How to get the most out of your oatmeal porridge

The porridge or oatmeal porridge is a preparation that has become fashionable in recent years as option for breakfast.

The truth is that it is a very interesting recipe, both for the variations it allows and for the ways of preparing it.

porridge formerly they were made by cooking flour (from almortas, wheat, oats, etc.) with milk to form a paste of medium consistency, sweetened with sugar and added toppings such as pieces of toast, which were used from the leftovers from other meals.

The preparation of porridge or porridge is similar, but using fine oat flakes, and preferably adding seasonal fruits.

3 ways to prepare your oatmeal porridge

Let’s start with the ways to prepare them. They can be prepared in several ways, with or without cooking, depending on how much you like them or how much time you have:

1. Prepare the porridge at night and have it ready in the morning

It is what is known as overnight oats and it simply consists of mixing the oat flakes and the vegetable drink in a bowl and leave it in the fridge until the next morning.

During this time the oats will absorb the liquid and become softat the same time that it releases starches into the vegetable drink, making the whole thing creamier.

In addition, they can be addpieces of fruit to rest and release juice: strawberries, raspberries, banana, etc.

This is the fastest and easiest way to do it.

It does not require cooking and can be eaten as is, because if you do not want you can eat them without heating.

2. If you prefer them warm and at the moment

you can prepare some soft porridge properly. To make them you only need a vegetable drink (whatever you want) or water and oat flakes.

Use fine porridge, because the finer the oats, the finer the porridge will also be. And follow these steps:

If you are not going to do more, choose in which bowl or bowl you are going to serve them (Although if you make more you can always keep it in the fridge). For each cup of vegetable drink, prepare 4 tablespoons of rolled oats. Put it all in a nonstick saucepan over medium-low heat and stir from time to time.When it boils, set it to the minimum and keep stirring until it has the texture you like. The longer it is, the denser it will be. Take it out and serve it.

3. Express version of the microwave oatmeal porridge

In the microwave, since we can’t stir while it’s cooking, we have to be a little careful, but it’s equally simple:

Put the vegetable drink and oats in a bigger bowl than the one you are going to use to serve and stir it. Put it in the microwave for 2 minutes on high or maximum power (600 W). After those 2 minutes, stop it and stir. Put it back in another 2 minutes.Take it out and stir it one more time. If you have too much liquid left, you can put it in for 1-2 more minutes.

Add an extra texture to your oatmeal porridge

The texture of the oatmeal porridge will depend on the ratio of oat flakes to liquid, the type of flakes, the kind of liquid and the toppings that we put.

the type of flake

The fine rolled oats that they sell in any supermarket are very good for making porridge. They are small cups made with whole oats, very soft.

you can also find thicker rolled oats and rolled oats, which is the whole crushed grain. These options also work. They tend to be fuller and with more body.

You can mix different types of rolled oats if you like. Remember that the thicker, the longer they take to hydrate and cook.

liquid proportion

as liquid water can be used although you will be left with a slightly bland porridge.

Better enrich it all with a vegetable drink that you like. For example, you can use unsweetened soy drink, which is high in protein, or rice drink, which is naturally sweet, or coconut milk, which is super thick and silky.

the more watery Whatever the vegetable drink, the looser the oats, and the denser, the creamier the porridge.

with coconut milk You will have some aromatic and very silky porridge thanks to the fats present in the coconut.

add yogurt

Especially if you are going to take it warm or cold. Add, for example, medium unsweetened soy yogurt (or a whole one) and mix well.

It will add flavor and super creamy texture to your porridge, in addition to the ferments it carries.

fruit purees

The fleshy fruits such as bananas they look great. Instead of putting them in pieces you can beat them with the blender or crush them with the fork, add them to the porridge and stir well. In this way you sweeten them and give them flavor to the chosen fruit.

Also try strawberries, plums, peach, medlars, etc.

Modify the texture with seeds

The chia and flax seeds They have the peculiarity of thickening the liquid in which we leave them by releasing carbohydrates with a mucilaginous texture.

Instead of choosing between oatmeal porridge or chia porridge, you can mix the two. Use the usual amount of oats and add 1 teaspoon of chia seeds. The longer it rests, the better.

This effect is also achieved by heating it, so if you make your porridge on the fire add the seeds together with the oats.

Nut creams

Peanut butter, tahini, cashew cream… Try adding 1 tablespoon and mixing well.

The texture and flavor change quite a bit and they make it much richer, as well as satiating. With these creams they combine all kinds of fruits very well, so you don’t have to choose between one thing and another.

Finish with one toppings

Once your porridge is made, put everything you like and fancy on top, or the textures that you find pleasant.

For example, for a crunchy touch use dried fruits such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts or pistachios. You can also add some toasted sesame seeds.

For added flavor and color, mix seasonal fruits in pieces: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, medlars, apples, pears, bananas… Put the amount you want.

If what you want is to sweeten it, add very sweet fruits such as dates, figs, ripe banana (with brownish skin), very ripe strawberries, etc. You can also add dried fruits such as raisins and dried apricots.

For other flavors use pure cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla, cardamom, star anise… spices such as cardamom and star anise they release more flavor if we soak them in the liquid for a while and/or heat it up (they are perfect for both hot porridge and overnight oats). He just remembers to take them out afterwards.

Lemon and orange peel they work similarly to spices. Scoop out a few slices of lemon peel with the vegetable peeler and dip them into your porridge; It will have an amazing aroma!