Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Squid Ink

Exquisite squid ink flavour pairings and recipes, revealed through data science.

Squid ink instantly conjures the embrace of iodine and the bracing kiss of glutamate, yet its initial saltiness is only the opening gambit. Beneath lies a tapestry of delicate iron, whispers of seaweed, and the salty character of brine that give it remarkable depth. And the magic of the kitchen begins when we seek out pairings that allow these notes to truly sing, to harmonise in unexpected and delightful ways.

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 flat-leaf parsley's leafy tones carry squid ink, and how basil's linalool notes create a surprising synergy with its marine aroma.

An ingredient's flavour profile is determined by its core characteristics (e.g. earthy, vegetal, and nectarous) 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 Oceanic Notes

Our analysis reveals a strong connection between iodine and basil flavours. Since squid ink has a distinct oceanic flavour, try pairing it with the basil-like flavours of basil.

The recipes below provide inspiration for pairing squid ink with basil.

Harmonious Flavours Of Squid Ink

Just as our statistical analysis showed that iodine and basil-like flavour notes are commonly paired, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavour notes present in squid ink. For instance, the glutamic notes of squid ink are strongly associated with bay leaf and sage-like notes.

The aroma notes complementing the various notes of squid ink can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.

Matching Flavour Profiles

The flavour profile of flat-leaf parsley offers many of the aroma accents complementary to squid ink, including leafy and grassy accents. Because the flavour profile of flat-leaf parsley has many of the of the features that are complementary to squid ink, they are likely to pair very well together.

The chart above shows the unique profile of flat-leaf parsley across 150 dimensions of flavour, while the recipes below offer inspiration for bringing these flavours together with squid ink.

Recipes That Pair Squid Ink With Flat-leaf Parsley

Linked Flavour Notes

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

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

What To Drink With Squid Ink

The grassy notes in sauvignon blanc (bordeaux) make it a perfect pairing with squid ink. Likewise, the grassy flavours in sauvignon blanc (loire valley) create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of squid ink below.

Which Fruit Go With Squid Ink?

Choose fruit that lift its salinity or cut through its marine aroma. Avocado offers vibrant, clean counterpoints, its verdant freshness lifting the palate. Plum tomato add a gentle, oniony brightness, while cherry tomato introduces a sophisticated, anise-tinged elegance.

Alternatively, embrace fruit that harmonise with squid ink's metallicity. The addition of red bell pepper, with its subtle solanum notes, can complement the iron beautifully. Granny Smith apple bridges earthiness and citrus zest, while green apple lends a fresh aroma.

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