Main · British
Creamy porridge with berries
Oats simmered in milk and water until creamy, topped with berries and honey.
Porridge is oats simmered in liquid until they soften and turn creamy, and it is one of the cheapest, quickest warm breakfasts there is. Half milk and half water keeps it creamy without being heavy, and steady stirring does the rest. Berries and a drizzle of honey make it a proper breakfast.
Ingredients
- 160 g rolled oats
- 500 ml milk
- 500 ml water
- 1 pinch salt
- 200 g mixed berries, fresh or frozen
- 2 tbsp honey, or maple syrup
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
Method
- Put the oats, milk, water and salt in a medium saucepan and stir them together. Half milk and half water gives a creamy porridge that is not heavy, and the salt brings out the flavour of the oats.
- Set the pan over a medium heat and bring it up slowly, stirring now and then, until small bubbles start to break at the edges, 4 to 6 minutes.
- Turn the heat to low, keeping it at a gentle bubble, and simmer, stirring often and scraping the bottom of the pan, until the oats are soft and the porridge is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon, 5 to 8 minutes. Stirring is what makes it creamy, because it works the starch out of the oats.
- Take the pan off the heat and stir in the cinnamon, if using. Leave it to stand for 1 minute, so it thickens a little more. If it gets too stiff, loosen it with a splash of milk.
- Spoon into warm bowls, scatter the berries over the top and finish with a drizzle of honey. Frozen berries go straight on and thaw as you eat, leaving streaks of purple juice through the porridge.
Tips
- Stir often and scrape the bottom of the pan, which makes the porridge creamy and stops it catching.
- A small pinch of salt brings out the flavour of the oats without making it taste salty.
- Honey is not for babies under one year old; use maple syrup or mashed banana instead.
Common questions
What is the ratio of oats to liquid for porridge?
About 40g of rolled oats to 250ml of liquid per person gives a creamy porridge. Add more liquid for a looser one.
Can I make porridge with only water?
Yes. It will be lighter and less creamy, so a splash of milk stirred in at the end helps.