I have got a freezer jam packed full of blueberries this week - they were on offer at my local greengrocers so I stocked up, and lucky I did - I think they might be the most delicious blueberries ever! They are so sweet and fruity, they even smell amazing. When berries taste this good it is a shame to overpower them with lots of other strong flavours, so I wanted to keep it simple. Despite the fact that I make porridge a few times a week for breakfast I realised I have never got round to posting my standard porridge recipe on the blog, so here it is...
This recipe couldn't be easier and only calls for a handful of ingredients, most of which you are likely to already have in the cupboard. You can pimp it up with any extras to make it your own, but this is a great base to start from. My favourite additions are a sprinkle of cinnamon, a few chopped nuts, some maca powder and a big spoonful of almond butter, but it really is fab just as it is.
A warming bowl of oats has been always been a popular way to start the day. Oats have beneficial effects on cholesterol levels, overall heart health and are a good slow-burner to keep blood sugar levels stable throughout the morning. They are also cheap to buy, readily available and very versatile, so you can include them into your diet as breakfast bars, overnight oats, flapjacks or in your smoothie if porridge isn't for you.
Chia seeds are amazing and a great addition to your morning porridge - they are full of so much goodness - loads of fibre, protein and antioxidants, they are high in Omega-3 fatty acids which is really important if you are veggie and so not getting them from fish, and as they absorb so much water they keep you feeling fuller for longer!
Ingredients:
Serves 1
4 tbsp of oats
1 tbsp of chia seeds
1-2 cups of water
1/2 cup of almond (or other non-dairy) milk
1 banana
1 handful of blueberries
Honey (to taste)
Method:
Combine the water and oats in a saucepan over a low heat. Stir continuously as the porridge cooks - this should take 7-10 minutes, but never let the mixture dry out, add in more water if your oats start to stick to the pan. Stir through the almond milk and chia seeds, then turn off the heat and allow the porridge to sit for a minute while the chia seeds soak up the milk (and it cools down enough to eat!).
Spoon your porridge into a bowl, slice the banana on top and scatter with blueberries. Drizzle with honey before serving.
