Name: Fig Pudding
Ingredients: 1 pound fresh figs, chopped; ½ pound brown sugar; 1 pound bread crumbs; 1 pound beef suet, shredded; 4 eggs

Why it works: Fig and bread work together. They rank in the top 11% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 374 recipes. Both carry guaiacol, which smells smoky, sweet. The science ↓

Fig Pudding

Ingredients

Directions

The book gives no cooking times; the times in the steps were added in transcription, so check for doneness rather than trusting the clock.

Make the batter

In a large bowl, combine the chopped figs, brown sugar, bread crumbs, and shredded beef suet.
Beat the eggs in a separate bowl and then add them to the mixture.
Mix all ingredients thoroughly until well combined.

Steam and serve

Transfer the mixture to a greased pudding mold.
Steam the pudding for about 2 hours or until set.

Recipe from a historical cookbook (Internet Archive).

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.

Fig + breadtop 11% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together374 recipes

Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).
Bread + beeftop 13% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together4,032 recipes

Shared aroma: 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (popcorn, roasted).
Bread + eggtop 13% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together22,662 recipes

Shared aroma: (e)-2-octenal (fatty, green).
Fig + sugartop 16% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together2,241 recipes

Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).
Fig + beeftop 20% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together116 recipes

Shared aroma: beta-damascenone (apple, rose).

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

What each ingredient does

Eggs: Bind the mixture and help it set firm as it steams.
Bread crumbs: Provide body and absorb moisture so the pudding holds its shape.
Beef suet: Adds fat that keeps the pudding moist and rich in texture.
Fresh figs: Supply sweetness, moisture and fruity flavour through the pudding.
Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and a caramel-like depth of flavour.