Oh, Marmite! My precious!
If you're wondering what does marmite stands for, it is actually a French term for a large, covered earthenware or metal cooking pot. The British Marmite was originally supplied in an earthenware pot, but since the 1920s, it was changed into glass jars shaped like the French cooking pot.
The immense popularity of this original version of Marmite sparked off the creation of other similar products (with or without the same name) but with different tastes, and the original British version of Marmite is a sticky, dark brown food paste with a distinctive, powerful flavour that is extremely salty. This acquired taste is reflected in the marketing slogan: Love it or Hate it.
Apparently, the product's name has even entered British English as a metaphor for something that is of acquired taste or tends to polarised opinions.
Believe it or not, I've literally grown up on Marmite. My mother used to feed me brown rice porridge with marmite when I started eating solid food when I was a baby. And since then, Marmite has stuck on in my diet. I never gave up on it.
Upon growing up, marmite still remains as one of the staples in my diet and there's never a day without a pot of marmite in my fridge. It's a must-add to my porridge, every single time, and on days I don't feel like eating 'proper meals' yet feels hungry, I'll just add some marmite to my cooked oatmeal and there you have it, yummy marmite oatmeal!
Frankly speaking, I feel that those who couldn't stand the taste of marmite is because they simply didn't understand it. How many times have you watched a youtube video (the marmite challenge went pretty viral on youtube a while back) of someone who cringes after taking a bite of the marmite toast, only because he/she has spread on a thick layer of marmite on the toast as if it was peanut butter or fruit jam? I wouldn't eat that marmite toast, either. As mentioned above, marmite is extremely salty and should always be added sparingly. Well, unless you love eating salt by tablespoons, then go for it.
And to better make use of my marmite (other than adding them to oatmeal and porridge), I decided to try out the extremely popular dish, Marmite Chicken!
You'll need:
Chicken (I've used chicken fillet) - 400g
Marmite - 1/2 tbsp
Hot Bean Sauce - 1 tbsp
Sugar - 1/2 tsp
Dark Soy Sauce - 1/2 tbsp
Sesame Oil - 1/2 tsp
Water 60ml
Cornstarch (for thickening, if desire)
Shallot & Chili (if desire)
First, mix up all the seasoning (except for cornstarch) and set aside
Stirfry the chicken until half cooked before adding in the seasoning. Continue stirfry for about 5 minutes until the seasoning mixture is reduced.
Add shallot and chili if desire.
If you prefer a thicker gravy, thicken with some cornstarch water.
Marmite comes in 3 different serving sizes to cater to your individual preferences, available at all supermarkets:
115g - $3.69
230g - $6.47
470g - $12.33
Starting from 8th August, you can redeem a FREE Marmite sample bottle from SampleStore.com HERE, whilst stock last.
There will also be a #MyMarmiteMyWay review contest coming up on Sample Store. After redeeming your free Marmite sample, just share your personal experience on how you've enjoyed your free Marmite sample (eg. added it in your porridge etc) in your SampleStore review and 3 lucky winners will get to receive all 3 different sizes of Marmite!
Winners to be announced on Sample Store Instagram & Facebook page. Contest ends 30th September 2016.
Good Luck!
Till then,
Mia Foo
