Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Piment D'Espelette

Analysing hundreds of thousands of recipes uncovers piment d'Espelette's optimal flavour pairings.

Piment d'Espelette is defined by the unmistakable flavours of bell pepper and allspice, but beneath its saltiness lies a complex symphony of subtle flavour notes, such as tomato, chilli, and walnut, that give it remarkable depth. The key to finding the perfect pairing for piment d'Espelette 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 black sesame seed's sesamic tones ground piment d'Espelette, and how sesame oil's sesamic notes create a surprising synergy with its mild pepper aroma.

An ingredient's flavour stems from its core characteristics, such as spice, maillard, or vegetal, combined with layers of subtle flavour notes (outer bars). For a balanced dish, pair ingredients with a variety of core flavours, and choose complementary aroma notes for 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.

Our analysis reveals a strong connection between bell pepper and sesame flavours. Since piment d'Espelette has a distinct capsicum flavour, try pairing it with the sesame flavours of sesame oil.

The recipe below provides inspiration for pairing piment d'Espelette with sesame oil.

Harmonious Flavours Of Piment D'Espelette

Just as our analysis indicated that bell pepper and sesame flavour notes are often used together, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavour accents present in piment d'Espelette. For instance, the allspice-like accents of piment d'Espelette are strongly associated with seedy and flint flavours.

The notes complementing the various aroma notes of piment d'Espelette can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.

Matching Flavour Profiles

The flavour profile of black sesame seed offers many of the accents complementary to piment d'Espelette, including sesame and seedy notes. Because the flavour profile of black sesame seed has many of the of the features that are complementary to piment d'Espelette, they are likely to pair very well together.

The chart above shows the unique profile of black sesame seed across 150 dimensions of flavour, while the recipes below offer inspiration for bringing these flavours together with piment d'Espelette.

Recipes That Pair Piment D'Espelette With Black Sesame Seed

Linked Flavour Notes

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

The left side of the chart above highlights the aroma notes of piment d'Espelette, 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 piment d'Espelette.

Harmonies Of Piment D'Espelette

Piment d'Espelette offers a range of distinct flavour notes, each with its own set of harmonising partners. Capsicum notes pair especially well with ingredients that have the roasted aroma of sesame and the bright spice of coriander. While pimenta tones complement seed notes and flint's sharp minerality. Here, we explore the many flavours that resonate with each note of Piment d'Espelette, revealing abundant possibilities for creative pairing.

Each Chord Connects Two Harmonising Flavour Notes

What To Drink With Piment D'Espelette

The flint notes in pupillin make it a perfect pairing with piment d'espelette. Likewise, the gentian flavours in bitter create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of piment d'espelette below.