As a Thermomix Consultant, I always get lots of people saying that they don’t use their Varoma’s enough… I use my Varoma nearly every day. At the very least it is used to steam my chicken for lunches, veggies for dinner and sticky date puddings…!

Whether you own a TM31 or Tm5 if you don’t use your Varoma, you are not utilising one of the best functions of the Thermomix. I just thought I would do this post on how I make my chicken, vegetables and mashed potato. It will just give you a bit of an idea on how to use your Varoma and how the layering really helps.

This recipe was made in the TM31, but can be made exactly he same way in the TM5 on manual.

Ingredients

500 – 600g chicken breasts

Seasonings**

20g Oil (I used coconut but olive oil is great too)

Approximately 700g potatoes (as many as you can fit in to the mixing basket)

2 Tablespoons Vegetable Stock Paste

Variety of In Season Vegetables

1200g Water

40g Butter (at your taste)

20g Milk (at your taste)

Vegetables prepped and ready to go. That is onion and garlic granules sprinkle on the cabbage and zucchini.

Method

1. Slice chicken breast into large strips, and place into a bowl, season with seasoning and cover in oil. Massage the seasonings into the oil and leave to marinate while you deal with the vegetables.

I used Herbamare and smokey paprika on this chicken.

2. Wash and chop potatoes into small to medium sized piece, (you can peel the potatoes if you want nice white mash, but I don’t mind not peeling as long as they are not dirty) and place into the mixing basket.

3. Into the mixing bowl, measure the water and place in the stock, then put the mixing basket (which has the potatoes in it) into the mixing bowl. Place the lid on mixing bowl and place the Varoma on top of the lid.

4. Place the harder vegetables into the bottom of the Varoma, leaving the softer vegetable for later. Place the second layer of the Varoma in and place the marinated chicken onto the layer. It doesn’t matter if they are all squashed up, the will get cooked. (I also sprinkled some garlic and onion granolas on my cabbage and zucchini).

The carrots are buried underneath at the bottom

5. Place the lid on the Varoma and cook 15 minutes/Varoma/speed 2.

6. After 15 minutes, place the softer vegetables on top of the harder ones. Separate your partially cooked chicken with the spatula as there will be a bit more room now because the chicken shrinks when cooking. Cook for another 15 – 20 minutes/Varoma/speed 2, depending on how large you cut your chicken and vegetables. If your vegetables are cooked to your liking before your chicken, just place them in a ThermoServer and continue cooking your chicken until it is done.

7. When cooked, remove Varoma and set aside, remove basket with spatula and set aside, empty bowl of seasoned water, secure in butterfly and place in potato with butter and milk (optional). Whip 10 seconds/speed 4, or until it is the consistency you desire.

You don’t have to have them all mixed up like me, you can easily put them into sections in the bottom of the Varoma.

8. Serve up your chicken and vegetables with mashed potato and enjoy,

JUST A NOTE … you can keep the liquid from the bowl and then when your done, put it back into the thermomix with any left over chicken and vegetables and you have a nice chicken and veggie soup, just cook for another 10 minutes/Varoma/speed 1, to heat and combine.

I hope this helps a few of you to enjoy your varoma a bit more… of course instead of potatoes you could use sweet potato or a combination of both. You can also do the same thing, with rice, but you will need to cook it at a 20 minutes/100/speed 4, then set a side the rice in the ThermoServer and keep cooking your chicken and vegetables at Varoma temperate until cooked.

Everyone like these vegetables are varying degrees of softness, so this is just a guide,  you can have a go and figure out the times that suit the way you and your family enjoy their vegetables.

You can also just do the vegetables in the Varoma and have two layers plus the basket and cook some steak on the BBQ 🙂

Below are a list of seasonings that I have used to marinate my meat and or vegetables. There are so many, but here are a few (I could go on for ever) that you may like, but use what your family enjoys.

** Types of seasonings.

salt and pepper

Herbamare

Smokey paprika

Mixed herbs

Garlic, ginger, chilli

Honey and soy

Spice rubs

Taco seasoning

Fresh tarragon

What ever you do, I hope this has helped you to look at your Varoma and use it a bit more

Enjoy Irresponsibly!

Liz xx

If you like this dish, maybe you might like these?

Creamy Sun-dried Tomato and Chicken Pasta (Thermomix Method Included)

Chicken and Vegetable Lasagna (Thermomix Method Included)

Chicken Carbonara (Thermomix Method Included)

Elizabeth Connolly

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I have been cooking since I can remember. I am a Thermomix consultant, so now (whenever possible) try to give you Conventional AND Thermomix methods for the recipes. I like to share tips on how to save money and how making food from scratch isn't really that hard (especially with a Thermomix). If you have any questions about the Thermomix or cooking/food in general please email me as I'm happy to chat.
Liz xx
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