Over the years, I’ve tried to appreciate the Aussie bread spread of choice, Vegemite, to no avail. Each time I was told, “Put it on bread–you’ll love it!” only to wish I’d used butter instead.
However, someone recently mentioned that I should try Vegemite with butter–the two can coexist! That alone probably wouldn’t have been enough, but then my parents noticed while visiting that Vegemite is high in B vitamins. I mostly eat vegetarian now, so B12 is particularly hard to find.
So a few days ago I bought a fresh, locally-made loaf of sourdough, smeared some butter on it, and tentatively added a bit of Vegemite. And you know what? It was actually really good! So good that I added a more to the bread. It just happens to combine really well with good butter and yeasty bread, adding a nice saltiness to it.
I’m sure there are other great combinations for Vegemite. What’s your preferred method of eating it? Or have you tried it and decided it isn’t for you?
The reason most Americans don’t like Vegemite is because they’ve been eating it wrong.
Like you’ve discovered, a high butter to Vegemite ratio is ideal. Also, spread it thin, it’s not like peanut butter.
Also also, most American bread is waaaaaaaaay too sweet, so it’s like putting salt in your hot chocolate.
Glad you’ve learnt how to do it right!
(Also, your photo is a single-serve jar size at my house ;))
“Also, your photo is a single-serve jar size at my house” lol
Yeah, that 560g jar should last you a year.
Thin smear of it on top of butter on toast (or fresh bread) and it’s great.
“What’s your preferred method of eating it?”
There is only one way of eating it, as you’ve discovered 🙂
Were you aware of all the flack Tom Hanks got when he tweeted a photo of his Vegemite on toast while he was in isolation in Australia? It was a shocking overuse of Vegemite!
Oh no, Jamey!
You’ve just taken sides in the great Trans-Tasman Culture War.
Everyone here in NZ knows Marmite is the superior product. Next, you’ll be giving the Aussies credit for inventing the pavlova. 🙂
My Kiwi husband loves Marmite and as you’ve said, the trick is to spread it thinly and then apply butter. I haven’t developed a taste for it though.
Love Vegemite but would never eat it without putting butter on first. It seems Aussies like to get people to try Vegemite without explaining how to use it so they can watch the expression of someone who has added way too much! I don’t know any Aussies that use a large smearing of Vegemite, it’s meant to be use sparingly.
Glad you’ve worked out how to enjoy it Jamey! 🙂
And to clarify, Aussies did invent Pavlova & Lamingtons! 😛
Yep, butter is important, as well as not overdoing it with the Vegemite (at least for beginners). Most kids here start with it on toast, and it is yummy that way (provided you have bread that toasts well – here in Aussie we have good hard grain flour, so almost any bread here toasts well).
Also, real Aussies use Mighty Mite 🙂