Nigella Lawson's 10‑minute marmite pasta delight
If you're constantly on the go and don't have time to cook, this recipe is for you. Nigella Lawson's quick pasta is a simple way to prepare a tasty dinner in 10 minutes after work. The secret ingredient in the sauce is somewhat controversial.
Spaghetti is an excellent base for many dishes, and classic combinations with tomato sauce or carbonara are well-known and loved. However, Nigella Lawson offers an even simpler solution—pasta with Marmite. The British chef considers Marmite a product worth having in the kitchen when you want to quickly prepare a delicious meal.
Nigella Lawson explains that although pairing pasta with Marmite may seem unusual, it is inspired by a traditional dish made from roast leftovers. In this dish, a crushed stock cube, butter, olive oil, chopped rosemary, and a little pasta cooking water are used to create a flavorful sauce for the spaghetti. Marmite provides similar flavors, especially the saltiness and umami found in a stock cube.
Marmite - a symbol of British cuisine
Marmite is one of the symbols of British cuisine, and like other British delicacies, it has as many fans as it does detractors. What lies 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 favorite snack is warm toast with butter, cheese, and a layer of the paste. Some even eat 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 an addition to meat marinades and pairs excellently with honey and molasses. Enriching bread dough with Marmite results in an interesting color and unique flavor. It can also complement an intriguing sauce for cold cuts or fries. Just mix it with sour cream and mayonnaise, then season with white pepper and lemon juice.
Quick spaghetti by Nigella Lawson
Nigella’s recipe is simple in both ingredients and preparation method. The cooking time depends on the time needed to cook the pasta, about 10 minutes.
Ingredients:
- 13 oz spaghetti
- 3.5 oz 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 almost ready, 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 modified according to your preferences, for example, by substituting Parmesan with its vegetarian equivalent or another favorite cheese like cheddar.
