How to Make Spaghetti Bolognese Taste Even Better | Mumsnet (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to spaghetti bolognese to make it taste better? ›

Spag bol with red wine

You can add various herbs, too. Try a teaspoon of dried Italian mixed herbs (added at the start) or a tablespoon of fresh, chopped oregano (added towards the end) in the meat sauce.

Your spaghetti sauce may taste bland due to insufficient seasoning. Try adding more salt, herbs (like basil, oregano, or thyme), and other flavor enhancers like garlic, onion, or red pepper flakes. Also, a dash of sugar can balance flavors and bring out the natural sweetness of tomatoes.

Unlike standard meat sauces, which heavily rely on tomatoes, Bolognese sauce achieves its depth of flavor and richness through the addition of pancetta, lots of veggies, broth, wine, and a touch of milk.

It's a well known fact spag bol is more tasty after sitting for a few hours. Collagen in meat breaks down into gelatine at temperatures between 71 and 96°C. A stew that's been bubbling on the stove will continue to break down its collagen for half an hour after you take it off the heat.

Bring sauce to a simmer, then transfer to oven, uncovered. Cook, stirring and scraping down sides of pot occasionally, until liquid has almost completely reduced and sauce is rich and thick underneath a heavy layer of fat, 3 to 4 hours.

Even better, season it! Taste the sauce once it's warm and add some seasoning. Maybe it needs a touch of salt, red pepper flakes, or some fresh garlic to liven it up. You could add dried or fresh herbs too: oregano, basil, thyme, tarragon, parsley—they're all great!

As far as its taste, it will have a meaty heartiness from the browned meats, a sweet tang from the rich tomatoes, as well as an herbal kick from the various Italian spices used. If you've ever enjoyed a pasta dish with meat and tomato-based sauce, it was likely a variation of a bolognese recipe.

Restaurants add more fat and cheese

"Fat is a big component to flavor and using high-fat contents and full-fat ingredients is going to punch up the flavor of any dish." Walker agreed, noting that adding butter "really helps bring out that flavor you may be missing at home."

How do you fix tasteless spaghetti sauce? ›

Flat or bland sauce likely needs a hit of something acidic to lift and enhance its flavors, such as a small splash of high-quality, flavorful vinegar, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, or a few drops of not-too-fiery hot sauce.

According to our Food Director Amira, not only does milk add a rich flavour to the bolognese, but it also “helps cut through the acidity of the tomatoes and red wine”. She adds: “It also makes the mince meat nice and tender, creating that melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.”

For example, you could also… Add more herbs: Some fresh basil, sage or oregano would also be absolutely delicious simmered in this sauce or sprinkled on top. Make it spicy: Feel free to also add in more crushed red pepper flakes if you would like the sauce to have more of a kick.

A generous splash of water is all it takes. Here's how fix a broken sauce: Add about ¼ cup of water to the pan and reheat the sauce to a vigorous simmer, whisking constantly. The bubbling action will help re-emulsify the butter and bring back that thick, glossy sauce.

**Choose lean ground beef**: Opt for lean or extra-lean ground beef, which contains less fat and tends to have a milder flavor compared to fattier cuts. Excess fat in the meat can contribute to a stronger "meaty" taste.

Season with dried herbs

Classic Italian herbs like basil and oregano taste pretty mellow in jarred sauces Reviving their aromatic goodness is easy when you stir 2 tsp. dried oregano, Italian seasoning blend, or herbes de Provence into the sauce, then let it simmer, covered, 5 minutes or more.