The inspiration for tonight’s My Kids Meals post came from a conversation with Sassy Mama Hong Kong’s own Instant Goddess at a wee 3 year old’s birthday party a few weeks back. There was a glass of bubbles involved, but I assure you that it was just the one glass, so definitely not the reason why this recipe may at first seem unexpected!
The recipe for Marmite Spaghetti is Nigella Lawson’s baby, and if at this point you are thinking ‘you have got to be kidding me!’ I admit I was completely with you. However, after reading the recipe and understanding Nigella’s reasoning, I realised it is not as crazy as you first think! I encourage you to give it a go, as this recipe is quick, easy and uses ingredients that are always on hand in my kitchen.
Now of course, as an Australian it is in my genes to choose Vegemite over Marmite, and so I implore a Sassy Mama reader to try the original Marmite version and report back! And not only did I not use Marmite, but I also substituted penne for spaghetti, as long thin strands of pasta seem to go everywhere! Short, fat tubes of penne seem to stay put either on a fork or in a bowl, so we ended up with Vegemite penne! I served this with a salad purely because I had salad veg that needed using, but you could also serve garlic bread, steamed veggies or even a piece of grilled fish.
The following quantity is enough to feed an army! Adjust quantities as you see fit.
Ingredients
- 375g dried spaghetti
- 50g unsalted butter
- 1 tsp marmite, or more to taste
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese
Method
- Cook the spaghetti in plenty of salted boiling water, according to the packet instructions.
- When the pasta is almost cooked, melt the butter in a small saucepan, add the Marmite and 1 tablespoon of the pasta water, mixing thoroughly to dissolve.
- Reserve a cup of pasta water; then drain the pasta and pour the Marmite mixture over the drained spaghetti, adding a little of your pasta water to amalgamate if required.
- Serve with plenty of grated parmesan cheese.
Clean Plate Rating:
3 clean plates without any hesitation. In truth I don’t think the children had any idea that they were eating a breakfast spread mixed with pasta. My oldest knew as he was responsible for the salad preparation but did not seem as surprised as I thought he should have been. Clearly I had to taste test this one also and it was a delightfully savoury dish that will be called upon for quick dinners and super-easy school lunches. Thanks Nigella and Katie!
Originally from Australia, Chanelle Jackson was a Critical Care Nurse living in Sydney when she met and married her husband. Now a mum to three kids aged 4, 5 and 7, she has a home full of willing guinea pigs ready to try out her family-friendly recipes! Although cooking was always a hobby, Chanelle noticed spaghetti Bolognese was creeping onto the menu a little too regularly for comfort. Taking a stand against dull dinners, Chanelle was motivated to create and road-test exciting, yummy meals that the whole family can enjoy, and she’s sharing them with Sassy Mama! Check out her ‘clean plate rating’ for guaranteed dinner winners, and she’d love to hear your recipe feedback and suggestions!