January Spice Club: Vegeta

January Spice Club | Vegeta All-Purpose Seasoning

Vegeta (vigetë in Albanian) is a mix of dehydrated vegetables, MSG, and spices. It was invented in 1958 in Croatia and quickly gained popularity throughout Eastern Europe. Vegeta is marketed as an all-purpose seasoning and works especially well in soups and rice dishes, but can add umami to anything.  Vegeta can be found in most grocery stores or online…just be careful not to buy the 70 oz bag unless you really like it!

RECIPES

In our home, Vegeta lives next to the salt and pepper, rather than in the spice drawer. I sprinkle a little on pickled eggs, and have even put it on popcorn. When I’m feeling lazy, I’ll toss plain cooked pasta with olive oil, grated parmesan cheese, and Vegeta. 

Pasul is a hardy bean soup made with or without ham hocks. Serve alongside a plate of fresh tomatoes, Bulgarian sheep cheese, fresh bread, and cucumbers, and you’ve got yourself a meal. 

Pastiçe is a creamy mac and cheese casserole, with a slight sharpness from feta. None of the online recipes I found actually call for Vegeta, but everyone I know sprinkles some on top just before eating. It is a true comfort food and can be found in many Albanian homes. 

A Note about MSG

Concerns about Monosodium glutamate began in 1968, when Robert Ho Man Kwok wrote a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine describing his unusual symptoms after eating at Chinese restaurants. Kwok coined the phrase “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome,” although he had no evidence to support his claims. Unfortunately, because of Kwok’s unsubstantiated claims and its chemical-sounding name, MSG got a bad reputation. 

The truth is, MSG is a naturally occurring compound that is found in tomatoes, certain cheeses, grapes, mushrooms, and other foods. But if you have an MSG sensitivity, Vegeta does make an MSG-free version. If you’d like to learn more about MSG, you can visit the FDA’s website or check out this article from Canada.ca. 

And if you’re interested in learning more about separating fact from fiction, check out RHPL’s Information Literacy Series starting January 17. Visit rhpl.org/calendar to learn more and sign up.