Why it works: Raisin and almond are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 2% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 1,781 recipes. Both carry 2-nonanone, which smells fruity, floral. The science ↓
Fruit Filling
Ingredients
Directions
Make the filling
Combine four tablespoonfuls of very finely chopped citron, four tablespoonfuls of finely chopped seeded raisins, half a cupful of blanched almonds chopped fine, and a quarter of a pound of finely chopped figs.
Beat the whites of three eggs to a stiff froth, adding half a cupful of sugar.
Mix the beaten egg whites and sugar thoroughly with the chopped fruit and nuts.
Assemble
Place the mixture between the layers of a hot cake so that the egg cooks slightly.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 5 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Grape | 1/2 cup (76g) | 62 |
| Sugar | 1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated | 49 |
| Fig | 1 medium (50g) | 37 |
| Almond | 1 almond (1.2g) | 7 |
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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Raisin + almondtop 2% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together1,781 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonanone (fruity, floral).
-
Almond + figtop 3% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together519 recipes
Shared aroma: alpha-pinene (pine, turpentine).
-
Raisin + figtop 7% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together737 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
-
Raisin + sugartop 13% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together12,481 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
-
Fig + sugartop 16% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,241 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
- Eggs
- Beaten whites trap air and, lightly cooked by the hot cake, help bind the filling.
- Sugar
- Sweetens the filling and helps the beaten whites hold their foam.
- Figs
- Add sweetness, chewy texture and moisture to the filling.
- Almonds
- Add texture and richness to the filling.
- Raisins
- Add sweetness and chewiness to the filling.
- Citron
- Adds a sharp, aromatic flavour to the filling.
The step that matters
Placing the filling on the hot cake. The heat of the cake should only lightly set the egg whites. Gentle heat lets the egg thicken and bind the fruit and nuts without scrambling or turning rubbery.
Swap the fig
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (raisin, almond, sugar, egg):
- Vanillafits about as well
- Figthe original
- Datesfits less well
- Coconutfits less well
Fit is the average pairing score against raisin, almond, sugar, egg. 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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