Fat-Free Varoma Meals No. 1: Steamed Omelette
This is the first in a series of fat-free meal ideas that you can create in your Thermomix Varoma using whatever you have to hand in your cupboards and refrigerator. Use your imagination and couple it with the amazing tool that is your Thermomix and you will have fast and easy, healthy, creative and economical food that tastes brilliant!
I have been dieting again and cutting down on fat. Now, most chefs will say that “fat is flavour” and this is borne out by the caramelisation of the fats as they are brought to high temperatures by frying and roasting. Think pork scratchings, golden brown chicken skin, and those gorgeous brown bits on the outside of your favourite steak. So if I’m cutting down on fat, how am I going to get any flavour?
There are actually lots of fat-free ingredients that will add bags of flavour to your food. These include herbs, both fresh and dried; spices; aromatic vegetables such as onions, garlic, ginger and chillies – again both fresh and dried; and condiments such as vinegars, soy sauce and fish sauce.
I borrowed the idea for steaming an omelette from Dani Valent’s wonderful Beef Stir Fry recipe from In the Mix. Scrunch up a piece of baking parchment or waxed paper and thoroughly wet it. Use it to line your Varoma Tray (the flat upper part) and pour in your beaten eggs. Top with whatever vegetables, lean meat or fish or shellfish, herbs and aromatics that you can find, season and cook 20 minutes/Varoma setting/Speed 2 ½ to 4. To bulk out the dish you can always add up to 400 g rice to the Internal Steamer Basket or fill it with cubes of potato and steam these accompaniments at the same time for an all-in-one Varoma meal.
In today’s steamed omelette my refrigerator yielded eggs, a couple of sliced spring onions, some slices of red and orange pepper, half a ripe tomato cut in 4 or 5 pieces, and a few chunks of courgette. Salt, pepper and fresh basil completed the summery taste of this vegetarian omelette.
For an Asian-inspired omelette, you can combine eggs with classic flavours such as ginger, spring onion, garlic and coriander with a dash of fish sauce. Add prawns or chicken for protein.
For a Spanish-inspired omelette, steam some potatoes in the Internal Steamer Basket topped with the Varoma containing egg, tomato, onion, garlic and a sprinkling of paprika. For just a little added fat and protein you can include some Chorizo.
Use your imagination and use up those bits and pieces hanging around in your fridge and in the vegetable drawer and create your own combinations. With your imagination and your Thermomix, there’s no waste!
Bon appétit !
Yes, Nora, it’s a great omelette method – no mess, just easily peel off the parchment paper and presto! No messy pan to clean up afterwards, as you say. It tastes great, too!
I have never tried to make an omelette in the Varoma but this could be a great idea when you have a big omelette to cook, plus, there is no messy fry pan to clean afterwards!