Why it works: Milk and egg are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 18% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 88,785 recipes. Both carry 2-nonenal, which smells fatty, green. The science ↓
Turkey Scallop
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare the layers
Pick the meat from the bones of cold turkey and chop it finely.
Place a layer of bread crumbs on the bottom of a buttered dish.
Moisten the bread crumbs with a little milk.
Add a layer of turkey with some of the filling.
Cut small pieces of butter over the top.
Sprinkle with pepper and salt.
Add another layer of bread crumbs.
Repeat layering until the dish is nearly full.
Add a little hot water to the gravy left from the turkey and pour over the dish.
Top and bake
Whisk together two eggs, two tablespoonfuls of milk, one of melted butter, a little salt, and cracker crumbs until thick enough to spread with a knife.
Spread the mixture over the dish.
Put bits of butter over the mixture.
Cover with a plate.
Bake for three-quarters of an hour.
Ten minutes before serving, remove the plate and let it brown.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 4 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | 1 cup (244ml) whole | 149 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| 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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Milk + eggtop 18% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together88,785 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).
-
Milk + peppertop 22% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together26,984 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).
-
Egg + peppertop 33% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together50,580 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).
Egg and pepper barely smell alike, yet cooks put them together in 50,580 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
- Eggs
- Bind the topping and help it set into a firm, spreadable layer as it bakes.
- Bread crumbs (in the method)
- Absorb the milk and gravy, forming soft layers that hold the turkey together.
- Milk
- Moistens the bread crumbs and loosens the egg topping for a smooth texture.
- Butter (in the method)
- Adds richness and fat that keeps the layers moist and helps the top brown.
The step that matters
Removing the plate to brown. The plate keeps the topping covered and moist while it bakes. Removing it only near the end lets the surface dry and brown; removing it too early can leave the top pale and soft.
“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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