Why it works: Parsley and pepper match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 2% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 34,122 recipes. Both carry 4'-methylacetophenone, which smells bitter almond. The science ↓
Stewed Kidneys
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare the kidneys
Cut the kidneys into half-inch square pieces, removing any tough bits.
Place the kidneys in a covered saucepan with cold water and bring to a boil.
Discard the water, add fresh water, and boil again.
Change the water once more and let the kidneys simmer for 5 to 6 hours.
Finish the stew
About an hour before serving, add the chopped onion, parsley, mushrooms, salt, pepper, and cayenne if desired.
Before serving, thicken the stew with 1 teaspoon of flour dissolved in cold water, then bring to a boil to cook the flour.
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.
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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Parsley + peppertop 2% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together34,122 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
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Onion + parsleytop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together25,843 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
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Onion + mushroomtop 10% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together10,626 recipes
Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).
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Onion + peppertop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together68,474 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
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Mushroom + peppertop 11% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together13,580 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-nonenal (fatty, green).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Calf kidneys
- Form the main body of the stew, becoming tender during long, gentle simmering.
- Flour
- Thickens the cooking liquid into a light, smooth stew body when boiled.
- Onion
- Adds savory sweetness and aroma as it softens into the stew.
- Mushrooms
- Contribute savory, earthy flavor and a soft texture to the stew.
The step that matters
Thickening with flour. Flour must be dissolved in cold water first so it does not clump, then brought to a boil so its starch swells and thickens the liquid and the raw flour taste cooks out.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (parsley, mushroom, pepper, flour):
- Shallotfits better
- Carrotfits better
- Spinachfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against parsley, mushroom, pepper, flour. 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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