Why it works: Pepper and parsley 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 ↓
Veal Stew
Ingredients
Directions
Cook the veal
Place veal strips in a skillet and cover with cold water.
Add the sliced potato and bring to a gentle simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.
Ensure the water does not boil away.
Finish and serve
Once the meat is tender, add the milk and flour mixed with a little milk.
Season with butter, salt, pepper, and parsley if desired.
Slice the hard‑boiled eggs and add them to the broth.
Bring to a boil once and serve with or without toast.
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.
-
Pepper + parsleytop 2% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together34,122 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
Potato + parsleytop 5% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,855 recipes
Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).
-
Milk + buttertop 7% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together81,283 recipes
Shared aroma: (z)-4-heptenal (biscuit, cream).
-
Potato + peppertop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together8,305 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Potato + milktop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together3,611 recipes
Shared aroma: (e,z)-2,6-nonadienal (cucumber, melon).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Veal
- Provides the main protein, which becomes tender and flavourful as it simmers slowly in the broth.
- Potato
- Breaks down slightly as it cooks, adding body and starch that thickens the broth.
- Eggs
- Add richness and a soft, creamy texture when sliced into the warm broth.
- Milk
- Adds creaminess and mild sweetness, softening the broth's flavour.
- Flour
- Thickens the milk and broth, giving the stew a smoother, more cohesive body.
The step that matters
Keep the water from boiling away. Holding a gentle simmer keeps the veal tender and prevents the broth from reducing too much or toughening the meat. A hard boil can make muscle fibres seize and dry out.
Swap the potato
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (veal, egg, milk, flour, butter, pepper, parsley):
- Shallotfits about as well
- Potatothe original
- Chivefits about as well
- Carrotfits about as well
Fit is the average pairing score against veal, egg, milk, flour, butter, pepper, parsley. 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.
More veal stew recipes
You might also like
The free Flavor Lab newsletter: one surprising pairing a week and the molecular reason it works, in 60 seconds. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer an account? Create a free account to save pairings and unlock the full chemistry.
Potato Croquettes255 recipes
Potato Rolls78 recipes
Potato Chips53 recipes
Sweet Potato Croquettes53 recipes