Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Gammon
Unlock the perfect flavour pairings for gammon according to data science. Explore unique recipes and discover the hidden mathematics of flavour.
Gammon is marked by the unmistakable flavours of thiamine and protease, but beneath its umami surface lies a nuanced symphony of subtle flavour notes: burnt, butyric acid, and even hints of lamb that give it remarkable depth. The epicurean alchemy unfolds when we pair gammon with ingredients that let these nuances sing.
To chart these harmonies, we analysed thousands of ingredients, each deconstructed across 150 distinct flavour dimensions, pinpointing the notes that best complement this ingredient’s profile. Our analysis reveals, for example, how Bramley apple's malic tones cut through gammon, and how sherry vinegar's oxidized notes create a surprising synergy with its porky meatiness.
Flavour Profile Of Gammon Across 150 Dimensions Of Flavour
Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Gammon: Porcine, Proteolytic, Burnt, Butyric, Ovine, Smoky, Allicin, Mustard, Rosemary, Charred, Asparagus, Allspice, Saline, Poultry, Adipose, Seedy, Sesame, Peaty, Porcini, Maltol, Elderflower, Onion, Thyme, Sage, Bay leaf, Sotolon, Iron, Toasted, Buttery, Molasses, Tobacco, Maple, Poivre, Potato, Raisin, Olivey, Rice, Hay, Bovine, Hoppy, Tomatoey, Ginger, Walnut, Gentian, Hickory, Leather, Musky, Squash, Caramel, Capsaicin, Oaky, Glutamic, Celery, Capsicum
An ingredient's flavour profile is determined by its core characteristics (e.g. carnal, maillard, 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 Porcine Notes
Strength of Association Between Flavours
The flavours most associated with porcine notes are: Brettanomyces, Chanterelle, Balsam, Oxidized, Penicillium, Chestnut, Wheat, Brassica, Petrichor, Mossy, Oaky, Acetic, Bay leaf, Leafy, Garlic.
Our analysis shows that the flavour of pork is strongly associated with the flavour of rancio. This suggests we should look for ingredients with a rancio flavour, such as sherry vinegar, when pairing with the porky aromas of gammon.
The recipes below provide inspiration for pairing gammon with sherry vinegar.
Harmonious Flavours Of Gammon
Just as our analysis revealed that pork and brettanomycine flavours are often associated, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavour notes present in gammon. E.g. the fermented proteins flavours of gammon are often used with spinachy and grassy accents.
The aromas associated with the various aroma notes of gammon can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.
Flavour Profile Of Gammon And Its Complementary Flavour Notes
Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Gammon: Porcine, Proteolytic, Burnt, Butyric, Ovine, Smoky, Allicin, Mustard, Rosemary, Charred, Asparagus, Allspice, Saline, Poultry, Adipose, Seedy, Sesame, Peaty, Porcini, Maltol, Elderflower, Onion, Thyme, Sage, Bay leaf, Sotolon, Iron, Toasted, Buttery, Molasses, Tobacco, Maple, Poivre, Potato, Raisin, Olivey, Rice, Hay, Bovine, Hoppy, Tomatoey, Ginger, Walnut, Gentian, Hickory, Leather, Musky, Squash, Caramel, Capsaicin, Oaky, Glutamic, Celery, Capsicum
Matching Flavour Profiles
The flavour profile of Bramley apple offers many of the accents complementary to gammon, including malic and grassy aroma notes. Because the flavour profile of Bramley apple has many of the of the features that are complementary to gammon, they are likely to pair very well together.
Prominent Flavour Notes Of Bramley Apple Are Represented By Longer Bars
Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Bramley apple: Malic, Pear, Grassy, Astringent, Banana, Raspberry, Blackberry, Hibiscus, Capsicum, Olivey, Pea, Capsaicin, Potato, Rice, Celery
The chart above shows the unique profile of Bramley apple across 150 dimensions of flavour, while the recipes below offer inspiration for bringing these flavours together with gammon.
Recipes That Pair Gammon With Bramley Apple
Linked Flavour Notes
Looking at the accents that are most strongly associated with the various flavours of gammon, we can identify other ingredients that are likely to pair well.
Gammon's Harmonious Flavours And Complementary Ingredients
Gammon's Strongest Flavours
Complementary Flavours
Ingredients with Complementary Flavours
Flavour groups:
Acidic
Floral
Herbal
Spice
Vegetal
Maillard
Earthy
Woody
Carnal
The left side of the chart above highlights the aroma notes of gammon, along with the complementary aromas associated with each note. While the right side shows some of the ingredients that share many of the notes complementary to gammon.
What To Drink With Gammon
The tomato notes in tomato juice make it a perfect pairing with gammon. Likewise, the petrichor flavours in tuscany create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of gammon below.
Which Spices Go With Gammon?
Choose spices that lift its salinity or resonate with its pungent aroma. Chilli powder offers vibrant, clean counterpoints, its verdant freshness lifting the palate. Curry powder add a gentle, oniony brightness, while garam masala introduces a sophisticated, anise-tinged elegance.
Alternatively, embrace spices that harmonise with gammon's sweetness. The addition of nutmeg, with its subtle cinnamonic notes, can complement the molasses beautifully. Cinnamon bridges earthiness and citrus zest, while white pepper lends a fragrant spiciness.
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., Gammon), analyse its detailed flavour profile, and accurately reveal its complementary flavours and perfect ingredient partners.
Explore More
Discover more ingredient profiles and expand your culinary knowledge. Each ingredient page offers detailed analysis of flavour profiles, pairing insights, and culinary applications.
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.