Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Wagyu Beef

Exquisite Wagyu beef flavour pairings and recipes, revealed through data science.

Wagyu beef is marked by the unmistakable flavours of oleic acid and butter, but beneath its umaminess lies a complex symphony of subtle flavour notes, such as animal fat, beef, and hints of glutamate. These are the notes that lend it such remarkable, resonant depth. The key to a remarkable pairing lies in understanding how these accents harmonise and interact.

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 sugar's saccharine tones lift Wagyu beef, and how mizuna's leafy notes create a surprising synergy with its smooth oiliness.

An ingredient's flavour profile is determined by its core characteristics (e.g. carnal, maillard, and earthy) 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.

Unlocking Flavour Combinations

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 Oleic Notes

Our analysis reveals a strong connection between oleic acid and chlorophyll flavours. Since Wagyu beef has a distinct oleic flavour, try pairing it with the green flavours of mizuna.

The recipe below provides inspiration for pairing Wagyu beef with mizuna.

Harmonious Flavours Of Wagyu Beef

Just as our ingredient analysis revealed that oleic acid and cinchona flavours frequently pair together, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the notes present in Wagyu beef. For instance, the fatty accents of Wagyu beef are strongly associated with sugary and honeyed notes.

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

Matching Flavour Profiles

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

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

Recipes That Pair Wagyu Beef With Sugar

Linked Flavour Notes

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

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

What To Drink With Wagyu Beef

The bay leaf notes in rasteau make it a perfect pairing with wagyu beef. Likewise, the bay leaf flavours in carmenere create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of wagyu beef below.

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