Why it works: Pepper and onion are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 11% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 68,474 recipes. Both carry 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which smells earthy, pea. The science ↓
Chili Sauce with Spice
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Slice eighteen ripe tomatoes.
Chop one green pepper finely.
Chop three onions if desired.
Cook
Combine tomatoes, green pepper, onions, two tablespoons of salt, one-half cup of sugar, two cups of vinegar, and one teaspoon of each kind of spice.
Stew the mixture slowly.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 4 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Bell Pepper | 1 medium (119g) | 31 |
| 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.
Transcribed from a scanned cookbook and modernised for today's kitchens. Where the book gave no heat or time, or said "a moderate oven", the temperatures and times here may be modern equivalents rather than the book's own figures. See the original page.
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.
-
Pepper + oniontop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together68,474 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Sugar + peppertop 32% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together19,401 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).
-
Sugar + oniontop 36% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together15,747 recipes
Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).
Sugar and pepper barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 19,401 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
- Tomatoes (in the method)
- Form the bulk of the sauce and break down into its body and moisture as they stew.
- Sugar
- Adds sweetness that balances the sharpness of the vinegar and tomatoes.
- Onions
- Contribute savory aroma and body to the sauce as they soften.
- Green pepper
- Adds fresh, slightly bitter vegetable flavor and texture to the sauce.
The step that matters
Stew the mixture slowly. Gentle, low heat lets the tomatoes and onions break down and the liquid reduce evenly, while high heat risks scorching the sugar and sticking on the bottom of the pot.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (sugar, pepper):
- Capsicumfits better
- Mustardfits better
- Carrotfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against sugar, pepper. 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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