Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Pie Dough

Unlock the perfect flavour pairings for pie dough according to data science. Explore unique recipes and discover the hidden mathematics of flavour.

Pie dough conjures the evocative embrace of butter and the kiss of wheat, but beneath its sweetness lies a complex symphony of subtle flavour notes, such as toast, butyric acid, and hints of starch. These are the notes that lend it such remarkable, resonant depth. The key to finding the perfect pairing for pie dough is understanding how these notes harmonise.

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 extra virgin olive oil's olivine tones carry pie dough, and how espresso powder's javaine notes create a surprising synergy with its rich creaminess.

An ingredient's flavour profile is determined by its core characteristics (e.g. maillard, acidic, 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 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 Buttery Notes

Our analysis reveals a strong connection between butter and coffee flavours. Since pie dough has a distinct buttery flavour, try pairing it with the coffee-like flavours of espresso powder.

The recipe below provides inspiration for pairing pie dough with espresso powder.

Harmonious Flavours Of Pie Dough

Just as our analysis showed that butter and coffee-like flavour accents are often combined, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavour notes present in pie dough. E.g. the wheaty flavours of pie dough are often used with thyme-like and oleic accents.

The aromas associated with the various aroma notes of pie dough can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.

Matching Flavour Profiles

The flavour profile of extra virgin olive oil offers many of the notes complementary to pie dough, including olive and tomato aroma notes. Because the flavour profile of extra virgin olive oil has many of the of the features that are complementary to pie dough, they are likely to pair very well together.

The chart above shows the unique profile of extra virgin olive oil across 150 dimensions of flavour, while the recipes below offer inspiration for bringing these flavours together with pie dough.

Recipes That Pair Pie Dough With Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Linked Flavour Notes

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

The left side of the chart above highlights the aroma notes of pie dough, along with the complementary aromas associated with each note. While the right side shows some of the ingredients that share many of the aromas complementary to pie dough.

What To Drink With Pie Dough

The tomato notes in alentejo make it a perfect pairing with pie dough. Likewise, the almond flavours in kirsch create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of pie dough below.

Which Fruit Go With Pie Dough?

Choose fruit that anchor its pungency or cut through its rich creaminess. Cherry and sour cherry offer vibrant, clean counterpoints, their verdant freshness lifting the palate. Plum add a gentle, oniony brightness, while cranberry introduces a sophisticated, anise-tinged elegance.

Alternatively, embrace fruit that harmonise with pie dough's toastiness. The addition of cherry tomato, with its subtle solanum notes, can complement the toast beautifully, while rhubarb lends a green sweetness.

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