Oil Pickles

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. Celery + mustardtop 2% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together4,169 recipes

   Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).

2. Cucumber + mustardtop 3% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together2,281 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

3. Onion + mustardtop 6% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together9,259 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).

4. Cucumber + olivetop 6% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together3,611 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2-methylbutyl acetate (fruit).

5. Celery + oniontop 7% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together18,518 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

Cucumbers

Form the main body of the pickles, providing the crisp texture once salted and drained.

Coarse sea salt

Draws water out of the cucumbers and onions, firming them and reducing excess moisture.

Olive oil

Coats the vegetables with fat, carrying the spice flavours and adding richness.

Vinegar

Provides acidity that preserves the vegetables and gives the pickles their sharp taste.

The step that matters

Swap the white pepper

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (cucumber, celery, onion, mustard, olive, vinegar):

1. Capersfits better
2. Tarragonfits better
3. Garlicfits better
4. White pepperthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against cucumber, celery, onion, mustard, olive, vinegar. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.