Steamed Sea Bream in Broth with Potatoes
Steamed sea bream in broth with potatoes is an elegant main course where the Thermomix TM7 gently cooks delicate fish and potatoes in the Varoma while a fragrant fennel broth develops below. A vibrant celery and fennel-tip pesto, blended in seconds, finishes the plate. Expect flaky fish, tender potatoes and a light, aromatic broth straight from one appliance.
About this recipe
Steamed Sea Bream in Broth with Potatoes Thermomix TM7 is a recipe that turns simple Mediterranean ingredients into a light, restaurant-worthy main course with almost no effort. The all-in-one kitchen machine steams whole portions of sea bream and potatoes in the Varoma while a delicate broth infused with fennel bulb, bay leaves and garlic develops below, so every element of this fish recipe cooks simultaneously. The real showpiece is the quick celery-leaf and fennel-tip pesto, blitzed with coriander seeds, mustard, lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil in seconds, giving the finished plate a bright, herbaceous lift. This is a quick weeknight dinner option that also feels refined enough for guests, delivering flaky fish, tender potatoes and an aromatic broth in one integrated cooking process. If you enjoy steamed fish recipes with minimal fat and maximum flavour, this dish shows exactly what the TM7 does best.
Preparation tips
- Pat the sea bream dry before placing it in the Varoma so the steam circulates evenly and the skin stays intact. Tuck a few extra fennel fronds inside the cavity to perfume the flesh from within during steaming.
- Cut the potatoes into equal-sized chunks so they finish cooking at the same moment as the fish. Layer them on the lower Varoma tray where the steam is most intense, keeping the bream above.
- Serve the broth in warm shallow bowls first, then place the fish and potatoes on top and spoon the celery pesto around. Any leftover pesto keeps in a jar in the fridge and is lovely on toasted bread.
Recipe variations
- Gluten-free as standard, but for a dairy-free and lighter version simply replace the mustard in the pesto with a teaspoon of Dijon made without wine, and serve the bream with extra lemon zest instead of pesto.
- For a festive winter variation, add thin slices of blood orange and a handful of mussels to the Varoma for the final minutes, turning the broth into a richer, celebration-style seafood course with the same fennel base.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- The Varoma steaming function cooks the sea bream and potatoes gently above the broth, keeping the fish flaky and moist without drying out.
- Blending the celery leaves, fennel tips and garlic into pesto takes only seconds in the TM7, producing a vibrant sauce without a mortar and pestle.
- Weigh the olive oil and lemon juice directly into the mixing bowl, so the pesto for this sea bream recipe is portioned to the gram with no extra scales.
- Heating the fennel broth with bay leaves develops a deep, aromatic flavour while the TM7 stirs and monitors the temperature hands-free.
- Chopping the coriander seeds and garlic finely in the TM7 releases their oils into the pesto, giving the steamed fish a noticeably brighter seasoning.
Ingredients
- celery leaves
- fennel fronds
- garlic clove
- coriander seeds
- wholegrain mustard
- extra virgin olive oil
- freshly squeezed lemon juice
- fine sea salt
- ground black pepper
- celery stalk