Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Pastis
Top flavour pairings and recipes for Pastis, according to analysis of thousands of recipes.
Pastis immediately conjure the evocative embrace of liquorice and the bracing kiss of fennel, yet its initial sweetness is only the overtone. Beneath lies a tapestry of delicate camphor, hints of resin, and the herbal bitterness of gentian root that give it remarkable depth. And the epicurean alchemy begins when we seek out pairings that allow these notes to truly sing, to harmonise in unexpected and delightful ways.
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 findings reveal, for instance, how egg yolk's asparagus tones can carry Pastis, or how Granny Smith apple's malic notes create an unexpectedly harmonious bridge with the sweet-spicy aroma.
Flavour Profile Of Pastis Across 150 Dimensions Of Flavour
Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Pastis: Anise, Fennel, Gentian, Resinous, Cinchona, Rosemary, Camphor, Sage, Bay leaf, Chamomile, Eucalyptol, Allspice, Balsam, Hoppy, Ginger, Cedar, Lavender, Elderflower, Safranal, Thyme, Cucumber, Pine, Jasmine, Basil, Coriander seed, Hibiscus
An ingredient's flavour profile is determined by its core characteristics (e.g. herbal, floral, and vegetal) 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 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 Liquorice Notes
Strength of Association Between Flavours
The flavours most associated with liquorice notes are: Malic, Oyster, Saline, Seaweed, Pear, Flint, Acetic, Dried Porcini, Brassica, Petrichor, Fishy, Cedar, Asparagus, Mossy, Oceanic.
Our analysis shows that the flavour of liquorice is strongly associated with the flavour of sour apple. This suggests we should look for ingredients with a malic flavour, such as Granny Smith apple, when pairing with the liquorice aroma notes of Pastis.
The recipe below provides inspiration for pairing Pastis with Granny Smith apple.
Harmonious Flavours Of Pastis
Just as our statistical analysis showed that liquorice and malic flavour accents combine harmoniously, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavours present in Pastis. For instance, the fennel notes of Pastis are strongly associated with oceanic and fishy flavours.
The accents associated with the various accents of Pastis can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.
Flavour Profile Of Pastis And Its Complementary Flavour Notes
Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Pastis: Anise, Fennel, Gentian, Resinous, Cinchona, Rosemary, Camphor, Sage, Bay leaf, Chamomile, Eucalyptol, Allspice, Balsam, Hoppy, Ginger, Cedar, Lavender, Elderflower, Safranal, Thyme, Cucumber, Pine, Jasmine, Basil, Coriander seed, Hibiscus
Matching Flavour Profiles
The flavour profile of egg yolk offers many of the aroma notes complementary to Pastis, including asparagus and oyster aromas. Because the flavour profile of egg yolk has many of the of the features that are complementary to Pastis, they are likely to pair very well together.
Prominent Flavour Notes Of Egg Yolk Are Represented By Longer Bars
Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Egg yolk: Buttery, Asparagus, Brassica, Sulfurous, Iron, Hay, Oyster, Adipose, Corn, Flint, Porcini, Gamey, Potato, Ovine, Seaweed, Mustard, Saline, Butyric, Oceanic, Proteolytic, Oleic
The chart above shows the unique profile of egg yolk across 150 dimensions of flavour, while the recipes below offer inspiration for bringing these flavours together with Pastis.
Recipes That Pair Pastis With Egg Yolk
Linked Flavour Notes
Looking at the aromas that are most strongly associated with the various flavours of Pastis, we can identify other ingredients that are likely to pair well.
Pastis's Harmonious Flavours And Complementary Ingredients
Pastis's Strongest Flavours
Complementary Flavours
Ingredients with Complementary Flavours
Flavour groups:
Nectarous
Acidic
Floral
Herbal
Spice
Vegetal
Maillard
Earthy
Carnal
The left side of the chart above highlights the aroma notes of Pastis, 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 Pastis.
Prominent Pairings
Our analysis identifies dishes that pair well with Pastis and highlights the prominent ingredient combinations within these recipes. Key pairs include Espelette pepper and double cream offering rich creaminess, courgette flower and basil for herbalness, white onion and aubergine for boletic depth, and sea bass and fish stock for a complex oceanic undertone. Explore these combinations to unlock Pastis's hidden complexity, reveal deep nuance, and elevate its vibrant character.
Ingredient Combinations Among Dishes That Pair With Pastis
Flavour groups:
Sour
Botanic
Herbal
Spice
Vegetal
Bitter
Umami
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., Pastis), 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.