Chocolate porridge | Jamie Oliver breakfast recipes (2024)

FAQs

What porridge is good for breakfast? ›

Weetabix tell me they've stopped making chocolate Readybrek, which is a disaster for my household, as it's the only decent cereal my disabled son will eat - he needs the oats to keep him going, as he uses up much more energy than an average child.

A girdle of very cold milk, or single cream on special occasions, is essential, (traditionally, it would be served in a separate bowl, to keep the oats hot and the milk cold), but a knob of butter, as suggested by Word of Mouth readers, while melting attractively into the oats, proves too greasy for my taste.

Oatmeal's high fiber content and prebiotic qualities may benefit your body in more ways than one. Making oatmeal a regular part of your menu can potentially lower your disease risk, help your gut health thrive, make bowel movements easier and keep you feeling fuller for longer.

It is known as simply "porridge" or, more commonly in the United States and Canada, "oatmeal". In the US, oat and wheat porridge can both be called "hot cereal". Rolled oats are commonly used in England, oatmeal in Scotland and steel-cut oats in Ireland.

POrridge is just oats. Ready Brek has all sorts of other stuff in it. Ready brek is smoother and porridge is oatier. The ready brek is very powdery so it cooks more quickly.

Rich in calcium - To promote healthy bones and teeth. No added salt - For a better nutritional balance. High in oat fibre - To aid healthy digestion.

Farmers are Planting Less Oats

These shifts in farming can have a cumulative effect, resulting in high-quality oat shortages that have become more drastic over time.

But the main difference between porridge and oatmeal is that porridge is made with a variety of whole grains, cereal or legumes, and oatmeal is made with oats (either rolled, flattened or ground).

Why do Scots put salt in porridge? ›

Many people argue that it must be salt to give balance to the porridge and correct the flavour, while others favour sugar to sweeten it up. The argument for using salt is that it is a test of Scottishness and it is only the Sassenachs who would put sugar on their porridge!

Sweet toppings

To sweeten oatmeal without going overboard on refined sugar, try these additions: Fresh fruit: berries, bananas, apples, peaches, mango, or pears. Spices: cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or nutmeg. Natural sweeteners: a dash of maple syrup or honey.

Adding water or milk to porridge

The key to cooking a creamy, delicious porridge is the correct ratio of milk to water. Too much milk will make your oatmeal porridge stickier and thicker. No milk at all and your porridge will lack that creamy taste. Of course, you don't have to use milk at all if you don't want to.

Oats are naturally high in fibre, making them very absorbent, therefore the longer we leave them to rest, the thicker and creamier they get. Our simple trick when it comes to actually making the porridge is to add the water, stir for 30 seconds, then leave it to rest for 30 seconds before you tuck in and enjoy.

The rule that porridge must be served in a wooden bowl, and stirred with a wooden rod called a 'Spurtle', is a common tradition. Another, less well-known tradition, dictates that the dish should be eaten standing up. To stand while eating this dish is believed to show a sign of respect for it.

"It's a common misconception that one type of oat is healthier than another," said Rizzo. "They are all actually identical in terms of their nutrition. The difference is how they are rolled and cut." However, Price added that since instant oats are the most processed option, they generally have salt and added sugars.

Oatmeal and porridge are basically the same thing – it's what you get when you add milk or water to oats and cook them.

But the main difference between porridge and oatmeal is that porridge is made with a variety of whole grains, cereal or legumes, and oatmeal is made with oats (either rolled, flattened or ground).

The healthiest breakfast foods include a protein, healthy fat and source of carbohydrates, according to Smolen. For a healthy breakfast, consider eating foods like oatmeal with nut butter, avocado toast with an egg, chia seed pudding or a greek yogurt parfait with nuts and berries.