Brown 'Fried' Rice in the Thermomix

This healthy, vegan dinner is delicious! Of course, if you have a meat eater to please I have added the steps to help you out*! Packed with vegetables and steamed instead of fried, you will find this is a light and tasty dish. 

Serves 2-4

Ingredients:

100g long grain brown rice

200g coconut milk

400g water

Use whatever veggies you'd like, but here is a list of my favourites!

1 carrot, sliced into halved medallions

2 spring/green onions, diced

4 mushrooms, sliced

1/4 yellow capsicum/pepper, diced

1/4 green capsicum/pepper, diced

Sliced chili to taste

1 TM measuring cup frozen peas & corn

*1 chicken breast or 2 short bacon pieces, diced if there is a meat-eater

Dash of soy sauce

Dash of sesame oil

Salt & Pepper to taste

Method:

Place TM basket into TM bowl. Add rice. Remove. Add coconut milk and water. Rinse rice and put basket back into bowl. Place Varoma on top (it's empty at this point). Cook 35-40 minutes, Varoma, speed 4.

While rice is cooking, prepare your veg. They don't need to be cooked until the last 15-20 minutes so don't rush!

Add all veg at 20 minutes remaining, into the Varoma. *If cooking meat, use the top tray, lined with dampened baking paper to cook chicken or bacon. 

Lift out TM basket. Discard remaining liquid. Tip rice into TM bowl. Add veggies into TM bowl. Add oil. Cook 30 seconds, 100, REVERSE, soft speed. 

Add soy sauce, salt and pepper. Stir 30 seconds, REVERSE, soft speed. 

Serve. (Add meat and give another stir once the vego's portion is out if you'd like!)

Happy Thermomixing!

TIP: Always keep an eye on the water level when cooking rice. If you can't see it swishing around on your rice you must add more.

Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Using Thermomix

One of the most comforting smells in the world is cookies baking in the oven :) This recipe is a family tradition and promises a soft, chewy cookie with hints of cinnamon and delicious raisins throughout. As a snack with morning tea or to satisfy your sweet tooth I know you will love these cookies!

Ingredients:

180g dairy free margarine

200g brown sugar

100g raw sugar

60g non dairy milk

1 tsp vanilla

250g gluten free plain flour*

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

200g rolled oats*

125g raisins/sultanas 

Method:

Preheat oven to 180. Line baking sheet with baking paper. 

Add margarine, sugars, milk and vanilla to TM bowl. Mix 10 seconds, speed 3. Scrape down bowl. 

Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt to TM bowl. Mix 20 seconds, speed 5. 

Add oats and raisins. Lock TM bowl, 10-20 seconds, knead. 

Use a 1/4 measuring cup to scoop out mixture onto baking sheet. Leave space for cookies to spread slightly. (I can fit 12 cookies on my edgeless baking sheet). Bake 12-15 minutes, or until golden. Will firm up slightly upon cooling. Transfer baking paper and cookies onto cooling rack. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving!

*If you are not allergic to the gluten in oats, you will see this recipe is gluten free!

Quick Quinoa Salad in the Thermomix

When you're pressed for time and want to nourish your body whip up this easy and healthy salad! The leftovers are beautiful the next day or take the whole thing to a dinner party to impress!

Ingredients:

1 cup white or red quinoa

1 tsp vegan 'beef' bouillon 

2 cups water

1 carrot, roughly chopped

1/2 onion, peeled and halved

100g broccoli, cut into florets 

50g green pepper/capsicum

20g olive oil

Handful of spinach

6-8 cherry tomatoes, halved

Salt

Pepper

Parsley to serve

Optional* Danish Feta to serve

Method:

Place quinoa, bouillon and water in small pot on stovetop. Bring to a boil with lid off. Reduce to simmer and cook 10 minutes. (While your veggie mix is prepared). 

Add carrot and onion to TM bowl. Chop 8 seconds, speed 7. Scrape down bowl. 

