The one ingredient you should never leave out of bolognese

This one’s a non-negotiable.

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When it comes to bolognese we all have that one special ingredient we add that makes us think our bolognese is the best. For some, it’s Worcestershire sauce, for Italians it’s milk and for Matt Preston it’s lemon. 

Whatever you choose to add is up to you, but in our bolognese-obsessed opinion, there’s one herb that should never be left out… the bay leaf.

Many see the bay leaf as a pretty silly, unassuming herb. So much so, that people will often leave it out thinking it doesn’t actually flavour anything – but they’re so SO wrong. 

What is bay leaf?

Bay leaf is a herb often used in soups, stews, and sauces (anything slow-cooked). It is a woody herb that comes from the laurel tree which is native to the Mediterranean (hence why many Mediterranean dishes will use bay leaves). 

Bay leaves can be purchased fresh, ground and most commonly dried as a whole leaf. When placed into a dish with a long cooking time (such as bolognese), the bay leaf releases herbal, almost tea-like aromatics that provide flavour depth and complexity to a dish. 

What does a bay leaf do in bolognese?

Think of a bay leaf as the backstage crew of a performance – you may not see them but without them, the performance won’t be award-winning. 

Yes, the bay leaf is not as potent and distinct as herbs like basil and oregano, but this special herb provides a subtle depth of flavour and helps to accelerate the flavours of other ingredients in your bolognese to make it shine.  

Taste.com.au’s food director, Michelle Southan, says: “Sometimes when I’ve been in a rush and I haven’t added bay leaves to my bolognese, my family and I eat it and notice something is missing.

“Bay leaves add a subtle warm, herby-yet-floral flavour. You’ll be able to smell the difference of your bolognese when it simmers away with bay leaves, and it’ll leave you with that warming ‘I can’t wait for spag bol tonight’ feeling.”

RELATED VIDEO: Nonna’s classic bolognese recipe (with milk)

Our go-to bolognese recipe

Our rich red wine bolognese recipe This bolognese has all the ingredients that we think are integral to a good spag bol: beef mince, red wine, tomato paste, olive oil and of course, a bay leaf! We kept the ingredient list pretty simple in this recipe, so make sure you add the bay leaf to bring aroma and flavour to this weeknight dinner favourite.

Originally published as The one ingredient you should never leave out of bolognese