Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Doubanjiang

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

Doubanjiang instantly conjures the evocative embrace of bean and the kiss of protease, woven with delicate hints of tomato, chilli, and glutamate that contribute remarkable depth. The artistry of the kitchen unfolds when we pair doubanjiang 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 spinach's cis-3-hexen-1-ol tones carry doubanjiang, and how lamb rack's salvian notes create a surprising synergy with its starchy aroma.

An ingredient's flavour stems from its core characteristics, such as maillard, spice, or acidic, 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.

The Secret Language of Flavour

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 Bean Notes

Our analysis shows that the flavour of bean is strongly associated with the flavour of sage. This suggests we should look for ingredients with a sage-like flavour, such as lamb rack, when pairing with the beany accents of doubanjiang.

The recipe below provides inspiration for pairing doubanjiang with lamb rack.

Harmonious Flavours Of Doubanjiang

Just as our analysis revealed that bean and sage-like flavour accents harmonise well, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavour notes present in doubanjiang. E.g. the fermented proteins notes of doubanjiang are often used with spinachy and grassy notes.

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

Matching Flavour Profiles

The flavour profile of spinach offers many of the aroma notes complementary to doubanjiang, including spinach and grassy accents. Because the flavour profile of spinach has many of the of the features that are complementary to doubanjiang, they are likely to pair very well together.

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

Recipes That Pair Doubanjiang With Spinach

Linked Flavour Notes

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

The left side of the chart above highlights the aroma notes of doubanjiang, 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 doubanjiang.

What To Drink With Doubanjiang

The rice notes in genmaicha tea make it a perfect pairing with doubanjiang. Likewise, the spinach flavours in green tea create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of doubanjiang below.

Which Vegetables Go With Doubanjiang?

Choose vegetables that awaken its starchyness or anchor its fermented aroma. Spinach offers vibrant, clean counterpoints, its verdant freshness lifting the palate. Pea add a gentle, oniony brightness, while asparagus introduces a sophisticated, anise-tinged elegance.

Alternatively, embrace vegetables that harmonise with doubanjiang's sharpness. The addition of mung bean sprout, with its subtle cucumber notes, can complement the vinegar beautifully. Napa cabbage bridges earthiness and citrus zest, while red pepper lends a fresh aroma.

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., Doubanjiang), analyse its detailed flavour profile, and accurately reveal its complementary flavours and perfect ingredient partners.