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Spaghetti With Marmite

by . Featured in KITCHEN
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Introduction

I came across this recipe in Anna Del Conte's memoirs, Risotto with Nettles. Now, there are so many recipes I could borrow from her, and many I have, but this is the one I have to show you here. She introduces it as hardly a recipe, but I wanted to include it because I haven't as yet found a child who doesn't like it.

I know the combination of pasta and Marmite sounds odd to the point of unfeasibility, but wait a moment, there is a traditional day-after-the-roast pasta dish, in which spaghetti is tossed in stock, and I have eaten shortcut versions of this in Italy (recreated guiltlessly in my own kitchen) which use a crumbled stock cube, along with some butter, olive oil, chopped rosemary and a little of the pasta cooking water to make a flavoursome sauce for spaghetti. If you think about it, Marmite offers saltiness and savouriness the way a stock cube might. I'm glad this recipe is here, and I thank Anna for it.

For US cup measures, use the toggle at the top of the ingredients list.

I came across this recipe in Anna Del Conte's memoirs, Risotto with Nettles. Now, there are so many recipes I could borrow from her, and many I have, but this is the one I have to show you here. She introduces it as hardly a recipe, but I wanted to include it because I haven't as yet found a child who doesn't like it.

I know the combination of pasta and Marmite sounds odd to the point of unfeasibility, but wait a moment, there is a traditional day-after-the-roast pasta dish, in which spaghetti is tossed in stock, and I have eaten shortcut versions of this in Italy (recreated guiltlessly in my own kitchen) which use a crumbled stock cube, along with some butter, olive oil, chopped rosemary and a little of the pasta cooking water to make a flavoursome sauce for spaghetti. If you think about it, Marmite offers saltiness and savouriness the way a stock cube might. I'm glad this recipe is here, and I thank Anna for it.

For US cup measures, use the toggle at the top of the ingredients list.

Spaghetti With Marmite
Photo by Lis Parsons
Ocado

(UK only)

Please note that we’ve now introduced a shopping feature with our friends at Ocado so that you can get your ingredients delivered direct to your door, if Ocado serves your area - check at ocado.com/postcode. We hope that this will make shopping for Nigella’s recipe ingredients easier. For any queries related to your Ocado shop, head to ocado.com/customercare.

Ingredients

Serves: 4-6

Metric Cups
  • 375 grams spaghetti
  • 50 grams unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon Marmite or Vegemite (or more to taste)
  • freshly grated Parmesan cheese (to serve) - see Additional Information below
  • 12 ounces spaghetti
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon Marmite or Vegemite (or more to taste)
  • freshly grated Parmesan cheese (to serve) - see Additional Information below

Please note that nigella.com is not able to accept responsibility for any substitutions that Ocado may need to make as a result of stock availability or otherwise. For any queries, head to ocado.com/customercare.

Feel free to use the “swap” feature and adjust brands and quantities as needed.

Method

  1. Cook the spaghetti in plenty of boiling salted water, according to the packet instructions.
  2. When the pasta is almost cooked, melt the butter in a small saucepan and add the Marmite/Vegemite and 1 tablespoon of the pasta water, mixing thoroughly to dissolve.
  3. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water; then drain the pasta and pour the Marmite/Vegemite mixture over the drained spaghetti, adding a little reserved pasta water to amalgamate if required. Serve with plenty of grated Parmesan cheese.
  1. Cook the spaghetti in plenty of boiling salted water, according to the packet instructions.
  2. When the pasta is almost cooked, melt the butter in a small saucepan and add the Marmite/Vegemite and 1 tablespoon of the pasta water, mixing thoroughly to dissolve.
  3. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water; then drain the pasta and pour the Marmite/Vegemite mixture over the drained spaghetti, adding a little reserved pasta water to amalgamate if required. Serve with plenty of grated Parmesan cheese.

Additional Information

For vegetarians replace the Parmesan cheese with a vegetarian alternative.

For vegetarians replace the Parmesan cheese with a vegetarian alternative.

Tell us what you think

What 40 Others have said

  • Marmite love it or hate it trust me you'll love this recipe a tasty, easy economical mid-week quick meal I love it with mushrooms cooked in butter, crispy bacon with parsley butter!

    Posted by Odelle on 30th October 2022
  • Love this recipe :-) I used Truffle Marmite this evening and it was epic!

    Posted by adie01 on 29th August 2022
  • I finally made this. I love it!! Thank you!

    Posted by Dani_U on 5th July 2022
  • Hubby has just made this. So tasty and simple. This will be a favourite from now on !

    Posted by Malu1 on 1st July 2022
  • Now I have another favorite Marmite dish! Thanks I will give you my favorite in return. Marmite avocado toast with black coffee comes as close to manna from heaven as you get; especially when topped with Maldon salt.

    Posted by UncleBubby on 22nd June 2022
  • I made it with linguine (had no spaghetti) What fast and simple dish to make, I love marmite and have combined it with peanut butter, strawberry jam, it’s very good on toast as well, just don’t scrimp on it) I can see this becoming a favourite

    Posted by Derrick229 on 20th June 2022
  • Love this...quick and easy!!! So glad you included Vegemite in substitution for Marmite (although Vegemite is a more solid consistency, it still melts reasonably well). I actually purchased a british product named "Our Mate" in Australia to see if there was any taste difference to Vegemite. I love the umami savoury-ness of the buttery sauce and it goes down very well at all ages...simple, very easy and quick and also tres delish!!!

    Posted by Clodah on 20th June 2022
  • Absolutely love this. Don’t know how I haven’t made this before. Love marmite. Best of all my boys really loved this too. Will definitely be making this one of my quick easy staples when I’m not in the mood for cooking.

    Posted by BigEm on 16th June 2022
  • I love this with Vegemite and a handful of wild rocket on top as a garnish (and a little bit of green)

    Posted by njdf1984 on 8th March 2022
  • This is great with a fried or poached egg on top.....

    Posted by craig74 on 21st July 2021
  • Great and easy recipe! Had to try, marmite has an unique smell to it but eating and cooking with it is heavenly. We loved it and will make again. Definitely double the amount of marmite for this recipe again.

    Posted by mbsaas on 13th July 2021
  • Made this today. Enjoyed it. Next time a little more Marmite.....

    Posted by vmishep on 11th July 2021
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