Porridge is an absolute staple in my diet. It’s something I eat almost every morning. Oats in general are so versatile. There are so many ways to eat them – overnight oats, baked oats, in smoothies and my personal fav, porridge. It might sound boring eating the same thing every morning. However, I change the way I eat it almost everyday. The base may be the same but the add-ons are what truly make it delicious. It’s also a fantastic, nutrient-dense way to start your day. Depending on what you add to it, it can keep you full and fuelled for hours.
Two common complaints I often hear about porridge is:
a) It tastes boring – Well, of course, eating oats and water/milk by itself is boring. It doesn’t have a taste. Porridge is all about the toppings and what you add to it. I’ve listed some of my favourites below as part of the recipe.
b) I don’t like the texture – Something I often notice when people make porridge is they only use milk or they only use water. I believe the perfect consistency is using both milk and water. It’s also super important to use equal parts oats, milk and porridge to make it really creamy.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Rolled/Porridge Oats
- 1 cup Milk of choice (Mine is rice. When cooked slowly it gives a subtle sweetness. Credit to The Happy Pear)
- 1 cup of water
- Feel free to add something extra to your base such as protein powder, cacao/cocoa powder, etc.
- Toppings of choice
The measurements above are just a suggestion. You might prefer more or less porridge or you might be making it for more than one person. The most important part is to use equal amounts of oats, milk and water.
Method
- Measure and place your oats, milk and water into a saucepan and give them a stir.
- Place saucepan on a very low heat. (If you are in a rush you can place it on a medium heat. However, cooking it slowly on a low heat gives a creamier texture and softer oats.) Stir your porridge regularly to stop it sticking.
- Once porridge is steaming hot all the way through (try not to let it boil), take the saucepan off the heat and pour it into a bowl.
- Now for the fun part! Top your porridge with a variety of toppings. I’ve listed some of my favourites below:
Toppings
Nut butter – almond, peanut, cashew, hazelnut, etc.
Nuts (whole or chopped) – cashews, almonds, brazil nut, walnut, etc.
Seeds (whole or milled) – pumpkin seeds, sunflower seed, chia seed, flaxseed, etc.
Dried fruit – raisins, goji berries, dates, cranberries, etc.
Fresh Fruit – strawberries, raspberries, banana, blueberries, apple, etc.
Jam/Berry compote
Maple syrup
Cacao nibs
Cinnamon
Granola
Coconut Flakes
Or anything you want!!
5. Enjoy!
The Picky Veggie 