Add broccoli, pepper/capsicum, and oil to TM bowl. Cook 6 minutes, 100, REVERSE, speed 1.

Add spinach, cherry tomatoes, salt and pepper to TM bowl. Cook 1 minute, 100, REVERSE, speed 1.

Add mixture into Quinoa, once all liquid has been absorbed. Stir through. Serve with feta and fresh parsley. 

Yum! Hope you enjoy :) Don't be afraid to mix and match veggies...I think sweet peas would be beautiful too! I also like adding a crunch of sunflower seeds to serve too!

Happy Thermomixing!

Thermomix Dairy Free Vegan Muffins

An easy muffin recipe that can have a variety of berries to suit what you have on hand! All prepared in the Thermomix which makes for quick and easy baking and clean-up!

Ingredients:

1 apple, peeled and sliced

30g water

1 tsp mixed spice

15g vegetable oil

225g plain flour

1/4 tsp salt

40g ground flax

60g maple syrup

175g water

25g frozen raspberries 

25g frozen blueberries

Method:

Place muffin liners in tin. Pre-heat oven to  190. 

Place apple, water and mixed spice into TM bowl. Cook 3 minutes, Varoma, REVERSE, soft speed. Purée 20 seconds, speed 9.

Scrape down TM bowl. Add remaining ingredients. Lock TM bowl, 10 seconds, knead. 

Scoop mixture into liners, full to the top for fluffy muffins. Bake 20-25 minutes. Let cool in pan before transferring to wire rack. Enjoy!

*Cleaning tip: fill TM bowl 1/4 full with water. Whizz 10 seconds, speed 8. Discard water. Add 1/4 full of water again with a drop if dish soap. Whizz 20 seconds, speed 8. Discard water. 

Happy Thermomixing :)

Vegetarian Carbonara- One Bowl Thermomix

A classic dinner done up with vegetarians in mind! This dairy free carbonara doesn't compromise taste and keeps the calorie count down! Plus, it's all done in the TM bowl...couldn't be easier!

Ingredients:

1 clove garlic

1 onion

100g red capsicum, sliced or frozen peas

200g button mushrooms, sliced

200g pasta

1tbsp stock paste

500g water

100g coconut milk

Pepper

Salt

Parsley, chopped

Method:

Add garlic and onion to TM bowl. Chop 10 seconds, speed 8.

Add capsicum or peas and mushrooms to TM bowl. Sauté 5 minutes, Varoma, REVERSE, speed 1.

Add pasta, stock and water. Cook 6-10 minutes, 100, REVERSE, speed 1.

Add coconut milk, pepper and salt. Mix 30 seconds, REVERSE, soft speed. 

Pour into Thermoserver. Let sit for 3-5 minutes to create a creamy thick sauce easy for serving. Serve with parsley. 

Happy Thermomixing!

Awesome Oatmeal in the Thermomix

Read on if you'd like to start your day with a healthy, fibre rich and energy providing bowl of goodness :) This oatmeal, or porridge as some say, is quick and delicious! Change up the fruit to your liking and to what's in season!

Ingredients:

60g frozen blueberries

40g rolled oats

Dash of cinnamon

300g water

Optional:

1 tsp chia seed

1 tbsp brown sugar

Method:

Place all ingredients, except chia seeds, into TM bowl. 5 minutes, 100, REVERSE, speed 1.

Scoop into bowl. Top with chia seed and brown sugar if you're lucky ;)

TIP: Place water in TM bowl while you eat to make for an easy clean up!

Happy Thermomixing!

Best Ever Thai Curry in the Thermomix

Looking for something quick for dinner?! This is it! We love this dish and have made it multiple times already. I'm not even that big of a Thai food lover but I think this recipe here has sold me on the cuisine! I have altered the recipe from the Everyday Cookbook for Thermomix to suit a vegetarian diet and add more veggies! I suggest serving with rice, which I have now perfected in the Thermomix!

