\n<\/p>\n
Maybe you add a touch of baking powder<\/a> to your tomato sauce to counterbalance the acidity, or perhaps you whack some cream in your bolognese<\/a> (a la Mary Berry<\/a>) for a smooth, velvety finish. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n You might dust roast spuds<\/a> and parsnips in semolina for a satisfying crunch, too. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n But even though I write a lot about sneaky secret ingredients, I\u2019m always on the lookout for more \u2013 especially if they don\u2019t cost much. That\u2019s why I was so excited to read the responses to an r\/cookingforbeginners<\/a> post shared by u\/BlastarBanshee<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the one cheap ingredient that instantly makes everything taste better?\u201d they asked. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Here are some of the best responses: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThis is… under-appreciated,\u201d u\/Barneyboydog<\/a> agreed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a game-changer on fried eggs.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI just ordered a thing of MSG… and holy shit. It\u2019s actually got less sodium by volume<\/a> than any salt I own, and the flavour is just mind-blowing,\u201d u\/alek_hiddel<\/a> replied.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cYep\u2026 a splash (or two) of sherry vinegar at the end of a stew takes it to another level. I learned this trick a few years ago, and now I always have sherry vinegar on hand,\u201d replied u\/Dense_Willow4627<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u2033[It offers] the simple ability to add the flavour of open fire cooking back into the food we eat.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cEvery time I taste something new and go, \u2018oh that\u2019s good!\u2019, I look up [its] ingredients and it\u2019s almost always [got] paprika,\u201d u\/Rogerbva090566<\/a> responded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cAs a non-Balkan\u2026 this stuff is the shit,\u201d said u\/MuddyHandprints<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n1) \u201cCelery salt.\u201d <\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
2) \u201cMSG.\u201d <\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
3) \u201cA couple of tablespoons of lemon juice, red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar in a stew.\u201d <\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
4) \u201cSmoked paprika.\u201d <\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
5) \u201cAs a Balkan [person], only Vegeta is allowed as an answer.\u201d <\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
6) \u201cA little yeast extract like Marmite is an awesome flavour boost for braised meat dishes, especially beef.\u201d <\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
7) \u201cSalted butter in chocolate chip cookies.\u201d <\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
8) \u201cIf I\u2019m making something that\u2019s tomato-based, I\u2019ll almost always add a good squirt of ketchup at the end.\u201d <\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n