Are you looking for a satisfying but healthy breakfast? Then porridge is made for you. As it cooks, it becomes creamy and filling and can be adapted to any taste with fruits, chocolate, nuts, spices, you decide.
Oldie but Goodie
Porridge oats used to be a dish that had little appeal to me. I used to see this mix of gruels like a typical English dish that my dad raved about from the summers of his youth spent in Great Britain. Now I feel silly because this is literally my go-to breakfast every day.
You can go gluten-free by purchasing certified gluten-free oats. This grain is naturally gluten-free but the way it is harvested or processed is almost never guaranteed to have not been prepared next to other gluten-full grains. So if you are trying to avoid gluten or simply can’t have it, make sure you look for the certified gluten-free ones.
There are old types of oats, from the jumbo, rolled, steel-cut, crushed, etc. I won’t get into the nitty gritty of it all, I just know that rolled oats work great to reach that creamy consistency.
Nutrient Powerhouse
Even if it can be labelled as bland or boring (hey, I’ve been there), porridge is actually packed with health benefits :
- high in vitamins
- high in minerals like calcium and iron
- makes you feel full for longer so can help you regulate your appetite
- feeds the good bacteria in your gut
- helps fight inflammation.
Another great thing about porridge oats is that you can add anything that you want, depending on your mood, the season, your needs of the day.
I love to add a nut butter any time of year, and a ripe banana to sweeten it. In winter, I will add spices like turmeric and cinnamon, cacao powder every other day. In summer I like to add fresh fruit and berries, coconut flakes.
How to Make Healthy Porridge
All you need for the base is a cup of (non-dairy) milk, a cup of water, and a cup of porridge oats. You combine all three ingredients in a saucepan and put it over low to medium heat, while stirring.
You can add a ripe half banana that you mash in the pan, or previously cooked apples to add some sweetness to the mix. It also works wonders with maple syrup or honey. If you are adding spices or powders, now is the time to put them in.
The key to the perfect bowl of creamy porridge is to take it off the heat just before you think it is ready. The texture will keep becoming creamy due to the heat so transfer it to a bowl before it looks perfect or about to get dry.
You can then become creative with your topping, whether it’s to share on Instagram of just for the beauty of the dish. My favourites are almond butter, frozen blueberries, chia seeds, sunflower seeds and coconut flakes, with a cacao base.
A healthy porridge is the best way to kickstart the day by adding protein and fat, spices and seeds, fruits, literally anything. If you are tempted to try, you might love :
- Spiced Apple Pie Porridge
- Cacao & Berries Porridge?
