Give Your Spaghetti Sauce An Umami Boost With One Addition

When someone compliments you on a dish, it's hard not to savor the moment. Whether it's your grandma's homemade casserole recipe passed down to you or a go-to cookie recipe you tweaked to fit your favorite sweet and salty combo — cooking is meant to be enjoyed and explored. One recipe that invites endless experimentation is spaghetti sauce — it can be tweaked in numerous ways to suit your taste. There's one secret addition that will ensure you receive compliments on every batch of spaghetti sauce you make.

Rather than serving a store-bought can of Rao's marinara sauce or sticking with your classic marinara combo of garlic, tomatoes, onions, and olive oil, consider adding a savory kick in the form of fish sauce. Fish sauce is commonly found in meat marinades, flavorful stir-fries, and curries. However, its unique flavor profile allows it to pair wonderfully with spaghetti sauce. The flavor of marinara sauce is often dominated by the acidity of crushed tomatoes. Adding a dash or two of fish sauce enhances the rich, umami notes already present in the tomatoes, making each bite more flavorful and balanced. So, while the usual mouthful of spaghetti sauce remains rich with tomatoes, Italian seasonings, and a kick of garlic, think about adding a savory hint to the flavor profile. A tablespoon of fish sauce per batch should do the trick, but you can always add a few more dashes for a more pronounced flavor.

While fish sauce may seem pungent on its own, it lends a hint of sweetness and a subtle tang of fishiness that beautifully complements your sauce. This is because umami enhances the subtle flavors in dishes, whether they're salty, sweet, or acidic. When paired with spaghetti sauce, the umami makes all the other ingredients in the mix taste more flavorful. Its natural saltiness gives the sauce a nice bite without having to add constant dashes of salt to adjust the flavor while cooking.

If you find yourself out of your fish sauce — maybe forgot it at the store or just want to try an alternative — there are a few more additions to your spaghetti sauce that help elevate its zing. Consider using anchovy paste in your tomato sauce — just add a spoonful while the sauce simmers, tasting to avoid overdoing it on sodium and seafood. Whether you're a seafood enthusiast or typically shy away from fish, diving into this flavor adventure with fish sauce in your spaghetti might just lead to a delicious surprise you'll want to savor.