Tried marmite for the first time...

[Star555]

Having been an expat for most of my life, I had not tasted the mystery that is marmite before yesterday. I had heard and read about it, and knew that I would "love it or hate it". I thought that lockdown would be the perfect time to try something new, so I ordered a jar and spread a THIN layer on my buttered toast yesterday. I took a bite anticipating some bizarre smell/taste, but surprisingly the only thing I tasted was SALT. It was overwhelmingly salty, and nothing else (no good/bad smell, texture, etc.). I'm afraid I've fallen into the camp of heretics who dislike marmite, but I'm curious: is it just my taste buds or has anyone else felt exceedingly overwhelmed by only the sheer saltiness of even a thin layer of marmite, with no other reactions to the smell, texture, etc?

Marmite toast, with a poached egg (runny yolk) on top is the best breakfast ever.

@SilkandSandwiches make eggy bread then marmite it before eating. Bloody delicious. And a medium layer, too thin is pointless.

Cheese and marmite on toast is great too. Marmite under the cheese.

You basically want a thin layer with gaps. So just dab a bit here and there - you take a bite that has some marmite on it but the whole bite isn't covered in marmite. Plenty of butter. Love it 😋

@canihaveacoffeeplease genius with roast potatoes, I’m going to try that.

I like a whole slice of toast, lots of butter and then just dip tip of knife into jar for enough marmite. It’s a flavouring more than a spread. So like you’d only use a sprinkle of paprika on something...

@DangerCake I use mounds of smoked paprika, a sprinkle would be pointless - except as a garnish on avocado toast. In cooked recipes I use loads. I definitely use more than a scrape of marmite too

All these people saying ‘just a tiny scrape’ are missing the full marmite experience 😂

@ErrolTheDragon marmite cashews you say? Is this something you make or something you buy?

I think you need just the tiniest smear. Not as much as a layer. Try it on toast with eggs (scrambled, poached, boiled whatever) - it works really well.

Wtf?!!! A 'thin'layer? You people!

I have it spread like they do on Nutella jars..

@BuffaloCauliflower I was trying to think of somethign you use as an unami taste rather than as a layer. So you might not grate a whole piece of parmasan on to spaghetti (though to be fair I would if it was cheaper).

Agreed I used a dollop of paprika in cooking but would only sprinkle it on scrambled eggs.

Marmite is basically salt though - and I bloody love salty stuff.

Marmite mixed in baked beans yum.
Marmite and cheese sarnies. Marmite crisps.
Sorry I’m going to have to stop going to make some.

Marmite cheddar cheese bites are the best! Or Marmite mixed with butter, stirred through pasta and sprinkled with strong cheddar and grilled.

@DangerCake I love salt too. I’m pretty sure it’s what will kill me.

The first (and only) time I ate British marmite I nearly cried. It is foul. I prepared it in exactly the same way I do Kiwi marmite (tip of knife, spread thin over butter) and it was revolting.

It is banned in my house, banned I tell you. And as for Twiglets

What a great thread to open today. I cant remember if I like marmite it's been that long, I dont think I was overly keen. I do however love peanut butter so I'm just about to the marmite butter on toast...let's see how it goes

You were right the first time OP. Marmite is rotten.

oh good god no that's not for me

This thread is making my mouth water. Love marmite and string cheddar cheese sandwich. It's great for putting in bolognese too, or any mince dish.

I love marmite and have loads on my toast. I'm another one who can eat it by the spoonful. I was really upset the other week when I went to have some and realised I had accidentally picked up the reduced salt one. It was disgusting and smelt like vinegar. Luckily my 9yr old didn't notice the difference.

Toast and marmite with runny poached eggs. Or marmite rice cakes spread with cream cheese - heaven!

@LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett - you can buy marmite cashews , I have found instructions for making them though I've never tried it.

Unfortunately in January, DH had a sort out of the kitchen cupboards and for some reason thought that a 'best before' date had relevance on a marmite jar and binned it (wtf could live in that concentration of salt?) - and I didn't get round to replacing it before lockdown. I'm making do with miso, which is not dissimilar but I don't think would work on nuts.

www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/recipes/a535276/marmite-cashews/

Oh @ErrolTheDragon I feel your pain! Mine uses a sharpie to write the date he opened things like lime pickle on the jar, so he can obey the 'once opened, consume within 3 months' instruction. Dude, it's pickled. It's bomb proof.

And thanks for the recipe. Yum.

Marmite pasta is delicious. But marmite bread... it's like garlic bread, but butter and marmite instead of butter and garlic. Yum.

@LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett your DH would explode in my house. Open jars will be kept for literally years if they look/smell/taste alright, especially things like pickles that are LITERALLY PICKLED 😂 I’ve never had food poisoning (that I can recall anyway, and not from food cooked at home) so we’re doing alright.

I don't think you need a tiny amount but you do need a lot of butter IMO! Although I can eat it with a spoon personally. I also love marmite pasta.