Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Aji

Top flavour pairings and aji recipes, revealed through the hidden methmatics of flavour.

Aji immediately conjures the evocative embrace of chilli and the bracing kiss of bell pepper. But look beneath its obvious bitterness and you'll discover a captivating symphony of softer notes, a whisper of mango, a hint of passion fruit, and subtle accents reminiscent of grass. These are the notes that lend it such remarkable, resonant depth. The artistry of the kitchen unfolds when we pair aji with ingredients that let these nuances sing.

To map these harmonies, we analysed thousands of ingredients, breaking each one down across 150 flavour dimensions, identifying which notes complement and contrast. Our analysis reveals, for example, how pork belly's porcine tones enrich aji, and how mint's eucalyptol notes create a surprising synergy with its fiery sensation.

An ingredient's flavour stems from its core characteristics, such as vegetal, acidic, or nectarous, combined with layers of subtle flavour notes (outer bars). For a balanced dish, pair ingredients with a variety of core flavours, and choose complementary aroma notes for harmony.

Flavour Pairing Method

To understand exactly which flavours harmonise, we compiled a database of over 50,000 ingredient pairings commonly used in cooking. We then analysed these pairings, identifying the specific flavour notes that frequently appear together.

The Flavours That Harmonise With Capsaicin Notes

Our analysis reveals a strong connection between chilli and eucalyptus flavours. Since aji has a distinct hot flavour, try pairing it with the eucalyptol flavours of mint.

The recipe below provides inspiration for pairing aji with mint.

Harmonious Flavours Of Aji

Just as our statistical analysis showed that chilli and fenugreek flavour notes harmonise, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavour notes present in aji. For instance, the capsicum notes of aji are strongly associated with corn-like and briney accents.

The aroma accents associated with the various notes of aji can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.

Matching Flavour Profiles

The flavour profile of pork belly offers many of the notes complementary to aji, including porcine and glutamic notes. Because the flavour profile of pork belly has many of the of the features that are complementary to aji, they are likely to pair very well together.

The chart above shows the unique profile of pork belly across 150 dimensions of flavour, while the recipes below offer inspiration for bringing these flavours together with aji.

Recipes That Pair Aji With Pork Belly

Linked Flavour Notes

Looking at the aroma accents that are most strongly associated with the various flavours of aji, we can identify other ingredients that are likely to pair well.

The left side of the chart above highlights the aroma notes of aji, along with the complementary aromas associated with each note. While the right side shows some of the ingredients that share many of the aroma notes complementary to aji.

What To Drink With Aji

The limestone notes in gaviscon make it a perfect pairing with aji. Likewise, the fenugreek flavours in savagnin create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of aji below.

How Flavonomics Works

We've pioneered a unique, data-driven approach to decode the intricate art of flavour pairing. Our goal is to move beyond intuition and uncover the science of why certain ingredients harmonise beautifully. This rigorous methodology allows us to provide you with insightful and reliable pairing recommendations.

Our analysis begins with over 50,000 carefully selected recipes from acclaimed chefs like Galton Blackiston, Marcello Tully, and Pierre Lambinon. This premium dataset ensures our model distils genuine culinary excellence and creativity.

Each ingredient from these recipes is deconstructed across 150 distinct flavour dimensions, creating a unique numerical "flavour fingerprint." This quantification allows us to apply advanced analytical methods to identify complex patterns between flavour notes.

We identify popular ingredient combinations that frequently appear in our recipe database. Regression analysis is then performed on these pairings to statistically validate and pinpoint truly harmonious flavours.

These insights drive our predictive model, which allows us to take any ingredient (e.g., Aji), analyse its detailed flavour profile, and accurately reveal its complementary flavours and perfect ingredient partners.