Why all cafes & restaurants need a Thermomix. (Most of them already do have at least 1 Thermomix.)
My friend & award winning chef, Eloise Emmett, who owned the hugely popular Mussel Boys restaurant for over 10 years, said “It’s a no brainer to get a Thermomix. The amount of time that you save is worth the investment over & over. I wish I’d had my Thermomix when I ran my restaurant.” Eloise, the author of the Seafood Everyday Cookbook & The Real Food for Kids Cookbook, said she constantly uses her Thermomix at home & when preparing for her dinners and functions. She is amazed with how easy it is to make quince paste in the Thermomix – no stirring! Some of the other things she makes with her Thermomix are fresh bread dough, curry pastes, coulis & sauces. AND pasta dough, aioli, purees, jams, relishes & chutneys. AND not to mention sorbets, ganache, creme’ anglaise, hollandaise & pate’.
“Here is the prep list from the launch for the Seafood Everyday Cookbook. While they are not Thermomix recipes as such, most of what I cook has some part prepped in the Thermomix.”
Bread
Tart base
Fettuccine
Fish crust
Salad dressings
Hollandaise for scallops
Beetroot chutney
Lasagne sheets
Tomato sauce base for lasagna
Fish stew base
Berry cheesecake
Lemon tart
Coulis
Sorbet
Quince paste
Three Japanese Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream & Sesame Pudding
I certainly agree with Ellie as early in my career, I worked at cafes, bakeries & a catering establishment for a number of years. You will find that using a Thermomix commercially works a little differently than domestically. Most restaurants wouldn’t use their varoma steamer because they utilise big commercial steam ovens.
My friends at Three Japanese used the Varoma to make a steamed savoury custard dish, called chawanmushi, as they aren’t able to have a steam oven at their premises. During a 2016 Cooking Class we used 5 Thermomix to make this popular recipe for the guests. Three Japanese also use a Thermomix to make their delicious Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream and Plum Sake Sorbet.
Any restaurant, cafe or catering firm would certainly use it for silky smooth purées, dips, flavoured mayos or aioli. Chocolate ganache is another popular use along with perfect creme’ anglaise and amazing instant sweet or savoury sorbets. For example Smolt achieves the most amazing lemon curd with their Thermomix. The Thermomix also roasts & mills whole spices to get the best flavours into dishes.
Some elements of this menu were prepared using a Thermomix at the Pidgeon Hole Cafe
Making flavoured salts or sugars was a favourite of Fiona Hoskin. Her Launceston restaurant, Fee & Me, won national awards for an innovative menu. Fiona & her chefs used a number of Thermomix to create maximum flavour, while saving time. You can find Fiona’s recipes from her restaurant in the Devil of a Cookbook which also includes a few recipes from renowned Chef Tetstuya.
Some chefs are concerned that the Thermomix will replace them. Having a Thermomix means they can work smarter, saving time while not compromising on quality. You can decide the level of involvement the Thermomix has in your kitchen. While most commercial kitchens wouldn’t take advantage of the guided cooking function, with a little bit of practice, it is so simple to convert your own recipes to use with the Thermomix. As with any new technology, it just takes a little investment of time to explore the full potential you have right at your fingertips. The Delivery Briefing (provided by your Thermomix Consultant) & subsequent staff training in the correct use of the Thermomix is vital.
The German designed quality of the Thermomix stands up to the rigours of restaurant life. It is recommended to have a 2nd bowl blade & lid set, to speed up kitchen processes even more. All the parts are dishwasher safe (obviously not the base.)
The commercial warranty is 1 year, you have the full back up & support from your Thermomix consultant. Occasionally the blades need replacing costing only $115.
Many well known chefs are Ambassadors for Thermomix in Australia. You may have seen the Thermomix on cooking programs such as MasterChef Australia & Chef’s Table where many of the worlds top restaurants use a Thermomix.
Thermomix in Australia are developing a site called Kitchen Stars to feature restaurants & chefs who use a Thermomix. Renowned Spanish restaurant elBulli had 36 Thermomix to ensure perfect cooking for dishes requiring a constant temperature.