Made with Green Curry Paste 

Ingredients:

50g Thai red or green curry paste

400g coconut milk

225g bamboo shoot slices

1/2 lime, zest only

Red or green chili to taste

100g frozen peas

100g broccoli cut into florets

100g bok choy roughly chopped
85g red capsicum/pepper sliced and halved

20g basil leaves only

**1-2 chicken breasts diced or beef strips (should there be a meat eater too!)

Method:

Place paste and 60g of coconut milk in TM bowl. Cook 2 minutes, Varoma, speed 1.

Add remaining coconut milk, bamboo shoots, lime zest and chili. Cook 4 minutes, 100°, REVERSE, soft speed. **Place chicken in Varoma, lined with parchment paper, ONLY IF NOT SERVING WITH RICE, otherwise cook the meat at the same time as the rice (see below).

Add peas, broccoli, bok choy and red capsicum/pepper. Cook 5 minutes, Varoma, REVERSE, speed 1.

Add basil. Cook 1 minute, Varoma, REVERSE, speed 1.

If serving with rice, place curry in Thermoserver. Set aside. Click here to view my post on making the perfect rice to pair with the curry. This is when you will cook the meat if you have a meat eater as well! Place diced chicken or beef strips in the Varoma, lined with dampened parchment paper, on top of the TM bowl for the entire duration of cooking the rice.

Beef strips cooked in the Varoma while the rice cooked!

Cooking Rice in the Thermomix

Here's the best and only way to cook fluffy, perfect rice using the Thermomix. Trust me...you can do it!

Ingredients:

200g long grain basmati rice

900g water

Method:

Measure rice in TM basket, while placed in TM bowl. 

Rinse rice. Add basket back into TM bowl. 

Add 900g water into TM bowl. Cook 15 minutes, Varoma, speed 4. **You can steam things in the Varoma during this time as well! We cook meat if someone is adding it to their dish, while the main is staying warm in the Thermoserver :)

Happy Thermomixing

Healthy Hommus in the Thermomix

After our run today we wanted something quick and with protein...as a vegetarian this isn't hard, especially with the Thermomix! Check out this Hommus paired with crunchy veggies...

Ingredients:

1 small garlic clove, peeled

1 tin chickpeas, drained

1 tbsp tahini

1/2 lemon, juice only

35g olive oil

Pinch of salt

Pepper to taste

1 tsp cumin

1 tbsp water

Paprika, to serve

Olive oil, to serve 

Method:

Place garlic in TM bowl. Chop 3 seconds, speed 7.

Add remaining ingredients. Blend 20 seconds, speed 5. 

Place in serving dish, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with paprika. Serve with veggies, crackers, or warm Turkish bread!

Happy Thermomixing!

Piirakka's Using the Thermomix

I come from Finnish decent and these neatly folded little pockets of heaven are to die for! They are simple in taste and in preparation. I love that I was able to incorporate the Thermomix into this family classic and I am proud to share them with you!

Ingredients:

Mashed Potato Filling

1kg potatoes, peeled and chopped

250g water

salt to taste

30g vegan butter

Rye Dough

1 1/2 cups rye flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp olive oil

Rice milk (traditionally buttermilk if you can have!), enough to make a stiff dough

Method:

Place potatoes, water and salt in TM bowl. Cook 20 minutes, 100°, speed 1. Watch the potatoes that they don't over cook. You do not want them to be mush but soft and still in pieces.

Add all dough ingredients into a large bowl. Mix together with a wooden spoon. Place on TM mat. Work the dough into a ball. Now, make balls (the size of a 50 cent piece AUD!) with the dough and set aside, keeping part of the TM mat folder overtop to ensure they don't dry out.

Insert butterfly to TM bowl.  Add butter. Mash 20 seconds, speed 3.

Line a pan with parchment paper and preheat oven to 230°.

Roll out the balls, one at a time for assembly, using a rolling pin. Make an oval shape. Place a large spoonful of mashed potato into the centre of the rolled out oval. Now, starting in the middle, pinch in the edges of the oval dough and work your way up and down leaving a gap for the potato to peak through.

