Avocados brings fruit sweetness and acidity that lift chives's character and keep the pairing lively.
chives
+ Add to WorkbenchAbout this ingredient
The mildest member of the allium family — thin, hollow green blades with a delicate onion-garlic flavor and no sharp pungency. One of the fines herbes of Frenc…
38 pairings
Editorial
Flavor profile
Chives contain organosulfur compounds in far lower concentrations than onion or garlic, giving them a fresh, mild allium character that can be used in quantity without overwhelming. They must be used fresh and added at the last moment — cooking destroys their delicate volatile compounds within seconds, leaving only a faint residue. As a garnish on soups, potato dishes, dips, and egg preparations (scrambled eggs, omelets, deviled eggs), the thin green blades provide fresh visual contrast as well as subtle flavor. Chive flowers (the round purple blossoms) are edible and have a stronger, more distinct allium flavor than the blades — scattered over salads or garnishing composed plates, they add both complexity and beauty. In crème fraîche or sour cream, chives (with dill and parsley) create the classic accompaniment for smoked fish and baked potatoes. Chinese chives (garlic chives, flat-leaved and more pungent) are a distinct variety used in dumplings and stir-fries.
Pairings
Flavor relationships
Pairs well with
avocados
basil
beans, green
butter
cheese
chervil
chicken
cilantro
cream and cream sauces
cream cheese
crème fraîche
dill
eggs, egg dishes, and omelets
fennel
fines herbes
fish
garlic
herbs, most other
marjoram
onions
paprika
parsley
pasta
pork
potatoes
salads and salad dressings
sauces
shellfish
smoked salmon
sole
sorrel
soups
sour cream
tarragon
thyme
vegetables and root vegetables
vinaigrettes
zucchini
avocados
Avocados brings fruit sweetness and acidity that lift chives's character and keep the pairing lively.
basil
Basil gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
beans, green
Beans, green adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives chives's character more structure and balance.
butter
Butter adds richness and carries the aromatic side of chives's character, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
cheese
Cheese contributes salt, fat, and lactic depth that frame chives's character without overwhelming it.
chervil
Chervil gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
chicken
Chicken complements chives by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to chives's character.
cilantro
Cilantro gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
cream and cream sauces
Cream and cream sauces adds richness and carries the aromatic side of chives's character, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
cream cheese
Cream cheese adds richness and carries the aromatic side of chives's character, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
crème fraîche
Crème fraîche adds richness and carries the aromatic side of chives's character, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
dill
Dill gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
eggs, egg dishes, and omelets
Eggs, egg dishes, and omelets complements chives by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to chives's character.
fennel
Fennel adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives chives's character more structure and balance.
fines herbes
Fines herbes complements chives by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to chives's character.
fish
Fish pairs with chives's character by adding clean marine umami while keeping the overall flavor delicate.
garlic
Garlic adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives chives's character more structure and balance.
herbs, most other
Herbs, most other complements chives by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to chives's character.
marjoram
Marjoram gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
onions
Onions adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives chives's character more structure and balance.
paprika
Paprika adds warmth and aromatic contrast to chives's character, giving the pairing more dimension.
parsley
Parsley gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
pasta
Pasta gives chives's character a sturdy, comforting base that absorbs flavor and makes the pairing feel complete.
pork
Pork reinforces the savory side of chives's character, building a deeper and more satisfying base.
potatoes
Potatoes gives chives's character a sturdy, comforting base that absorbs flavor and makes the pairing feel complete.
salads and salad dressings
Salads and salad dressings adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives chives's character more structure and balance.
sauces
Sauces complements chives by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to chives's character.
shellfish
Shellfish pairs with chives's character by adding clean marine umami while keeping the overall flavor delicate.
smoked salmon
Smoked salmon pairs with chives's character by adding clean marine umami while keeping the overall flavor delicate.
sole
Sole pairs with chives's character by adding clean marine umami while keeping the overall flavor delicate.
sorrel
Sorrel complements chives by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to chives's character.
soups
Soups gives chives's character a sturdy, comforting base that absorbs flavor and makes the pairing feel complete.
sour cream
Sour cream adds richness and carries the aromatic side of chives's character, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
tarragon
Tarragon gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
thyme
Thyme gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
vegetables and root vegetables
Vegetables and root vegetables adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives chives's character more structure and balance.
vinaigrettes
Vinaigrettes complements chives by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to chives's character.
zucchini
Zucchini adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives chives's character more structure and balance.
Basil gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
Beans, green adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives chives's character more structure and balance.
butter
Butter adds richness and carries the aromatic side of chives's character, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
Cheese contributes salt, fat, and lactic depth that frame chives's character without overwhelming it.
Chervil gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
Chicken complements chives by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to chives's character.
Cilantro gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
cream and cream sauces
Cream and cream sauces adds richness and carries the aromatic side of chives's character, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
Cream cheese adds richness and carries the aromatic side of chives's character, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
Crème fraîche adds richness and carries the aromatic side of chives's character, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
Dill gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
eggs, egg dishes, and omelets
Eggs, egg dishes, and omelets complements chives by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to chives's character.
Fennel adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives chives's character more structure and balance.
fines herbes
Fines herbes complements chives by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to chives's character.
Fish pairs with chives's character by adding clean marine umami while keeping the overall flavor delicate.
Garlic adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives chives's character more structure and balance.
herbs, most other
Herbs, most other complements chives by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to chives's character.
Marjoram gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
Onions adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives chives's character more structure and balance.
Paprika adds warmth and aromatic contrast to chives's character, giving the pairing more dimension.
Parsley gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
Pasta gives chives's character a sturdy, comforting base that absorbs flavor and makes the pairing feel complete.
Pork reinforces the savory side of chives's character, building a deeper and more satisfying base.
Potatoes gives chives's character a sturdy, comforting base that absorbs flavor and makes the pairing feel complete.
salads and salad dressings
Salads and salad dressings adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives chives's character more structure and balance.
sauces
Sauces complements chives by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to chives's character.
Shellfish pairs with chives's character by adding clean marine umami while keeping the overall flavor delicate.
smoked salmon
Smoked salmon pairs with chives's character by adding clean marine umami while keeping the overall flavor delicate.
Sole pairs with chives's character by adding clean marine umami while keeping the overall flavor delicate.
Sorrel complements chives by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to chives's character.
soups
Soups gives chives's character a sturdy, comforting base that absorbs flavor and makes the pairing feel complete.
Sour cream adds richness and carries the aromatic side of chives's character, making the pairing feel fuller and more cohesive.
Tarragon gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
Thyme gives chives's character a fresh herbal lift, keeping the pairing aromatic instead of heavy.
vegetables and root vegetables
Vegetables and root vegetables adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives chives's character more structure and balance.
vinaigrettes
Vinaigrettes complements chives by adding contrast, support, or aromatic depth to chives's character.
Zucchini adds vegetal sweetness or earthiness that gives chives's character more structure and balance.