Vegetarian Lentil & Rice Hotpot

Do you have trouble figuring out what to make when you haven't made it to the grocery store in ages? I was desperate for a tasty dinner but had minimal ingredients to work with and out came this incredible vegetarian, lentil-rice concoction. Honestly it was so good I had it for leftovers; and I do not do leftovers!!!!

Ingredients:

1/2 onion

1 garlic clove

1 tin tomatoes

1 tin lentils

100g sliced mushrooms 

20g olive oil

400g water

100g basmati rice

Method:

Chop onion and garlic speed 7, 3 seconds. 

Add tomatoes, lentils, mushrooms, olive oil. Sauté 3 minutes, Varoma, REVERSE, speed 1. 

Add water and rice (watch the water and ensure there is enough as the rice cooks to keep a slightly runny mixture- ALL RICE IS DIFFERENT!) Cook 15 minutes, 100, REVERSE, speed 2. 

Serve with fresh parsley or parmesean cheese. You can let sit in Thermoserver to thicken if you'd like. 

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.

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