingredients. The other 1 aren't in our nutrition table and add nothing above, so the real totals are higher.
What these numbers assume: 3 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Orange | 1 medium (131g) | 62 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Almond | 1 almond (1.2g) | 7 |
| 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.
-
Almond + orangetop 6% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,125 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
-
Almond + sugartop 18% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together15,679 recipes
Shared aroma: 1-penten-3-one (fish, pungent).
-
Sugar + orangetop 20% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together19,212 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
Sugar and orange barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 19,212 recipes: they work on texture and structure more than aroma.
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Blanched almonds
- Provide the main flavor and body of the milky liquid that becomes the syrup.
- Sugar
- Adds sweetness and thickens the syrup slightly as it simmers.
- Orange blossom water
- Adds a floral aroma to the finished syrup.
The step that matters
Simmering the almond liquid gently. The almond liquid can scorch or boil over if left unattended, so it must be stirred while it comes to a boil. Lowering the heat to a gentle simmer then keeps the flavor clean and avoids a burnt taste.
Swap the orange
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (almond, sugar):
- Vanillafits better
- Raisinfits better
- Figfits better
- Orangethe original
Fit is the average pairing score against almond, sugar. 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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