Worcestershire sauce

Worcestershire sauce was created in the 1800s by Lea & Perrins. Its main ingredients are vinegar, tamarind, shallots, anchovies, molasses, garlic, spices, sugar and salt. It is a wonderful background ingredient, and can often be found in a Bloody Mary, Caesar salad, Welsh rarebit and can be added (less traditionally) to beef stews, bolognese and shepherd's pie.

For vegetarian's and non-fish eaters (not that one can taste the anchovies), Henderson's relish makes a great anchovy-free alternative.