Secret ingredients - spill please!

[SilkStalkings]

I'll go first...
Italian tomato sauce / spagbol etc - add half a teasp of fennel seeds and a teasp of sugar. Really freshens up the flavour without tasting of Pernod. Also chorizo in anything beefy is a great addition, without being hot.

I'm specifically looking for something to liven up cottage pie but thought we could all pool our resources.

I add oyster sauce to meat dishes like spag bol,

anchovies in anything that needs a salty taste. They dissolve so no-one need know they're in there.

I like smoked paprika - started to put it in spagbol because DD doesn't like bits of bacon in it and I missed the smokiness.

Classic cottage pie enlivener is Worcestershire sauce

Ooh yes, I've heard you can scramble eggs in cooked anchovies. Never tried it though.

Definitely Worcestershire sauce for a cottage pie, or anything else with beef mince in it that needs to be pepped up. Also mustard powder for anything with beef - casseroles as well as mince.

Few grains of allspice for chicken soup and stews.

Square or two of (good) chocolate in your chili. Makes it richer.

Soy sauce in anything meaty really, esp stews. Doesn't make it taste like Chinese food, it just adds a lovely savory flavour. But don't add salt

I also add a small splash of olive oil to tomato sauces right at the end if cooking, it really enhances the taste

Ooh thought of another one.

When making bread in a machine add half a teasp of garam masala - doesn't make it taste of curry but gives it more taste.

Next time you boil ham or gammon, keep the stock and add some to your bolognese sauce; but be careful to do this before seasoning so you don't end up with too much salt

Marmite in anything beef based it adds a more deep savoury flavour that is really good that and Mushroom Ketchup.

Can't think of any right now but just want to say what a great thread!

Can't think of any right now but just want to say what a great thread!

lea & perrins, soy and maggie's liquid in cottage pie/spag bol/gravy

English mustard in cheese sauce

cinnamon in porridge

Deffo chocolate in chilli, or even a teaspoon of good quality cocoa. I like a squeeze of lime juice too.

Slug of port instead of sherry in a trifle - much tastier!

lemon juice in your homemade burgers.

A little grated nutmeg into cheese sauce after you have added the cheese. Also a teaspoon of dijon mustard into the sauce.

Mushroom ketchup in creamy mushroomy pasta sauces. Makes it much more flavoursome.

Wholegrain mustard and tuna in cheese sauce (for added texture) for macaroni cheese.

Mustard powder / English mustard in cheesey biscuits.

I always put 2 x tablespoons of Branston small chunk pickle in my cottage pie - a Gordon Ramsay recipe in a mag years back gave me the tip. Its divine.

Finely chopped bacon in with the mince in spag bol. What's mushroom ketchup?

I put balsamic vinegar in most things including tomato sauce and any veggie pie/ shepherds pie I make.

DP puts smoked paprika and ketchup in tomato sauce for the kids. I think it's cheating but they gobble it up.

Never heard of mushroom ketchup either.

George Watkins Mushroom Ketchup can apparently be bought from Amazon, but most decent supermarkets have it.

Cheers up all sorts of dishes