Chop Suey

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. Chicken + mushroomtop 4% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together4,172 recipes

   Shared aroma: 1-butyl acetate (fruity, banana).

2. Celery + peppertop 5% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together16,012 recipes

   Shared aroma: 4'-methylacetophenone (bitter almond).

3. Mushroom + buttertop 7% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together12,525 recipes

   Shared aroma: trans-2-decenal (waxy, orange).

4. Onion + celerytop 7% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together18,518 recipes

   Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).

5. Chicken + oniontop 8% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together17,814 recipes

   Shared aroma: gamma-nonanolactone (coconut, sweet).

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

What each ingredient does

Chicken

Provides the main protein, which becomes firm and tender as it cooks through.

Veal

Adds a second meat with a mild flavor and a tender, soft texture when fully cooked.

Onions

Release sweetness and aroma as they soften and brown in the butter.

Mushrooms

Release moisture as they cook, adding savory depth and a tender texture.

Chinese suey sauce

Adds savory, salty flavor that seasons the mixture as it is stirred in.

The step that matters

Swap the celery

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (chicken, veal, onion, mushroom, butter, sauce, pepper):

1. Garlicfits better
2. Thymefits better
3. Parsleyfits about as well
4. Celerythe original

Fit is the average pairing score against chicken, veal, onion, mushroom, butter, sauce, pepper. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.