What do you put in your spag bol?

[ballbaby]

I like loads of flavour in spag bol - has anyone got any secret ingredients? I've done some tonight and put in
beef mince
red wine
yellow pepper
courgette
mushroom
finely chopped carrot
onion
celery
tinned toms
tom puree
loads of garlic
oregano, basil

Anything else I could throw in?

you could add a beef stock cube

smoked bacon

worcester sauce - good replacement for red wine and gives it some bite!

I use 50/50 beef and pork mince.

And I substitute sundried tomato paste for the puree and the tomato taste is much deeper. It gives a lovely flavour.

I like red wine in mine also.

How long do you simmer for. I cook for at least an hour & half.

My MIL puts a teaspoon of sugar in hers

I do not agree with this mind, I am just saying it.

i use red wine and beef stock, but no mushroom,yellow pepper or courgette (sounds good though). Otherwise mine's the same as ballbaby's.

Smoked Paprika

worcester sauce or Balsamic vinegar

I do half beef and half dried soya mince to stretch it out a bit further.

Then finally chopped:
onions, garlic, mushroom, sweet peppers.

And grated:
courgette, carrot

then: 2 tins of chopped toms, 1 tin of passata, squirt of ketchup

bay leaves, oregano, black pepper

glug of cheapo sherry from Lidl

and if it's a bit of a luxury version at the last minute some crispy fried bacon bits. Yum!

At the moment I make all the veg teeny tiny to get them past the fussy dd's. I would estimate that it's 20% meat, 80% veg so a pack of decent organic meat goes a long way and does quite a few meals.

I add a tablespoon of mango chutney to mine! yummy! (makes it a little sweeter)

celery
carrot
onion
garlic
red pepper
mushroom
beef mince
pork mince
chicken liver
pancetta
tin toms
tom paste
basil
red wine
worcester sauce

I do the celery and carrot in the food processor. Liver makes it lovely, honest.

chicken liver I could fancy, will give it a go. Thanks!

I agree with sagacious' MIL. .

And definitely start off with frying onion and smoked bacon for flavour.

a small tin of baked beans - really....

Mince steak and a jar of Ragu.

yes im with coco - ragu or dolmio light with my steak mince and baked beans of course...oh and faster paster so i dont have to wait longer than necessary to eat it!

Milk.

Tried making it without, but just doesn't taste as nice.

Just as everything is ready to simmer, and the alcohol from the wine has gone, add the milk, stir in well, and let it simmer for ages - I usually aim for about 1 1/2hrs

True (homemade) "Ragu" should have chicken livers in it. ds's can spot them a mile off so I don't bother but I put everything you have listed ballbaby but add smoked bacon or pancetta plus 1/2 beef stock cube OR worcester sauce.