Why it works: Orange and pepper match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 10% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 2,402 recipes. Both carry ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, which smells fruity, apple. The science ↓
Orange Salad
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare the salad
Peel four oranges, remove the white skin, and separate into sections.
Arrange the orange sections on a bed of head lettuce.
Make and serve the dressing
Mix the dressing ingredients in the order given, adding the oil slowly.
In making the dressing, omit the onion juice.
Serve with French dressing.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 6 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Orange | 1 medium (131g) | 62 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Vinegar | 1 tbsp (15ml) distilled | 3 |
| 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.
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Orange + peppertop 10% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together2,402 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).
-
Onion + peppertop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together68,474 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Vinegar + oniontop 14% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together18,226 recipes
Shared aroma: acetic acid (sour, vinegar).
-
Vinegar + peppertop 14% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together27,814 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
Vinegar + orangetop 20% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,245 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Oil
- Forms the body of the French dressing, giving it richness and a smooth mouthfeel.
- Tarragon vinegar
- Adds acidity and sharpness that balances the sweetness of the oranges.
- Oranges
- Provide the main sweet, juicy flavor and fresh texture of the salad.
The step that matters
Adding the oil slowly while mixing the dressing. Oil and vinegar are immiscible, so adding oil gradually while mixing breaks it into small droplets held in suspension, producing a smooth, stable dressing instead of one that separates quickly.
Swap the orange
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (vinegar, onion, pepper):
- Limefits better
- Avocadofits better
- Mangofits better
- Orangethe original
Fit is the average pairing score against vinegar, onion, 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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