Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Ibérico Ham

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

Ibérico ham instantly conjures the evocative embrace of oleic acid and the kiss of pork, yet its initial umaminess is only the opening gambit. Beneath lies a complex tapestry of delicate brine, whispers of protease, and the savoury richness of glutamate that give it remarkable depth. Understanding how these elements interplay is the secret to unlocking Ibérico ham's pairing potential.

To map these harmonies, we analysed thousands of ingredients, breaking each one down across 150 flavour dimensions, identifying which notes complement and contrast. Our findings reveal, for instance, how greens's leafy tones can carry Ibérico ham, or how rocket's leafy notes create an unexpectedly harmonious bridge with the smooth oiliness.

An ingredient's flavour profile is determined by its core characteristics (e.g. carnal, woody, and maillard) 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 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 Oleic Notes

Our analysis reveals a strong connection between oleic acid and chlorophyll flavours. Since Ibérico ham has a distinct oleic flavour, try pairing it with the green flavours of rocket.

The recipe below provides inspiration for pairing Ibérico ham with rocket.

Harmonious Flavours Of Ibérico Ham

Just as our analysis reveals that oleic acid and cinchona notes harmonise, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavour notes present in Ibérico ham. E.g. the fermented proteins flavours of Ibérico ham are often used with bay leaf and grassy notes.

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

Matching Flavour Profiles

The flavour profile of greens offers many of the aroma notes complementary to Ibérico ham, including leafy and grassy notes. Because the flavour profile of greens has many of the of the features that are complementary to Ibérico ham, they are likely to pair very well together.

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

Recipes That Pair Ibérico Ham With Greens

Linked Flavour Notes

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

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

What To Drink With Ibérico Ham

The bay leaf notes in carmenere make it a perfect pairing with ibérico ham. Likewise, the sugary flavours in carrot juice create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of ibérico ham below.

Which Vegetables Go With Ibérico Ham?

Choose vegetables that cut through its meatiness or anchor its fermented aroma. Greens offers vibrant, clean counterpoints, its verdant freshness lifting the palate. Sorrel add a gentle, oniony brightness, while artichoke introduces a sophisticated, anise-tinged elegance.

Alternatively, embrace vegetables that harmonise with Ibérico ham's salinity. The addition of pea, with its subtle hexenal notes, can complement the brine beautifully. Piquillo pepper bridges earthiness and citrus zest, while carrot lends a fresh leafiness.

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