Vegetables and starchy food
It is necessary to add water?
There is a difference between:
•Vegetables which contain a lot of water such as: tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, mushrooms, spinach, endives, lettuce, onions, peppers, most fruits etc., need little or no added water, since the microwave cooking uses the water naturally found in these foods.
•Vegetables which contain some water, to which you should add 9 to 10 tbsp of water (appr. 100 ml), in order to create steam which will cook the vegetables and stop them drying out:
cauliflower, leeks, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, fennel, carrots, celeriac, asparagus, Jerusalem artichoke. parsnips, borlotti beans, potatoes, cabbage, turnips, artichokes, green beans, etc.
•Vegetables which do not contain much water, to which you should add 13 to 15 tbsp of water in order to keep the vegetables moist: peas, broad beans, fresh beans.
For all vegetables: cook at MAX power and add salt after cooking, not before. Salt absorbs the natural moisture in the vegetables and can dry them out.
Starchy food
Rice and pasta can be cooked on the automatic programs. Please refer to p.15.
Rice, bulgur wheat, quinoa: once the liquid is boiling, allow for approx. 20 minutes cooking at 250W regardless of the quantity of rice (except
Couscous: add 1 to 1.5 parts of hot salted water to 1 part of couscous, cover and bring to the boil at Max for 2 to 3 min (for 200g of medium couscous with 250ml of water) then rehydrate for approx. 3 to 4 min at 250W. Fluff up with a fork before serving.
Pasta: remember to add salt to the cooking water and stir at least once during cooking. When the liquid boils, allow 7 to 8 min at MAX for 250g of pasta (for 1 litre of water) and 10 min for 250g of ravioli.
Dried vegetables: cooking times for dried vegetables in the microwave are the same as those for traditional cooking but reheating is quicker and easier, if the vegetables are placed in a closed container, mixed with butter or with sauce. To cook the vegetables, soak them overnight if necessary. If not, cover them in water in a large container. Do not add salt before cooking (this hardens the dried vegetables).
Allow 10 min at MAX then 15 to 30 min at 250W. Check them while they cook and add water if necessary, the dried vegetables must be covered in liquid.
