Porridge

Porridge is one of my favourite things to make for breakfast, for lunch, for dinner, any time of the day really! It's definitely the best during the winter when you curl up on the couch with a big bowl of porridge to warm your soul but I still eat it during the summer too!

It's such a versatile meal that you can eat any way you want. That's why I love it so much, if I want a bowl of fancy porridge with loads of toppings like berries and pumpkin seeds I can make that but porridge can also be plain and simple, no toppings with just a drizzle of maple syrup. Both are amazing and there's just something about porridge that makes it feel like a hug in a bowl. It's the ultimate comfort food!

I always make porridge in a pot, I'm not mad about making it in a microwave. Call me old-fashioned but there's something so nice about standing over a pot stirring it away. And when you make porridge in a pot I've found that it's much easier to adjust it to the texture that you like.

You only need 3 ingredients for porridge: oats, plant-based milk, and water. I use rice milk as I find that it gives the porridge the best texture and adds a subtle sweetness, without being overpowering. Whenever I make it I always stick to the 1:1:1 ratio, i.e oats:rice milk:water.

That means whatever cup/mug/container you use to measure the ingredients, use the same amount for the oats, the milk, and the water.

Here's what I mean in picture form (and obviously use the same cup/mug/container for all the ingredients, don't use 3 different ones ahaha, I just used 3 different ones to show what I meant!)

The main message from those pictures = Stick to the 1:1:1 (oats:milk:water) ratio for the best consistency!

Porridge

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of oats
• 1 cup of plant-based milk (I use rice milk)
• 1 cup water

Method:

1. Add the oats, rice milk, and water to a pot and bring to the boil.
2. Reduce the heat and simmer until you get the consistency you like. If you're new to porridge it might take a few attempts until you find out what consistency you like! I like a slightly thicker porridge, not watery but not too gloopy if that makes sense ahaha.
3. Top with whatever you fancy!

Topping Ideas:

• Granola
• Banana
• Berries - Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries
• Nuts - Almonds, walnuts, pecans
• Seeds - Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds
• Buckwheat
• Chia seeds
• Nut butter - Peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter
• Raisins
• Coconut
• Maple syrup
• Cinnamon
• Dates
• Goji berries
• Apple
• Orange
• Mango
• Passion fruit

Before toppings

After toppings

Porridge is amazing, especially for breakfast as oats contain complex carbohydrates which means they release energy slowly over a longer period of time which sustains your energy and keeps you going. Add a source of protein to your porridge (e.g nuts/seeds/peanut butter) to slow down the release of carbs so you'll have energy for longer.

Oats are amazing, here are some reasons why:

• Oats contain complex carbs - Slow release of energy into the bloodstream, therefore sustained energy and no sugar rush.
• Oats are incredibly nutritious - They contain manganese, phosphororus, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6, and folate.
• Oats can lower cholesterol levels and can improve blood sugar control.
• Oats contain fibre and as we all know fibre is what keeps the 'downstairs' of our bodies working normally! Fibre normalises bowel movements, helps maintain bowel health, and it helps you feel fuller for longer.

So go for it, make some porridge now, experiment and find out what you like and what you don't like!

Warm and cosy porridge vibes,

Darragh