Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Frisée

Analysing hundreds of thousands of recipes uncovers frisée's optimal flavour pairings.

Frisée immediately conjures the evocative embrace of polyphenol and the kiss of black pepper, but beneath its bitter surface lies a nuanced symphony of subtle flavour notes: tea, grass, and even hints of chlorophyll. These are the notes that lend it such remarkable, resonant depth. The artistry of the kitchen unfolds when we pair frisée 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 chicken's glutamic tones enrich frisée, and how Roquefort's mouldy notes create a surprising synergy with its mouth-drying sensation.

An ingredient's flavour profile is determined by its core characteristics (e.g. herbal, vegetal, and floral) 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 Flavour Code

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 Astringent Notes

Our analysis reveals a strong connection between polyphenol and mould flavours. Since frisée has a distinct astringent flavour, try pairing it with the mouldy flavours of Roquefort.

The recipe below provides inspiration for pairing frisée with Roquefort.

Harmonious Flavours Of Frisée

Just as our analysis showed that polyphenol and mouldy flavours are often combined, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavours present in frisée. For instance, the peppery flavours of frisée are strongly associated with chickeny and starchy notes.

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

Matching Flavour Profiles

The flavour profile of chicken offers many of the accents complementary to frisée, including glutamic and poultry aromas. Because the flavour profile of chicken has many of the of the features that are complementary to frisée, they are likely to pair very well together.

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

Recipes That Pair Frisée With Chicken

Linked Flavour Notes

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

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

What To Drink With Frisée

The saline notes in pecorino make it a perfect pairing with frisée. Likewise, the glutamic flavours in cheese create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of frisée 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., Frisée), analyse its detailed flavour profile, and accurately reveal its complementary flavours and perfect ingredient partners.