Varoma Hints & Tips

[Katya]

I find the times for veggies in the Fast & Easy book a bit hit and miss as I think it depends on so much like size,  probably freshness and so on.

So I do like JD and Thermomixer and just wing it - allowing enough time to let things cook a bit longer if necessary.  Sometimes I leave the veggies to cook a bit more while I'm dishing up the other stuff.

I love the way the Varoma is so much bigger than standard steamers so there is plenty of room to spread stuff out and that there are 2 layers to work with as well.

[maddy]

Judy......................your a treasure!

The veggie list is fantastic  thanks....I'm not too big into steamed fish unfortunately.....although how long do they suggest for steaming  prawns for?

I am overwhelmed by the all the help everyone offers on this forum.......just amazing! 

[judydawn]

Thanks for the big hug maddy 

Prawns, 800g 10-15 mins raw, with peel (shell I presume) (defrosted)

For others who may be interested, fish fillets 800g 20 mins eg salmon

Chicken breasts 600g 20-25 mins

Meat balls 500g 25 mins, apricot sized.

[KL_inTheMiX]

I also just wing it with steaming veggies.
Cooking them with the creamy chicken recipe worked so that was, what... 20 mins??? Veggies in about 2cm chunks.

What's this about a Varoma demo from your consultant??? Mine is no longer a consultant anyway but I wasn't aware that I was 'entitled' to one?!?!?! 

Thinking the creamy chookun recipe might be a go-er with fish next time..... not the most confident fish cook in the world but with you lot holding my hand I think I'll do alright.

 

[Thermomixer]

I think the times also vary with the amount of water that is placed in the bowl.  The prawns may not take so long with less water (say 600ml compared with 1200ml) so that is important too.

Once the water has come to 100 deg it only takes a few minutes for the prawns to cook - but it is warming the water to 100 that take some time - about 7-8 minutes

[patsycate]

I'm only starting to use my Varoma - haven't booked in my demo yet - but one tip I have for those of us who are time-poor and trying to put a dinner together quickly after work:  Put the water in the bowl and start heating it up to 100c while you're chopping the vegies and putting them into the Varoma dish.  When you're finished chopping, pop the dish on top and turn up the temperature to Varoma.  The vegies then cook in just a couple minutes as the water's already hot - quicker than in the microwave!

[cookie1]

It's often helpful to boil the water in the kettle too, saves a bit of time.

[Thermomixer]

Thanks patsycate - makes great sense 

[KarenH]

I must confess to being scared of using the varoma    but reading this thread has convinced me to give it a try ....... I'm not really sure what things go in the dish and what things go in the tray, and if you can add things part way through cooking.

I should just bite the bullet and give it a try with one of the tried and true recipes from this forum!  Success breeds confidence .......

[Thermomixer]

Just bite the bullet.  yes, it is OK to add things.

Just think of it as a steamer.  So hard vegies for instance go in first & things like snow peas can be added later.

Need to play around.

The new Varoma demo has cous cous that is steamed in the top section of the Varoma & my reading of the recipe says that it is added after the veg etc has been cooking for 14 minutes? from memory.  But it is not spelled out that way & so many put the cous cous in for the whole cooking time.

[KarenH]

Well I finally did it - got up the courage to try the varoma!  Tonight for dinner we had bangers and mash in tasty onion gravy (thanks Chelsea!) and steamed lemon and coconut puddings with lemon syrup (thanks to QuirkyJo) . Both were very easy and worked out perfectly and were extremely tasty!  Definitely will be on the menu again.

Now I have a whole new world of cooking to explore ...... 

[judydawn]

You certainly do KJH.  I have now done sausages, chicken, fish, & steak in mine.

[Thermomixer]

Good work KJH - it is fun !!!