Jáhlová kaše s medovými švestkami • Domek za lesem • Vaření od píky

Millet porridge with honey plums

There's no better way to start an autumn day than with a warm bowl of creamy porridge with cinnamon!

It has cooled down outside and summer seems to be behind us. But we can still harvest the fruits of autumn! Apples, pears, plums are in season now. We have already made plum jam and are slowly filling the storage boxes with apples. But we still have to enjoy the plums right, because they won't last in the boxes!

As well as various cakes and tarts, I just love to top with them my breakfast porridge. I've combined plums with one of my favorite recipes for millet porridge and it's DELICIOUS!

I learned to cook porridge regularly quite recently. As a kid, I grew up on cream of wheat and a very, very, VERY sweet oatmeal that we absolutely loved as kids. My son, however, loves the millet porridge most of all..

Are millets good for young kids?

Millets are a very good choice of food, and not just for kids! They are naturally gluten-free and easily digestible. They are very nutritious as they contain plenty of fiber and are also a very good source of iron and phosphorus.

Is millet porridge difficult to make?

Millet porridge is a bit more difficult to make than cream of wheat or oatmeal. The millets should be properly steamed in boiling water to get rid of any bitter taste. They take longer to cook than oatmeal and also need much more liquid to absorb.

Since I was often discouraged by the step of steaming the millets in boiling water, I started soaking them in water for a few hours instead. This works well for me, and the millet porridge has never been bitter. However, it's always good to choose the freshest and best quality millet to really avoid any bitterness.

Is it beneficial to soak the millets?

I like to soak all kinds of grains and legumes. By soaking it breaks down phytic acid, which is a natural antinutrient that prevents nutrients from being absorbed and fully utilized. Therefore, when the amount of phytic acid is reduced, all nutrients and minerals are more easily absorbed by us. Soaking also reduces cooking time by about half.

In short - it makes healthy food even healthier and it takes less time to cook!

Why add cream cheese to porridge?

Cream cheese is a great source of protein . Adding a few spoons of cream cheese to millet porridge will increase the overall protein content in the meal. It makes the millet porridge more filling and also makes it beautifully creamy. It also cools down the porridge a little bit. So if you have small children who would like to dive into straight from the pot, add a couple of tablespoons of cream cheese so they don't burn their mouths.

Jak připravit jáhlovou kaši s medovými švestkami k snídani?

Soaking the millets:

Add the millets in a bowl with 2 cups of water and let it soak for at least 8 hours. I usually do this the day before. This step can be substituted by steaming in a boiling water. Run the millets through the boiling water at least twice to reduce any bitterness.

Drain the soaked or steamed millets very well and cook in a pot with another 1 and ½ cups of clean water and a pinch of salt for about 5 minutes and then let them finish cooking under a lid. This step is best done in the evening if we want porridge for breakfast. You can also leave them under the lid in the pot overnight. I make the millet porridge this way so that it is ready for breakfast in the morning within a 15 minutes.

Cooking the porridge:

In the morning, add 1 and ½ to 2 cups of milk to the pot and add sugar if desired.

Bring the cooked millets and milk to a boil and cook over low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's creamy. Then cover with a lid and leave to rest for 5-10 minutes. Meanwhile, the porridge will thicken and the flavors will combine beautifully.

In the meantime, cut the plums into wedges or cubes . Heat the butter in a frying pan and fry the plums in it while they still hold their shape. Add the cinnamon and honey and heat through. Pears, apples, nectarines or bananas can also be made in the same way as plums.

Before serving, whisk in a few tablespoons of cream cheese. This will make the porridge even smoother and a little cooler, so it can be eaten immediately. Serve the porridge with honey plums and a dollop of cream cheese or sour cream.

What is the best way to store millet porridge?

I highly recommend making more cooked millets, but only make porridge in amounts that can be eaten right away. The cooked millet porridge will actually get thinner over time in the fridge and while reheating it will be more watery than smooth and creamy. Cooked millets will last up to five days in an airtight container in the fridge, so with them you can make fresh porridge every day.

TIPS:
- instead of cow's milk, try adding coconut milk (canned) or soy milkwhich adds even more protein to the millet porridge
- various spices such as ground cinnamon, crushed cardamom or vanilla extract can also be added to the milk while cooking
- millet porridge is also delicious sprinkled with chopped dark chocolate, crushed pistachios and drizzled with maple syrup

Recipe

Recipe 4-6 servings

Millet porridge with honey plums

Ingredients:

For the millet porridge:

1 cup millets (200 g)
3 and 1/2 cups water
pinch of salt
2 cups milk
few spoons of cream cheese

For the honey plums:

plums, cut into wedges
1 tsp of cinnamon
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp honey

Instructions:

1. Add the millets in a bowl with 2 cups of water and let it soak for at least 8 hours.
2. Drain the soaked millets very well and cook in a pot with another 1 and ½ cups of clean water and a pinch of salt for about 5 minutes and then let them finish cooking under a lid. This step is best done in the evening if we want porridge for breakfast. You can also leave them under the lid in the pot overnight.
3. In the morning, add 1 and ½ to 2 cups of milk to the pot and add sugar if desired.
4. Bring the cooked millets and milk to a boil and cook over low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's creamy. Then cover with a lid and leave to rest for 5-10 minutes.
5. In the meantime, cut the plums into wedges or cubes. Heat the butter in a frying pan and fry the plums in it while they still hold their shape. Add the cinnamon and honey and heat through.
6. Before serving, whisk in a few tablespoons of cream cheese. This will make the porridge even smoother and a little cooler, so it can be eaten immediately. Serve the porridge with honey plums and a dollop of cream cheese or sour cream.