Place on lined pan. Bake until brown (no more than 10 minutes in my oven). Allow to cool slightly on a wire rack. Best served with butter! (You can keep these in the fridge or freezer, but they are always best if reheated in an oven).

Some variations on the spelling may include: piirakkaas, pirakas, karjalanpiirakka

Absolute Best Salsa in the Thermomix!

I have a love/hate relationship with salsa. Sometimes it's too sweet, too chunky, too spicy etc. And why is such a simple food rarely homemade and mostly purchased pre made, full of preservatives and additives?! Well, no longer will I be searching for the perfect salsa! I have an amazing recipe that is quick, simple and very tasty all made fresh in the Thermomix in a matter of minutes!

Made with red pepper/capsicum

Made with green pepper/capsicum

Ingredients:

1 small clove garlic

4 green/spring onions quartered
20g olive oil

300g fresh tomatoes
80g green or red pepper/capsicum
Red or green chili pepper to taste (I usually put in 1/3 including seeds)
25g fresh parsley
1 tsp white wine vinegar
Half a small lemon, juice only
3/4 tsp salt
Pepper to taste

Method:

Add garlic and onion to TM bowl. Chop 3 seconds, speed 7.

Add oil. Saute 2 minutes, 100°, speed 2. 

Add remaining ingredients. Lock the TM bowl. Pulse 2-4 times on TURBO. (to preferred consistency)

Scrape down TM bowl. Cook 10 minutes, VAROMA, speed 1, MC removed, simmering basket on top.

Enjoy!

Happy Thermomixing :)

Creamy Vegetarian Pasta- One Bowl Thermomix

Yum, yum, yum! This pasta dish is quick and simple with the ability to easily add meat should there be the need (think Varoma!) Many people are afraid to add the pasta in to the sauce but I much prefer to use only the Thermomix when whipping up a quick, but nutritious, dinner and not bother with the oven or stovetop and I have perfected this pasta dish just so. The original inspiration came from Trish B on the Official Thermomix Recipe Community. 

Ingredients:

1/2 onion OR 2 spring/green onions
1 clove garlic
4 sprigs of parsley
Red chili pepper to taste

1/2 red capsicum/pepper thinly sliced and halved
100 g broccoli cut into florets
20g olive oil

200 g button mushrooms
100 g frozen peas
1 tin/can of diced tomatoes
200 g coconut milk
350g water
1 tbsp stock
salt to taste

**1-2 diced chicken breast(s) should there be a meat eater :)

300g pasta (we really like the large shells with this sauce!)

Method:

Add onion, garlic, parsley and chili to TM bowl. Chop for 5 seconds, speed 7. Scrape down sides.

Add capsicum, broccoli and oil to TM bowl. Saute for 5 minutes, 100°, REVERSE, speed 1.
** At this point place a dampened piece of parchment paper in the large Varoma covering all of the bottom and sides (do not leave gaps around the corners or the chicken juice will leak into the TM bowl and the vego's won't like that!!!) Place, with lid, on top of the TM bowl (without the measuring cup of course) and cook as above BUT at Varoma temp.

Add mushrooms, peas, tomatoes, coconut milk, water, stock and salt. Cook for 10 minutes, 100°, REVERSE, speed 1.
**Varoma temp still if steaming chicken!

Add pasta to TM bowl. Cook for 7-10 minutes (read the packet and reduce the time by 2 minutes as the pasta will continue to cook in the TM bowl or serving dish and you do not want a gluggy mess), 100°, REVERSE, soft speed. Check the pasta for firmness- you will want a bit of bite to it otherwise you will find it overcooks just in the time it takes to serve it.

**Varoma temp still if steaming chicken!

Garnish with fresh parsley. Serves 4. Enjoy!



We have tried a few variations with different veggies and it always turns out great. It is important to always keep the liquid the same so that the pasta cooks correctly and if you add more veggies you account for it by adding more water or coconut milk. I'd love to hear your variations...happy Thermomixing!

