Why it works: Cider and vinegar are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 6% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 3,431 recipes. Both carry 4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol, which smells smoky, clove. The science ↓
Mustard Foe Table Use
Ingredients
Directions
Combine mustard, sugar, and salt in a bowl.
Add cider vinegar gradually, stirring to form a smooth paste.
Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly until it thickens.
Remove from heat and let it cool before using.
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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Cider + vinegartop 6% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,431 recipes
Shared aroma: 4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol (smoky, clove).
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Mustard + vinegartop 7% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together14,067 recipes
Shared aroma: isobutyraldehyde (malty, green).
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Mustard + cidertop 13% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together1,414 recipes
Shared aroma: linalool (floral, citrus).
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Sugar + vinegartop 15% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together20,806 recipes
Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
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Mustard + sugartop 19% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together8,424 recipes
Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Mustard
- Provides the main body and the sharp, pungent flavour of the condiment.
- Cider vinegar
- Adds acidity that sharpens the flavour and helps form a smooth paste.
- Sugar
- Balances the sharpness of the mustard and vinegar with a touch of sweetness.
The step that matters
Cooking the mixture over low heat while stirring constantly. Gentle heat with constant stirring thickens the mixture evenly without scorching it or letting it set in lumps. Heating too fast can burn the sugar and make the mustard taste harsh or bitter.
“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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