Marmite is a distinctive dark brown condiment known for its salty flavor. With its unique taste and versatile cooking applications, marmite offers a bold and savory addition to a wide range of foods. Learning about marmite can enhance culinary experiences and provide new ways to incorporate the spread.
What is Marmite Exactly?
Marmite is a dark brown spread made from yeast extract and vegetables. It was originally invented in the UK by a German scientist in the early 1900s.
The condiment is very polarizing because it smells a bit weird, causing some people to love it, while others hate it. It has an umami flavor, combining salt with spices to create a unique savory taste.
Is Marmite Healthy?
Marmite contains several vitamins and minerals that the body needs, such as Vitamin B, magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, and selenium. Most of these ingredients come from the vegetables used to make marmite, making it part of a healthy diet. Additionally, the spread itself is low in calories, only containing about 22 calories per serving.
Marmite was originally created by a chemist to help keep soldiers nourished during World War I as it helps fight both anemia and malnutrition. The only thing to keep in mind while enjoying marmite is that it is high in sodium, so it shouldn’t be consumed in copious amounts.
5. Ways to Eat Marmite
1. On Toast
The most common way to eat marmite is by spreading it on toast. It can be used in combination with butter or cheese, or just eaten as is. Marmite can also be used on similar bread products, like bagels and crackers.
2. On Sauteed Vegetables
Thanks to its umami flavor, marmite can be added to vegetables while cooking as a flavoring/spice agent. It is often paired with mushrooms, broccoli, and onions.
3. In Soup
Marmite can be used to flavor soups. The condiment can add a little extra oomph to a vegetarian recipe without adding animal products.
4. In Vegan Products
Marmite has a slightly meaty taste, though it is technically vegan. Because of this, many large vegan production companies use marmite to flavor vegan meats and cheeses to help them better emulate a meat flavor.
5. In Desserts
Surprisingly, marmite is also an ingredient in several desserts. The most common desserts to make with marmite are brownies and cookies, where the marmite is added to the batter to induce a more savory flavor.
Is Marmite Gluten-Free?
Marmite is not gluten-free. The spread is made with yeast and vegetables, so while it is vegan, it is not gluten-free and should be avoided by anyone needing to maintain a gluten-free diet.
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