The pantry staple that quietly upgraded three unrelated dishes

A jar of good-quality anchovy paste, bought on a whim, ended up quietly improving three dishes that have nothing to do with fish: a tomato sauce, a Caesar-style dressing, and — unexpectedly — a beef stew. In all three, it disappears completely into the background, contributing salt and a savory depth nobody identifies as "fishy" unless you tell them it's there.

It's the kind of ingredient that never gets its own moment on a plate and instead makes everything around it taste more finished. I keep a small jar in the fridge now specifically for this purpose, and it's outlasted several more expensive ingredients I bought with much bigger plans for them.

Related reading: The Home Cook's Guide to Fixing the Small Mistakes That Ruin Good Meals.