Please help with chopping vegetables

[vmc513]

Hi all, I have just received my tm and tonight made shepards pie.  My husband complained that it was like eating baby food.  I followed the recipe for savoury mince from the thermomix forum. It was delicious but the mince was very fine, and we could only see the peas and carrots.  It is great recipe for hiding vegetables from children.

Does anyone have any tips on how not to mince the vegetables too finely. I used reverse with the soft spoon speed for cooking. Any advise would be appreciated.

[judydawn]

Bought mince is very fine vmc513, I rarely cook mince in the TMX.  I am going to try this recipe one day though as it does look nice and chunky.

With vegies, eg onion - I only ever chop for 2 seconds/speed 5.  Chopping carrots will take a little longer but if you start off with 2 secs/speed 5 then check, you might just have to repeat this once or just add another second. Until you get used to the machine and how powerful it is, perhaps just chop each vegie individually and set aside until you need to add them all back into the bowl. 

It's a learning curve, all my first recipes were mush

[CreamPuff63]

Usually I chop on 5, and I would stop at least 2 secs before recommended time to check. I like my stufff fairly chunky, and would then prob do 1 sec speed 5 stirring with a spatula until happy. Under chopping is preferable to over chopping in the end result. You can always pick out the big chunks and chop with knife  or remove all but big chunks and give another chop in TM sec by sec. For chopping mince maybe semi freeze and just chop on a speed until you are happy with consistency. Again, I like mince a little chunky rather than really finely minced.

[vmc513]

Thanks judydawn and creampuff63 will def try your suggestions. I know it is a new way of cooking. Have to say DH loved the EDC mashed potatoes : )

[Wonder]

Vmc51, I never cook bought mince in the TMX as it's too fine for us.

[gertbysea]

I prefer chopping some veggies by hand  to get a consistent and even cut.

Gert

[Kimmyh]

I chop on speed 5 things line onion, garlic, celery, carrot and zucchini. I prefer to hand chop capsicum. My first meals were mush too. Takes time to get it right. Remember less is best. You can always put it on for another second or two.

[kmw]

I've cooked mince by the method Judy suggested & it worked well

[cookie1]

I must try the new method. At the moment I don't cook bought mince in the thermomix, too mushy.

[vmc513]

Thanks everyone. Loving my TMX. It's all a learning curve. The meal was delicious. I will look at making my own mince though.

[CreamPuff63]

I chop on Speed 5 also, and stop a couple of seconds before recipe says to just to scrape the sides of the bowl and check. If all the veges are more or less chopped as you want them but you have a couple of big chunks, to prevent mush its best to remove all the veges from the jug and just rechop the big chunks separately or chop by hand.

[sue_purrb]

I used to find chopping carrots difficult, and always had a mixture of finely chopped and big chunks. Now I put roughly chopped pieces in the bowl and chop on speed 4 for about 6 or 8 seconds until it is all chopped to about the same size, then just give it a second or two on speed 5 to get it smaller.

Sue