A Rich Brown Gravy

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. Lemon + parsleytop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together14,037 recipes

   Shared aroma: beta-phellandrene (minty, terpene).

2. Shallot + parsleytop 1% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together3,737 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).

3. Shallot + mushroomtop 4% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together1,982 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2,4-decadienal (seaweed).

4. Beef + mushroomtop 4% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together3,232 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2,4-nonadienal (fatty, green).

5. Shallot + clovetop 5% of all pairs
   Smell alikestrong
   Cooked together1,677 recipes

   Shared aroma: eucalyptol (eucalyptus, herbal).

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

What each ingredient does

Beef consommé or stock

Forms the liquid base that carries all the flavour of the gravy.

Smoked beef

Adds a smoky, savoury depth to the liquid.

Shallots

Add a mild, sweet onion flavour as they soften in the liquid.

Onions

Release sweetness and body into the gravy as they simmer.

Chopped mushrooms

Contribute earthy savoury flavour and some body to the gravy.

Swap the onion

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (beef, lemon, shallot, clove, parsley, mushroom):

1. Chivefits better
2. Leekfits better
3. Carrotfits better
4. Onionthe original

Fit is the average pairing score against beef, lemon, shallot, clove, parsley, mushroom. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.