If you are an Australian, chances are that you may have eaten vegemite sandwich at least once in your life. Have you ever wondered how to make vegemite at home? If yes, then read on to know how.                                                                                                             

What exactly is Vegemite?

If you are not an Australian national, there is a high probability that you may not be aware of what a vegemite is.  For the uninformed and the curious, vegemite is a popular Australian bread spread. The spread is dark brown in colour and is prepared from brewers’ yeast extract which is a by product of beer production. 

People have a love or hate relationship with Vegemite. People who love the spread swear by it, while those who do not care for its salty and slightly bitter flavour prefer never using it altogether. In spite of this, vegemite is often considered the national food of Australians by some.

Making Vegemite at home

Although vegemite is commonly manufactured as a factory product, some people prefer making their own vegemite at home using the yeast extract. Some of the facts and tips to keep in mind while preparing vegemite at home are:

   Brewer’s yeast used in the preparation of vegemite is a good source of Vitamin B

   Brewer’s yeast is available in the market in powdered, tablets and flakes form. The powdered form is said to be most potent.

   Used and spent brewer’s yeast is filtered using a sieve to remove any hop resins.

   It is advisable to wash the brewer’s yeast to remove any bitter and unpleasant taste.

   The yeast should be suspended in the water until all the yeast cells have died down and the minerals, vitamins, and other water soluble particles are drained out.

  What remains of the original brewer’s yeast is a brown coloured clear liquid. One needs to concentrate this liquid under vacuum conditions until the liquid gets a paste like consistency.

   Vacuuming process helps in preserving the Vitamin B1 and the distinctive yeast flavour. 

   The mixture can then be seasoned using salt, onion extracts or some celery.

   The vegemite can be used as a spread on breads, muffins etc.

   It may be also be added to gravy or sauces.

   Vegemite is one of the best sources of Vitamin B.

   Only a very thin layer of vegemite should be spread on toasts or muffin.

    Butter may also be added while seasoning the vegemite.

Making vegemite at home is not a very popular custom as most people prefer the distinctive taste of the commercially produced vegemite. However, for the adventurous people out there, our guide on how to make vegemite at home may prove helpful.

Image Credit: girlmeetslightsaber.blogspot.com