Rachel Roddy’s recipe for spaghetti with Marmite
An umami-packed dish for when you need a flavour hit in a hurry
TL;DR
- A simple recipe for spaghetti with meat extract (or Marmite/Bovril/Vegemite) is provided for a quick, flavorful meal.
- The dish is linked to Italian culinary tradition, specifically Ada Boni's cookbook, and discussed by food historians Luca Cesari and Anna del Conte.
- The umami flavor comes from glutamates in ingredients like meat extract, Marmite, parmesan, and butter, which also adds richness.
- The recipe involves boiling spaghetti, dissolving the extract in water, and tossing with butter and cheese, with optional pasta water to achieve a silky sauce.