Quick Thermomix Lunch- Soup & Bread

Wow! I was very impressed with how quick it was to prepare and cook this hearty vegetarian lunch. Again, these recipes come from the Everyday Cookbook for Thermomix as I am still in the first week of having the masterful machine! I add my own flair with spices but quantity wise I have been sticking to the book.

The Herb and Garlic Pull Apart Bread was modified for a lacto ovo vegetarian diet by using a vegan 'butter' and fresh herb mix. I am searching for a butter alternative, that is not based on soy or nuts, due to my allergy that I can make in the Thermomix. Creating the concertina pattern was easy once I sorted out how many strips of dough I would cut. I made a 5cm high rectangle and then cut that into 3 strips length wise, folding each of them together in the concertina pattern. There was a slight hole in the centre of the cake tin but it all came together beautifully during the final prove. 

The soup was to die for! Honestly, nothing needed to be altered or added here! I didn't have any tomato paste on hand, and hadn't made any yet, so I omitted it and it was fine. I find that there are so many things we are used to grabbing for in the pantry that I can now make in a few short seconds. I will be sure to gather a list of everyday favourites to store in the fridge for our weekly meals :)

**The best way to clean the TM bowl after dough is to add water just above the blades and then whiz for 10-15 seconds at speed 10. Then I discard the water, add more this time about 3/4 full with a drop of dish soap and whiz for 10 seconds and speed 8. Most of the dough has been removed by this point, but getting in to the blades can easily be done using a plastic bristle brush (Ikea) if you have any remaining.

Thermomix Dips with a Twist

We have an abundance of parsley in our garden so we thought making a few dips for snacks and my lunch would be a simple way of using the greens!

These two dips are based on recipes from the Everyday Cookbook for Thermomix.

The Herb and Garlic Dip can be quite strong so we reduced the garlic and green onion quantities and added fresh lemon juice. This gave a fresh twist to a favourite recipe! (And reduced monstrous garlic breath!)

Ingredients:

1/2 clove garlic peeled
6 sprigs parsley
1 small spring/green onion roughly chopped
250g cream cheese cut into 1/3's
2 tbsp plain greek yogurt
1tbsp fresh lemon juice

Method:

Place garlic and onion in TM bowl. Chop 3 seconds, speed 7. Scrape down TM bowl.
Add remaining ingredients to TM bowl. Mix 20 seconds, speed 4.

The Chunky Basil Pesto Dip is one I love to take with me for lunch- with crackers and veggies. I take out the parmesan cheese and add 100g of sundried tomatoes, drained. I also like to add fresh lemon to this dip and find it helps the consistency, especially if you leave it in the fridge overnight. **This is a dairy free recipe with my changes!

Ingredients:

1/2 garlic clove peeled
40g fresh basil
20g parsley
160g cashew nuts
20g sundried tomatoes drained
60g olive oil
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Method:

Place all ingredients into TM bowl. Lock TM bowl, 1 second, TURBO, 5 times.

The Thermomix Journey Begins...

Hi all,

It has been 1 week since we received our Thermomix...and let's just say that we can already see a huge change in the way we think about food, prepare food and what we are eating!

I am a bit of a special case when it comes to food- long story short, I am a vegetarian who is allergic to raw fruit and veg, nuts and soy. I also have a very sensitive tummy and avoid most dairy. I have what's called Oral Allergy Syndrome but I have recently noticed changes to my allergies so I am hopeful that I am on a new journey with food...starting with the Thermomix!

I have always valued healthy, whole foods and was thrilled to see the ability to cook from SCRATCH, I mean REALLY from scratch at the first demo I attended about a year and a half ago. I knew that this masterful machine was bound to help support my healthy lifestyle that has a few quirky aspects to it!

I hope that this blog reaches out to a number of people who are interested in wholesome foods that are simple, delicious and packed with a nutritional punch!

Thanks for visiting! Now, to get Thermomixing :) 

Vanessa

Customarily made STOCK as our first experience! Yummy :)