Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Caramelised Onion


Caramelised onion

Discover the best flavour pairings for caramelised onion based on data analysis of thousands of recipes. Find perfect ingredient matches & delicious recipes.

Caramelised onion instantly conjures the embrace of molasses and the kiss of burnt, yet its initial sweetness is only the opening gambit. Beneath lies a tapestry of subtle garlic, whispers of dipropyl disulfide, and the warm sweetness of maltol, contributing remarkable depth. Understanding how these elements interplay is the secret to unlocking truly exceptional pairings.

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 tomato's solanum tones carry caramelised onion, and how apple sauce's malic notes create a surprising synergy with its robust sweetness.

Flavour Profile Of Caramelised Onion Across 150 Dimensions Of Flavour

Flavour notes evoked by caramelised onion

Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Caramelised onion: Molasses, Burnt, Caramel, Onion, Allicin, Sotolon, Toasted, Asparagus, Seedy, Maltol, Raisin, Butyric, Maple, Thyme, Sage, Bay leaf, Rosemary, Tomatoey, Allspice, Gentian, Porcini, Parsnip, Hay, Chestnut, Flint, Sugary, Honeyed, Buttery, Potato


Hover over the bars in chart above to identify the flavour notes of caramelised onion

An ingredient's flavour profile is determined by its core characteristics (e.g. maillard, nectarous, and herbal) enhanced by layers of subtle aroma notes (outer bars). When pairing ingredients, aim for a mix of core traits to build balance, and select complementary aroma notes to create harmony.

The Art of Flavour Pairing


To understand how flavour notes harmonise, we analysed more than 50,000 popular ingredient combinations. By exploring these pairings, we identified specific flavour notes that frequently occur together, indicating they share a harmonious relationship.


The Flavours That Harmonise With Molasses Notes

Strength of Association Between Flavours

The flavours most associated with molasses notes are: Cinnamon, Malic, Pear, Banana, Clove, Astringent, Elder, Seedy, Coconut, Pimenta, Sesame, Cedar, Pine, Hoppy, Ginger.

Our analysis reveals a strong connection between molasses and sour apple flavours. Since caramelised onion has a distinct molasses flavour, try pairing it with the malic flavours of apple sauce.

The recipe below provides inspiration for pairing caramelised onion with apple sauce.

  • Fried Sweet Cheese Pierogi Recipe
    Serious Eats

    Of all the pierogi that New York has offered up to me over the years, it's the sweet cheese version that has really stolen my heart. It's tangy, creamy, sweet, and cheesy, straddling a line between savory and sweet, making it perfect to eat no matter the occasion. Here's how to make them at home.

    • Harmonious Flavours Of Caramelised Onion


    Just as our analysis revealed that molasses and cinnamonic flavour notes are often combined, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the notes present in caramelised onion. For instance, the burnt notes of caramelised onion are strongly associated with bay leaf and mouldy notes.

    The aromas associated with the various aromas of caramelised onion can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.

    Flavour Profile Of Caramelised Onion And Its Complementary Flavour Notes

    Flavour notes evoked by caramelised onion

    Flavours complementary to caramelised onion

    Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Caramelised onion: Molasses, Burnt, Caramel, Onion, Allicin, Sotolon, Toasted, Asparagus, Seedy, Maltol, Raisin, Butyric, Maple, Thyme, Sage, Bay leaf, Rosemary, Tomatoey, Allspice, Gentian, Porcini, Parsnip, Hay, Chestnut, Flint, Sugary, Honeyed, Buttery, Potato


    Hover over the bars in chart above to identify the flavour notes of caramelised onion

    Matching Flavour Profiles


    The flavour profile of tomato offers many of the accents complementary to caramelised onion, including tomato and cucumber aroma notes. Because the flavour profile of tomato has many of the of the features that are complementary to caramelised onion, they are likely to pair very well together.

    Prominent Flavour Notes Of Tomato Are Represented By Longer Bars

    Flavour notes evoked by tomato

    Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Tomato: Tomatoey, Violet, Cucumber, Raspberry, Oyster, Malic, Allicin, Grassy, Chlorophyll, Elderflower, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, Porcini, Glutamic, Blackberry, Tea-Like, Capsicum, Hibiscus, Basil, Spinach, Seedy, Hay, Pea, Proteolytic, Grapefruit, Koji, Plum, Ficus, Tobacco, Celery


    Hover over the bars in chart above to identify the flavour notes of tomato

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


    Recipes That Pair Caramelised Onion With Tomato


  • Smoky tomato, caramelised onion and eggplant flatbread
    The Guardian

    Chipotle peppers and smoked paprika add an amazing smokiness to this thick tomato garlicky sauce in this recipe, which is Margo’s all-time favourite. The relish is also great in sandwiches or as a dip for fries. Any you don’t use will keep in an airtight container or jar in the fridge for up to two weeks.

    • Linked Flavour Notes


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

    Caramelised Onion's Harmonious Flavours And Complementary Ingredients

    Caramelised onion's Strongest Flavours

    Complementary Flavours

    Ingredients with Complementary Flavours





    Flavour groups:


    Nectarous

    Acidic

    Herbal

    Spice

    Vegetal

    Maillard

    Earthy

    Woody

    Carnal

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


    What To Drink With Caramelised Onion


    The malic notes in cawston press apple and rhubarb juice make it a perfect pairing with caramelised onion. Likewise, the malic flavours in angry orchard crisp apple cider create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of caramelised onion 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., Caramelised onion), analyse its detailed flavour profile, and accurately reveal its complementary flavours and perfect ingredient partners.


    The content on our analysis blog is semi-automated. All of the words were manually written by a human, but the content is updated dynamically based on the data.