Nigeria Lawson's Marmite pasta: A quick culinary twist
If you're constantly on the move and lack the time to cook, this recipe is ideal for you. Nigella Lawson's quick pasta offers a simple way to enjoy a tasty dinner ready within 10 minutes after a long day at work. The secret ingredient in the sauce is somewhat controversial.
Spaghetti serves as an excellent base for many dishes, with classic pairings like tomato sauce or carbonara being well-known and adored. However, Nigella Lawson suggests an even simpler solution — pasta with Marmite. The renowned British chef considers Marmite a must-have product in the kitchen when you need to prepare a delicious meal quickly.
Nigella Lawson explains that although pairing pasta with Marmite may seem unusual, it is inspired by a traditional dish made from roast leftovers. This dish combines a crushed stock cube, butter, olive oil, chopped rosemary, and a little pasta cooking water to create a flavourful sauce for the spaghetti. Marmite provides similar flavours, especially the saltiness and umami found in a stock cube.
Marmite - A symbol of British cuisine
Marmite is a hallmark of English cuisine, and like other British delicacies, it has as many enthusiasts as it has critics. What can be found within the characteristic dark jars with yellow labels and lids? Marmite is a yeast extract paste that Britons primarily use to spread on bread or crackers. A popular snack is warm toast with butter, cheese, and a layer of the paste. Some even pair it with bananas.
The product can replace popular liquid seasonings for soups, which are known to contain many chemical "enhancers." The paste works well as a meat marinade addition and pairs excellently with honey and molasses. Adding Marmite to bread dough results in an interesting colour and unique flavour. It can also enhance an intriguing sauce for cold cuts or chips. Simply mix it with sour cream and mayonnaise, then season with white pepper and lemon juice.
Quick spaghetti by Nigella Lawson
Nigella’s recipe is straightforward in terms of both ingredients and preparation method. The cooking time depends on how long it takes to cook the pasta, approximately 10 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 370 grams spaghetti,
- 100 grams unsalted butter,
- 1 teaspoon Marmite or Vegemite (or more to taste),
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese (for serving).
Preparation method:
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
- When it's nearly done, melt the butter in a small saucepan, add Marmite/Vegemite, and a tablespoon of pasta cooking water, stirring thoroughly to dissolve everything well.
- Drain the pasta and pour the Marmite/Vegemite mixture over it.
- Serve with plenty of grated cheese.
The recipe can be adjusted to suit your preferences, for instance, by substituting Parmesan with its vegetarian equivalent or another favourite cheese like cheddar.