The Dani Valent Cooking video site features many top chefs preparing their favourite Thermomix recipes. Dani’s In the Mix Cookbooks also feature amazing recipes from chef’s around the world.
A chef recently mentioned to me they prefer to work in a kitchen that has a Thermomix.
It’s well worth mentioning that Thermomix are very popular in schools both in the cooking classes & canteens.
If you would like to see how the Thermomix can work for you in your commercial setting you can contact a commercially trained Thermomix consultant for an in-house demonstration. (Yes I am a commercially trained consultant ;-))
I have seen Thermomix at many places all over the world -maybe you would like to do some Thermospotting too?
Layered Salad in a Jar is a fun way to serve salad & you can have so many variations based on your favourite in season salad ingredients. My version was created for a healthy eating workshop & after speaking with the nutritionist who was presenting I put together this yummy nutritious combo.
First make your dressing, I chose to use flaxseed oil & apple cider vinegar, you can use use lemon or lime juice instead of the vinegar or use extra virgin olive oil in place of the flaxseed oil.
Choose your flavours, try fresh herbs or your favourite mustard or even fresh chilli.
I love the zing of fresh ginger & garlic plus I had some gorgeous vibrant fresh turmeric as well!
Blitz 10g each of fresh ginger, garlic & turmeric for 5 secs on speed 7. Add 100g of apple cider vinegar & 100g chosen good quality oil & salt & pepper to taste, mix for 10 secs on speed 5.
Pour in your chosen amount of dressing to your jar or jars.
I like to make a “massaged” kale layer on top of the dressing layer, it really makes the kale taste amazing! After making your dressing leave about a tbs in the TM bowl, remove the stalks from the kale & put the leaves into the TM bowl & chop for 2-3 secs on speed 5 to your desired texture. Season to taste then set the Thermomix for 2-3 mins reverse speed 2. You can use a jam funnel to get your ingredients into the jar without pouring half of them onto the table. Try not to pack your ingredients down too much because you need room to stir them when you are eating the salad.
I like to include a shredded chicken layer, using leftover steamed chicken breasts (from steamed whole chicken) or you can poach them in the simmering basket after cutting them in half & cover with water to the max line cooking for about 20 mins, 100 degrees speed 1. You might like to chop up fresh herbs & garlic before adding water to give the chicken some flavour or use a big tbs of veggie stock paste. Once the chicken is cooked allow to cool & place in the fridge. Place cold chicken breasts into the Thermomix bowl & chop for about 3-4 secs reverse speed 4 until desired consistency is reached.
You can put layers of any of your favourite veggies, just think about vibrant colours to make it more appealing. It is better for any wetter ingredients to go towards the bottom of the jar, especially if you won’t be eating the salad until the next day. I hand chop things like cucumber, tomato or cherry tomatoes. If you are using avocado you will have to squeeze some lemon juice on it to stop it from going brown. I love using red cabbage or fresh beetroot that has been peeled I chop it for 3-5 secs on speed 5. Broccoli is another favourite of mine too. You could even do a boiled egg layer. Hand sliced radish looks & tastes great too.
Finish it off with some freshly chopped chives or other herbs & toasted seeds or nuts for some added texture.
If you want to ditch the jar, this salad is still delicious in a salad bowl! 😀
Once called a Thermomix Demo the name has changed to a Thermomix Cooking Experience. Just as the name suggests you experience how easy it is to use the Thermomix first hand. You & your 2-3 guests get to cook a dish with your consultant. You will get to use use the guided cooking on the recipe chips for 2 of the dishes. Of course you get to taste the delicious food too, which in my opinion is the best part, seeing & tasting is believing. Cooking from scratch with a Thermomix means you get maximum flavour into your food, enables you to be additive free, while saving you time & money. Plus there are some new menu items (indicated with a *). This Thermomix cooking experience commences on the 1st Feb 2017.
For dessert choose Fresh Fruit Sorbet or *Fruity Berry Dream
(by the way we always eat our dessert first at the Cooking Experience)
Both are quick easy & delicious, the ThermoWOW factors are seeing sugar being made into icing sugar in 10 secs!! See the Thermomix chop ice or frozen fruit in about 1 minute!!
