What's the secret ingredient that makes your spaghetti bolognese the best?

[franch]

I'm trying to 'perfect' a few basic dishes - it's always the personal touches that make these things great so please share yours

Feel free to post entire recipes if that makes more sense

spaghetti

The secret is not to be stingy with the tomato puree IMO.

Smokey bacon, fresh basil

red wine in the sauce, and a sprinkle of sugar

Whizzz - you are making me chuckle tonight (shepherds!).

A bit of sundried tomato paste when I'm feeling poncey; tomato ketchup when I'm not.

fresh cherry plum tomatoes, a good spoon of sugar and some lea and perrins.

MUST have onions, celery AND carrot in base, chopped up vv small. MUST simmer for at least an hour preferably 2.

lea & perrins

Worcestershire sauce

make sure the beef is finely minced if it isn;t whizz it in the blender.

Pulverise some dried mushrooms in the blender and add that delicious.

Otherwise my ingredients are simple

Beef, onions, dried muchrooms, loads of tinned tomatoes or passata garlic. Cook it really well and towards the end turn the heat up and cook it to the point that it is almost burning (almost!), it seems to caramelise the sauce a bit and gives it a lovely roasted flavour.

second the sugar & lea & perrins

pancetta cubes, celery and carrot, a generous sploosh of worcester sauce, lots of garlic and a sprinkle of sugar.

Sugar is a must.,
Even better is a tablespoon of good marmalade.

if you are needing quick and very easy, then brown off your mince, chuck in a jar of tesco's v cheap pasta sauce, some peppers, courgette, mushrooms, a few lentils (more if you need to pack it out) and any other veg you want and let that "do" for about 15 mins. Add a dollop of ketchup near the end

I am with Lucy Kate - I use loads of red wine and a spoonful of sugar

Agree with those who say - carrot/celery/onion to start, lots of red wine in the middle and a v. long simmer.

and sugar.

smoked bacon, grated carrot, oregano, fresh tomatoes as well as the normal pasata.
garlic

onions, garlic, smoked bacon, sweetcorn and cream.

A small jar of red pesto instead of tomato puree and Worcestershire sauce to taste .

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My BIL swears by chicken livers. His spag bol is AMAZING.

Tis Delia's recipie I think.