On days when my writing is stalling, I construct elaborate salads for lunch. Grilled peppers, freshly steamed beans, roasted beetroot, tahini dressings. They are a beautiful and delicious monument to my blocks and procrastination.
On days when it is all flowing and I only break for essential sustenance, it's a two ingredient meal. Rice, soy sauce. Miso, noodles. Spinach, baked beans. Toast, egg. Spaghetti, Vegemite.
I came to Vegemite late in life. Eschewed it as a child in favour of peanut butter. Discovered its miracle powers as a young, jet lagged, lovesick world traveller fighting a tropical fever in Singapore. Since then it has always been my spread of choice when soothing is required. It goes surprisingly well with avocado on toast. When I saw this recipe in Nigella Lawson's Kitchen (but her version is with Marmite) I was compulsively curious.
What a treat. Savoury, salty and so simple. Four ingredients rather than my usual two, but what the hell. I can be flexible. And when you're writing a particularly gut-wrenching scene in your novel, sometimes you need comforting nursery-type food with an Antipodean twist.
Vegemite spaghetti
Serves 2, or 1 hungry writer who went for a run that morning
200g spaghetti
1 heaped teaspoon Vegemite
1 heaped tablespoon butter/non-dairy spread
Parmesan cheese, as much as you like
Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
Place pan back on the heat. Add Vegemite and butter, letting it gently melt and combine. Let it sizzle a tiny bit, but don't let it brown. Add a splash of the pasta water and stir. Once all melted and amalgamated, add the pasta and stir to coat in the sauce and heat through. Add more pasta water if it needs it.
Tumble into bowls and serve with plenty of Parmesan cheese. I used Cheezly's vegan parmesan which is very good.
Are you a Vegemite fan? (I know it's a divided subject!)
I have never got on board on vegemite, but I bet it makes a great sauce for pasta.
ReplyDeleteOh it does! I've become rather obsessed with it!! :)
DeleteNever had the opportunity to taste it. What would you compare the flavor to?
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is a Canadian equivalent, that I can think of. Have you ever had Marmite? That's the UK equivalent. It's a really strong, salty, savoury taste, made from yeast extract. I'm struggling to think of another food to compare it to, it really is a one-of-a-kind taste!
DeleteYeasty taste, hmmmmm???? Unique indeed! No we have nothing like that here. But I'm sure if I look hard enough I could find some as we tend to import just about everything seeing as we are such a mixed bag of people. Must admit I am a little apprehensive but might give it a go if given the opportunity. Enjoy!
DeleteI just googled "what does vegemite taste like?" and there were some interesting answers - axel grease, bugs, solid beer....that doesn't sell it well!
DeleteA little goes a long, long way hence only needing one teaspoon in this recipe. You don't spread it on your toast like you would peanut butter - sparingly is the word! But it's so good :)
You had a fever in Singapore? We had panadol! Vegemite rocks though. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think it was going from minus something in Copenhagen to tropical Singapore in less than a day that did it - I was sweaty one minute and shivering the next! Thank goodness you had Vegemite :D
DeleteAh. Thats probably just horrendous Jetlag. And the fact that we were inside freezing buildings and then in very steamy hawkers centres etc. Im not looking forward to dealing with that again myself.
DeleteAre you going back for a visit soon? I think of you all often and wonder how you're getting on in the US :)
DeleteIm going back at the beginning of December enroute to NZ and then again late Jan on the way back. Not a geographically sensible trip by any stretch of the imagination but I miss my friends and its cheaper to combine it.
DeleteLoving the USA too though.
I have never tried Vegemite BUT I do love Promite (I think it's Australian also?). I was introduced to it by an ex who had been to Australia a year or so before & had jar upon jar of the stuff. I still have a jar now. Salty salty goodness!
ReplyDeleteYes, Promite is an old favourite of mine too. Reminds me of studying for my Year 11 exams :P I haven't had it for years now but when I was younger I always preferred it as I found it sweeter than Vegemite. My dad told me that when he was little his mum used to make mashed vegetables and stir Promite into it, which he also did for me. Now I find Promite doesn't quite have the restorative properties of Vegemite, it must just be my tastes changing as I've got older!
DeleteHave you tried British Marmite? It tastes very similar to Vegemite although the consistency is more like Honey. Kind of strange.
DeleteI actually haven't, believe it or not, after 5 years here! Luckily it wasn't part of the Life in the UK test :) I was tempted to get one of the special Jubilee jars though - it said "Ma'am-ite"!!
Deletemy mouth is watering. I fear this is another one that my french man will not even attempt! He stares at the pot of marmite in suspition! i'll try it when he's away with work!
ReplyDeleteIt was one of those home alone dishes for me too!! I don't know if Tom would like it but I'm going to try :)
DeleteSounds delicious to me! I wish i could eat vegemite/marmite but alas the yeast is not my friend!
ReplyDeleteOh that's a shame Tam! :)
DeleteHate marmite ..... LOVE Vegimite
ReplyDeleteI have a sore throat today....vegemite on crumpets might be the only solution ;)
DeleteI love vegemite - I think a large proportion of my lunches during my primary school years were vegemite and cheese sandwiches! I have only recently been introduced to the vegemite-avocado-toast combo though and it sure is a winner. I wonder whether avocado could work in you spaghetti recipe too...
ReplyDeleteIt might! That's a great idea!
DeleteI am one of those rare Kiwis who will eat Marmite and Vegemite; Marmite is my favourite though. Have you heard of Marmageddon? I recently had an NZ friend tell me about it and thought she was taking the piss - not so I discovered after a quick Google search.
ReplyDeleteI use Vegemite in soups and casseroles - it gives a really lovely flavour to them. I would never waste Marmite in a casserole though :p
I did hear of Marmageddon!! My kiwi friends here were following it closely!
DeleteI think I'm going to have to give Marmite a go. You only live once ;)
Looks delicious!!
ReplyDeletehttp://placequotehere.blogspot.pt