Why it works: Peas and pepper are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 15% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 5,331 recipes. Both carry 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which smells earthy, pea. The science ↓
Peas and Bacon
Ingredients
Directions
The book says “a rather quick oven”. The 400°F (200°C) in the steps is the modern equivalent, not the book's own figure.
Simmer the bacon and peas
Scrape and wash the bacon, then place it in a pot with 3 quarts of cold water over heat.
Pick over the peas and add them to the pot with the bacon.
Boil gently for about 2 hours, adding ⅓ cup of cold water every 15 minutes to soften the peas.
Season and brown
Drain the peas and place them in a baking dish.
Season the peas with salt and pepper.
Top with the bacon and brown in a 400°F (200°C) oven.
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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Peas + peppertop 15% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together5,331 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Bacon
- Renders fat and salty, smoky flavor into the water and peas, and browns on top in the oven.
- Dried peas
- Soften during long simmering and release starch, giving the dish a thick, creamy body.
The step that matters
Keeping the gentle boil and adding water every 15 minutes. A gentle simmer softens the peas evenly without breaking them apart or scorching on the bottom. Topping up the cold water keeps the level steady so the peas do not dry out and stick before they are tender.
“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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