ThermoWOW factors -see how to mill your own flour, the kneading of the dough in 2 mins and we also have fun making different shaped rolls together too!
Pizza bread topped with rosemary & garlic, the ThermoWOW factors are chopping fresh garlic & rosemary in a few seconds & seeing how the Thermomix kneads dough in about 2 mins!
Choose a main dish from these 4 options
*Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
ThermoWOW factors- learn how to make your own mince meat, with this family favourite & versatile meal.
The Mushroom Risotto has the ThermoWOW factors of using the guided recipe, grating parmesan cheese in 5 secs, chopping, cooking & stirring, a quick, delicious & easy meal.
Veloute’ Meal ThermoWOW factors are seeing an all in one meal made, chopping, cooking, steaming & pureeing – you cook a veggie soup, while steaming your protein & veggies. Some of the soup is made into the delicious velvet sauce to go over the protein & veggies.
Being a host is easy & fun, you provide a few ingredients & your consultant brings the rest plus there are some great rewards, choose here.
I remember when a salad used to be quite mundane, maybe some iceberg lettuce, tomato, cucumber & carrot with a bit of dressing, which is till an ok side salad for a quick meat & salad meal. Salads can be just so exciting, start with the freshest ingredients & think colours, textures; with toasted nuts or seeds, flavour combos, roasted veg, fresh herbs, in season veggies or salad greens & delicious dressings, even adding in amazing protein can lift a salad. Even consider using leftovers from a meal cold grilled or steamed meats or meatballs. You don’t really need a recipe for a great salad but sometimes it’s so good you want to be able to recreate that amazing combo. Here are a few of my favourites in no particular order that I will be continuing to update.
Roast lamb salad (marinade made in the Thermomix) with some roasted veg feta & other salad ingredients.
I used Eloise Emmett’s recipe to pickle my octopus & then serve with either a greek style or green salad – also yummy with a creamy potato salad too.
Guess what? Some salads are better made without the Thermomix you might only make the dressing in the Thermomix – this is a favourite of mine Fennel Salad I love to serve it with confit or steamed salmon. (The recipe is from a great book that includes French style recipes – Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard.)
I’m not normally a fan of coleslaw but even using red cabbage & the fresh apple or pear, red capsicum & some fresh dill & try adding some pecans for extra crunch I prefer my coleslaw dressed with lemon juice & olive oil. Of course it is so easy to make your own mayo in the Thermomix too.- Dani Valent had a peanut butter coleslaw recipe in the In the Mix 2 cookbook.
My take on Mum’s Chicken & Mango Salad – Such a versatile salad great to use up left over steamed chicken breast (after steaming a whole chook) or poaching chicken breasts in the Thermomix. You can use any nuts you like either cashews, macadamia or pistachios. Finely chopped celery for the crunch & fresh element, 1 mango sliced, sliced spring onions. Avocado is delicious in it too. I used cucumber because I had some in the fridge & added fresh parsley & mint leaves. Mum dressed it with 1/2 homemade mayo & half natural yoghurt 1 tsp of curry powder & 1 tabs of tomato relish. I used a honey & seeded mustard vinaigrette to dress it, my sister likes to use an Asian style dressing with soy sauce, fresh ginger & garlic.
I love to make Teressa Cutter’s Massaged Kale Salad in the Thermomix – I stir it on reversed instead of massaging it by hand & then I love to add some Thermomix shredded chicken YUM!!
Warm Sweet Potato Salad or use pink eye potatoes instead either with homemade mayo or serve warm with Thermie made Bearnaise sauce with or without crispy bacon!! Of course you can put it in the fridge & serve it cold too 🙂 (Yes you may have noticed there is a sneaky Brussel Sprout in this one so feel free to add any of you other favourite veggies that are in season I steamed the brussel sprout with the sweet potato.)
I love greek salad but serving it with steamed lamb meatballs really makes it into a special delicious meal that is so easy to prepare 🙂
Nico Moretti’s roasted Cauliflower Salad. You will find the recipe in his Delicious Journeys Cookbook – actually it’s on the front cover too!
The classic beetroot salad from your basic cookbook you can jazz up if you want, serve with feta, pistachios, pomegranate seeds, chickpeas or even tuna. Use any fresh herbs you like.
