Home cooks looking to give pasta sauce a richer, more restaurant-quality flavour may only need to add one simple ingredient already sitting in supermarket shelves.

According to BuzzFeed, anchovy paste, or even a dash of fish sauce, can dramatically deepen the flavour of tomato-based pasta sauces without making them taste fishy.

The cooking tip was highlighted as one of the easiest ways to add extra richness and umami to everyday dishes.

BuzzFeed noted: "Fish sauce or anchovies/anchovy paste can add a lot of flavour to things like pasta sauces."

While the idea of adding anchovies to pasta sauce may sound unusual to some, chefs have long used the ingredient to boost savoury flavour in Italian cooking.

Anchovies dissolve as they cook, leaving behind a salty, deeply savoury taste that blends into the sauce rather than overpowering it.

Food experts say the ingredient works particularly well in tomato sauces because it balances acidity while adding depth and complexity.

Anchovy paste is often sold in tubes and can be stirred directly into onions or garlic while cooking the base of a sauce. Just a small amount is needed to transform the flavour.

Fish sauce can also be used as an alternative, with a few drops providing a similar umami effect.

The trick has gained popularity online as home cooks search for easy ways to elevate inexpensive pantry meals without adding lots of extra ingredients.

Many pasta lovers already unknowingly enjoy anchovies in classic recipes including puttanesca sauce and Caesar dressing, where the ingredient adds richness without a strong fish taste.

Cooking fans on social media have described the tip as a "game changer", with some saying they now add anchovy paste to soups, stews and chilli recipes as well.

Experts recommend starting with a small amount and tasting as you go, as anchovies can quickly increase the saltiness of a dish.