Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Savory

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

Savory immediately conjures the embrace of resin and the kiss of thyme, yet its initial bitterness is only the opening note. Beneath lies a sophisticated tapestry of delicate rosemary, whispers of pine, and the sharp aroma of black pepper that contribute remarkable depth. And the gastronomic enchantment begins when we seek out partners 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 analysis reveals, for example, how lamb shank's gamey tones enrich savory, and how Parmesan's glutamic notes create a surprising synergy with its turpentine sweetness.

An ingredient's flavour stems from its core characteristics, such as herbal, spice, or woody, 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 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 Resin Notes

Our analysis shows that the flavour of resin is strongly associated with the flavour of glutamate. This suggests we should look for ingredients with a glutamic flavour, such as Parmesan, when pairing with the resinous aromas of savory.

The recipes below provide inspiration for pairing savory with Parmesan.

Harmonious Flavours Of Savory

Just as our ingredient analysis revealed that resin and glutamic flavours are often used together, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavour notes present in savory. For instance, the thyme-like notes of savory are strongly associated with gamey and porky notes.

The aroma accents associated with the various accents of savory can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.

Matching Flavour Profiles

The flavour profile of lamb shank offers many of the aromas complementary to savory, including gamey and ovine aroma accents. Because the flavour profile of lamb shank has many of the of the features that are complementary to savory, they are likely to pair very well together.

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

Recipes That Pair Savory With Lamb Shank

Linked Flavour Notes

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

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

What To Drink With Savory

The fatty notes in chorizo-infused beer make it a perfect pairing with savory. Likewise, the glutamic flavours in pecorino create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of savory below.

Which Vegetables Go With Savory?

Choose vegetables that resonate with its sharpness or ground its turpentine sweetness. Cock's comb offers vibrant, clean counterpoints, its verdant freshness lifting the palate. Mushroom add a gentle, oniony brightness, while black olive introduces a sophisticated, anise-tinged elegance.

Alternatively, embrace vegetables that harmonise with savory's pungency. The addition of tomato, with its subtle malic notes, can complement the clove beautifully. Friggitelli pepper bridges earthiness and citrus zest, while piquillo pepper lends a savoury richness.

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