Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Suckling Pig


Suckling pig

Discover the best flavour pairings for suckling pig based on data analysis of thousands of recipes. Find perfect ingredient matches & delicious recipes.

Suckling pig instantly conjures the embrace of thiamine and the kiss of glutamate, woven with delicate hints of milk, lactic acid, and caramel that contribute remarkable depth. The key to finding the perfect pairing for suckling pig is understanding how these notes harmonise.

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 carrot's saccharine tones lift suckling pig, and how sage's rosmarinic notes create a surprising synergy with its porky meatiness.

Flavour Profile Of Suckling Pig Across 150 Dimensions Of Flavour

Flavour notes evoked by suckling pig

Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Suckling pig: Porcine, Glutamic, Caramel, Lactic, Milky, Proteolytic, Poultry, Adipose, Buttery, Hazelnut, Toasted, Charred, Honeyed, Chestnut, Bovine, Brettanomyces, Grassy, Sulfurous, Poivre, Smoky, Leather, Oleic


An ingredient's flavour profile is determined by its core characteristics (e.g. maillard, carnal, 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 Art of Flavour Pairing


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 Porcine Notes

Strength of Association Between Flavours

The flavours most associated with porcine notes are: Violet, Rosemary, Chanterelle, Penicillium, Bay leaf, Sage, Oxidized, Thyme, Brettanomyces, Petrichor, Walnut, Dried Porcini, Musky, Sulfurous, Acetic.

Our analysis reveals a strong connection between pork and rosemary flavours. Since suckling pig has a distinct porky flavour, try pairing it with the rosemary flavours of sage.

The recipes below provide inspiration for pairing suckling pig with sage.

  • Harmonious Flavours Of Suckling Pig


    Just as our analysis showed that pork and violic flavours often complement each other, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavours present in suckling pig. For instance, the glutamic notes of suckling pig are strongly associated with basil-like and green notes.

    The aroma notes linked to the various aroma accents of suckling pig can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.

    Flavour Profile Of Suckling Pig And Its Complementary Flavour Notes

    Flavour notes evoked by suckling pig

    Flavours complementary to suckling pig

    Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Suckling pig: Porcine, Glutamic, Caramel, Lactic, Milky, Proteolytic, Poultry, Adipose, Buttery, Hazelnut, Toasted, Charred, Honeyed, Chestnut, Bovine, Brettanomyces, Grassy, Sulfurous, Poivre, Smoky, Leather, Oleic


    Matching Flavour Profiles


    The flavour profile of carrot offers many of the aroma notes complementary to suckling pig, including sugary and honey notes. Because the flavour profile of carrot has many of the of the features that are complementary to suckling pig, they are likely to pair very well together.

    Prominent Flavour Notes Of Carrot Are Represented By Longer Bars

    Flavour notes evoked by carrot

    Flavour wheel chart showing the dominant flavour notes of Carrot: Sugary, Resinous, Grassy, Petrichor, Honeyed, Blossom, Malic, Thyme, Caramel, Basil, Rosemary, Celery, Chlorophyll, Poivre, Pine, Parsnip, Hay


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


    Recipes That Pair Suckling Pig With Carrot


  • Linked Flavour Notes


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

    Suckling Pig's Harmonious Flavours And Complementary Ingredients

    Suckling pig'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 suckling pig, 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 suckling pig.


    What To Drink With Suckling Pig


    The graphite notes in faugères make it a perfect pairing with suckling pig. Likewise, the rosemary flavours in côtes du rhône create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of suckling pig below.




    Which Vegetables Go With Suckling Pig?


    Choose vegetables that cut through its meatiness or cut through its unctuous richness. Carrot offers vibrant, clean counterpoints, its verdant freshness lifting the palate. Enoki mushroom add a gentle, oniony brightness, while chayote introduces a sophisticated, anise-tinged elegance.

    Alternatively, embrace vegetables that harmonise with suckling pig's bitterness. The addition of sweetcorn, with its subtle maize-like notes, can complement the char beautifully. Shallot bridges earthiness and citrus zest, while savoy cabbage lends a clean 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., Suckling pig), analyse its detailed flavour profile, and accurately reveal its complementary flavours and perfect ingredient partners.


    Explore More


    Discover more ingredient profiles and expand your culinary knowledge. Each ingredient page offers detailed analysis of flavour profiles, pairing insights, and culinary applications.



    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.