INSPIRING IDEAS: Try serving with fish, chicken or quail. Add some chopped fresh beetroot for even more colour & flavour. (Place beetroot halves into the TM bowl & chop for 3 secs speed 5.5) To remove the pomegranate seeds from the fruit using your Thermomix, simply place two pomegranate quarters into mixing bowl and remove arils 1 sec/speed 4. Discard the skin and pith and set pomegranate seeds aside in serving bowl. Repeat until all pomegranate quarters are used. Set all arils aside in serving bowl.
Ingredients
SALAD
1 cauliflower head, outer leaves removed
100 g shelled and unsalted pistachios, roughly chopped
20 g fresh flat-leaf parsley, leaves only, washed and well dried
20g fresh coriander, leaves and stems, washed and well dried
DRESSING
80g extra virgin olive oil
40g freshly squeezed lemon juice
1⁄4 tsp ground cinnamon
1⁄4 tsp ground allspice
2 pinches salt
2 pinches freshly ground black pepper Additional ingredients to serve:
1 pomegranates, seeds only
pomegranate molasses, to drizzle Sumac, to sprinkle
Fresh coriander, leaves only, roughly chopped to garnish
Fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped Mint leaves optional
Instructions
SALAD:
To prepare the cauliflower, first trim the stalks from the core and discard the core.
Cut the very top of the florets off the stalks and set florets aside in a bowl.
Place stalks into mixing bowl and chop 10 sec/speed 7. Scrape down sides of bowl with spatula and chop a further 10 sec/speed 7. Set aside in a large salad bowl.
Place half of the reserved cauliflower florets into mixing bowl and chop 2 sec/speed 5, or until slightly courser than the stalks. Set aside in the salad bowl.
Place remaining cauliflower florets and pistachios into mixing bowl and chop 2 sec/speed 5. Set aside in the salad bowl.
Place parsley and coriander into mixing bowl and chop 2 sec/speed 6.
Set aside in the salad bowl.
DRESSING:
Place all dressing ingredients into mixing bowl and mix 10 sec/speed 5 and pour over salad
Top with pomegranate seeds then drizzle with pomegranate molasses, sprinkle with sumac, coriander and parsley and lightly toss before serving.
INSPIRED IDEAS: For Chef Ellie Emmett’s plain grissini from her The Real food for Kids Cookbook, skip the spinach,cheese & sesame steps & use all the dough & cut into strips. (Ellie often makes half the dough into grissini & the other half for a pizza base.) Try Dani Valent’s variations from In the Mix 1- Grissini with apricot & cardamon paste – a Caroline Velik recipe. Or search for Dani Valent on the Thermomix recipe community to find her Semi-dried Tomato Grissini with Rosemary.
Ingredients
500g bakers or plain flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp bread improver (optional) 1 tsp yeast
1 tsp olive oil
300g lukewarm water
Instructions
Place, yeast, flour, bread improver, salt, olive oil and water in the TM bowl. Mix for 6 sec/speed 6, then for 2 min/ interval setting (dough kneading)
Turn onto a Thermomat and wrap, or tip into a greased bowl and cover with a damp tea towel or cling wrap.
Leave for an hour or so, until dough has doubled in size.
Preheat oven to 190 degrees, fan forced. Grease or line a large baking tray.
Divide the dough in half.
Chop 50g baby spinach leaves add half the dough & knead again for about 1 min/interval setting or until all incorporated.
Remove from bowl then chop 60 grams of parmesan cheese 5 sec/ speed 10.
On the Thermomat or a floured board, sprinkle sesame seeds (optional), press or roll the green dough into a rectangle around 40 x 30 cm.
Spread the cheese over the dough, spray with some oil to help it stick to the next layer.
Roll out the whole piece of white dough to the same size & place on top of the cheese & the green dough pressing gently.
Sprinkle with black sesame seeds (optional).
For shorter dipping sticks cut the joined dough through the middle with your spatula making 2 long rectangles 40cm by 15cm approx.
Then thinly slice through 1cm wide slices twisting & stretching each one place on a tray lined with baking paper.
Bake at 200 degrees for 15 mins or until golden & crisp.
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