Mince Meat

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.

1. Nutmeg + clovetop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together8,686 recipes

   Shared aroma: estragole (anise, licorice).

2. Beef + porktop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together5,690 recipes

   Shared aroma: 12-methyltridecanal (tallowy, beefy).

3. Raisin + nutmegtop 6% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together5,377 recipes

   Shared aroma: alpha-terpineol (lilac, floral).

4. Apple + clovetop 6% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together2,774 recipes

   Shared aroma: ethyl octanoate (fruity, wine).

5. Raisin + clovetop 9% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together4,070 recipes

   Shared aroma: ethyl caproate (fruity, apple peel).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Raw beef

Provides the bulk of the meat, giving the filling its body and savory richness.

Raw pork

Adds fat to the meat, contributing moisture and a richer texture to the filling.

Apples

Add moisture and tartness that balance the sweetness of the sugar and dried fruit.

White sugar

Sweetens the filling and helps preserve it along with the liquor.

Currants

Add concentrated sweetness and chewy texture through the filling.

Raisins

Add chewy texture and concentrated sweetness to the filling.

Swap the currant

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (beef, pork, apple, sugar, raisin, nutmeg, clove):

1. Figfits better
2. Quincefits better
3. Vanillafits better
4. Currantthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against beef, pork, apple, sugar, raisin, nutmeg, clove. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.