Name: Spice Rub for Chicken
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons black pepper; 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper; 2 teaspoons ground celery seed; 2 tablespoons garlic powder; ½ cup paprika; 2 tablespoons kosher salt; 1 tablespoon dried thyme

Why it works: Celery and thyme match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 3% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 3,193 recipes. Both carry beta-phellandrene, which smells minty, terpene. The science ↓

Spice Rub for Chicken

Serves 4

Ingredients

Directions

Mix together spices in a bowl.
Rub on chicken, inside and outside.
Let stand for a few minutes before cooking per your usual directions.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

28Calories

1 gProtein

1 gFat

6 gCarbs

What these numbers assume: 6 portions

Ingredient	Portion assumed	kcal
Chili	1 tsp (2.7g)	8
Black Pepper	1 tsp ground (2.3g)	6
Celery Seed	1 stalk (40g)	6
Garlic	1 clove (3g)	4
Thyme	1 tsp dried (1.4g)	4
Salt	1 tsp (6g)	0

One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.

Recipe from the Wikibooks Cookbook.

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.

Celery + thymetop 3% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together3,193 recipes

Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
Pepper + thymetop 4% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together11,585 recipes

Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
Garlic + thymetop 4% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together5,608 recipes

Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).
Pepper + celerytop 5% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together16,012 recipes

Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
Pepper + garlictop 8% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together27,090 recipes

Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Paprika: Gives the rub its colour and a mild, sweet, smoky flavour.
Garlic powder: Adds concentrated savoury aroma that carries through the meat.
Cayenne pepper: Provides heat, building spiciness without adding bulk.
Black pepper: Adds a sharp, woody bite that complements the other spices.
Ground celery seed: Contributes a subtle, earthy celery aroma.
Dried thyme: Adds an herbal, slightly minty aroma to the meat.