Sugar in spag bol - why? Just curious

[Holymoly321]

Keep seeing this in posts - am always making spag bol - bout the only thing I can make from scratch - so just wondered why people put sugar in before I make up my next batch.

[Holymoly321]

I doesn'tmake it go all sweet then? Wouldn't like a sugary bol.

[RubySlippers]

you don't put in gallons of the stuff!

just a spoonful

i always use a pinch of sugar in any dish with tomatoes

[RubySlippers]

x posts with Mutt

[witchandchips]

I don't but my basic spag bol sauce takes about 5 hours to make. cooking the toms for a long time w/o breaking them up means they get really rich and sweet. you get a deeper flavour than just using sugar

[Holymoly321]

do i put it in at the end when it's all cooked or when I'm adding the tomato puree at the beginning or the tinned toms in the middle?

[cocolepew]

And why do some people use cocoa in chilli? Sorry about hijack, BTW

[LittleMyDancing]

dark chocolate in chilli does something fab to the flavour - not sure how it works, but DP always puts four squares of strong dark chocolate in his, and it tastes divine.

[cocolepew]

[cocolepew]

[cocolepew]

[Collision]

DH adds choc to chilli and it has a much richer, denser flavour.

A pinch of sugar cuts through the acid in the tomatoes so it doesnt taste as sharp.

[Holymoly321]

tinned toms

[2loudboys]

Put it in as soon as you add the tinned tomatoes. And actually, I use a single chopped dried date rather than sugar. In either case, they completely disappear into the sauce.

[OverMyDeadBody]

It just enhances the flavour, like putting a pinch of salt in cakes and biscuits, and balances pout the acidity.

It doesn't matter when you add it.

[foxymolly]

Can someone post their recipe for spag. bol while we're here talking about it!

and your chilli one!

[OverMyDeadBody]

2loudboys I do the date thing too, or the dark chocolate thing, rather than sugar. If I make a tomato sauce for meatballs I blend in carrots and an apple too, it works really well.

[OverMyDeadBody]

foxmolly if you do a search you will find loads of threads in the recipe section with people's spag bol and chillie recipes!

[OverMyDeadBody]

foxy here you are!

[foxymolly]

Thanks OMDB!

[OverMyDeadBody]

no worries!