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Breakfast of champions: Alexander McCall Smith’s fried Marmite sandwiches

If you’re a Marmite-lover, you’ll be gagging to try this favourite of the Scottish novelist (cheese optional)

Illustration by Zoe More O'Ferrall
Illustration: Zoe More O'Ferrall for the Guardian
Illustration: Zoe More O'Ferrall for the Guardian

The novelist loves fried Marmite sandwiches, ideally cooked over a campfire for extra smokiness. Soft white bread is your best bet for these, and make them with or without the cheese: both are delicious.

Serves one
Butter two slices of soft white bread on both sides. Top one with a generous smear of Marmite and the other with slices of cheddar. Lay the Marmited slice on top of the cheese, then lay the sandwich in a hot frying pan on a medium heat. (Add a knob of butter to the pan, if you like, although the butter on the outside of the sandwich should suffice).

Cook until golden brown on one side, then flip to cook the other – if you are using cheese, it’s important not to have the pan too hot, to give it a chance to melt. Once both sides are golden and the cheese is oozing, remove from the pan, leave to cool for a minute or two (biting into molten cheese is not fun), then eat.