Oats Porridge Recipe

Oatmeal Porridge is a nourishing breakfast staple that is easy and quick to prepare. Make it with quick cooking oats, rolled oats or steel cut oats cooked with water or milk - fantastic recipe to customize! Learn how to make classic creamy Oats Porridge recipe with your favorite toppings, step-by-step photos & video.

Oats Porridge Recipe

Being a mom and a full time blogger, managing time is a hard for me. Each day starts with chaos and I end up skipping meals because there is never enough time which leads me to eat a whole lot of junk snacks which I shouldn't be eating at all. 

So I have taken my resolution pretty seriously, waking up an hour or two before kids are up and preparing a healthy breakfast for myself. I love having oatmeal for breakfast, so I have decided to take it as my breakfast daily. I enjoy having oatmeal, I feel it is light and filling at the same time. Since oats are packed with fibre it keeps your hunger in control.

Oats are packed with fibre which actually keeps you full for longer and also help in weight management. So forget all those junk foods you have been putting in your body and start eating healthy. In the long run, it will make you fit, keep you healthy, and takes 5 minutes to cook and create a healthy and tasty bowl of oats. 

About Oats Porridge Recipe

Oatmeal is a popular go-to breakfast for many people. It is a traditional breakfast enjoyed in different forms around the world. Because of its convenience and health benefits. Oats is rich in fibre so it keeps you full longer. I like to cook my oatmeal either in milk or water and top it with my favourite toppings while it is still warm. 

I like to use a mixture of fruits, seeds, nuts and dried fruits as topping. Finally give it a drizzle with maple syrup or honey for the sweetness. A touch of cinnamon gives the warmth it needs and makes it even more aromatic. While you are at it, check out my savoury oats porridge recipes like vegetable oats porridge and masala oats.

Video for Oats Porridge Recipe

Oatmeal vs Porridge

Preparing oatmeal hardly takes 5 mins and you can top it with your favourite toppings. One of my all-time favourite is fruits and nuts with a drizzle of honey. I even love to top it with some crunchy granola and flax seeds too. 

This humble breakfast gets many different names around the world. In India we like to call it as Oats porridge; UK and surrounding area as porridge - while in US it is known as oatmeal. The recipe & ingredients for making oatmeal remains the same. Just 2 ingredients, other can be customised to your taste preference.

Why you will love this recipe?

• Faster Cooking - this classic oatmeal porridge takes less than 5 mins to make.
• Cheap & Budget Friendly - a cup worth of oats bulks up when cooked.
• Filling & Nutritious - lets not forget the health benefits oatmeal packs in it.

Try this Warm, Nourishing, Bowl of goodness loaded with your favorite toppings. This comforting porridge is sure to become your family favorite breakfast option!

Ingredients for Making Oats Porridge

Type of Oats

There are wide variety of oats available in the market. Some of the most popular ones are rolled oats (old fashioned oats), quick oats (instant oats) and steel cut oats. You can use whichever you prefer. The cooking time will vary accordingly.

Choice of Milk

Cooking oatmeal in whole milk result in highly creamy and thick porridge which kids adore. I prefer using half water and half milk for more light tasting porridge.

Flavourings

I don't prefer to add too strong flavours in my oatmeal. You can add a dash of ground cinnamon or a splash of vanilla extract.

Toppings

Oats porridge is a family-friendly adaptable recipe. you can top it with any of your families favorite toppings like fresh fruits, dried fruits, nuts, syrups.

Some popular topping ideas are apples, bananas, pomegranates, walnuts, melon seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, maple syrup, agave nectar or honey. Add whatever you heart desires and enjoy the health packed breakfast.

How to Make Oatmeal

Cooking Oatmeal

Take a saucepan add in rolled oats, water, milk and cinnamon powder.  Mix everything well and cook it for 8 to 10 minutes on medium heat.

Topping for Oatmeal

Once the oats is cooked put it into a bowl and add your favourite toppings. I like to top mine with Apple, melon seeds, pomegranate seeds, walnuts and Chia seeds.

Serving Oatmeal

Drizzle the oatmeal with little maple syrup or honey and so warm.

Success Tips for Perfect Oatmeal

1. Don't over cook your oats. If you over cook, oatmeal may turn soupy with no texture. I like some texture in my oatmeal. 
2. You could add sugar, honey for sweetness. If you prefer natural sweetness, try adding a mashed banana or pureed dates.
3. You can add chocolate chips on top of hot oatmeal. Specially if you are making for kids.
4. You can opt for Soy milk, Almond milk. Oat milk instead of regular milk. 
5. Don't discard leftover cooked oatmeal. Instead make this oatmeal cake.

Oats Porridge (Step-wise Pictures)

How to Make Oats Porridge (using quick cooking oats)

1)Take milk in a sauce pan. I used 1 cup of milk for cooking my oats porridge. You can use ½ cup milk and ½ cup water

2)Add in instant oats. for every ½ cup of quick cooking oats you need 1 cup liquid. it can be either water or milk.

3)Cook the oats for 2 to 3 mins until it thickens.

4)Instant oats porridge done.

Oats Porridge using Rolled Oats

1)Take rolled oats (old fashioned oats) in a sauce pan. Add in ½ cup milk

2)Add ½ cup water.

3)For sweetness I used one ripe banana. This is optional.

4)Add a dash of ground cinnamon.

5)Cook on medium heat for 5 mins till the oats are cooked.

How to Serve Oatmeal (Flavour & Toppings)

1) Cinnamon oatmeal | cinnamon oatmeal porridge recipe

Cinnamon oats adds a warmth to your breakfast. I added a tsp of ground cinnamon when I cooked my oats. Topped with sliced bananas and dash of extra cinnamon.

2) Plain oats porridge

This is your everyday oats porridge topped with some sliced figs.

3) Fruit & nuts oats porridge

Adding fruits and nuts to your morning oatmeal ensures you eat healthy. The natural sweetness from these fruits will actually sweeten your porridge so you don’t have to add extra sugar to your oatmeal.

4) Energy packed oats porridge

Healthy and fibre rich oatmeal which is loaded with a combination of energy boosters like sliced banana, almond butter (you can opt for peanut butter), walnuts, pumpkin seeds and drizzled with maple syrup.

5) Apple oatmeal

There is something so refreshing about the plain oats porridge with some crunchy bits of fruits. Next time when you are making some porridge try adding some fruits and nuts in it.

I caramelised some apples in butter, brown sugar, honey and vanilla. I mixed this in oats porridge along with some walnuts, raisins, fresh chopped apples. Thats it.

6) Orange oatmeal

This orange oatmeal is a perfect summer breakfast dish. The citrus sauce made using fresh oranges adds so much freshness to your boring oatmeal. I enjoyed the sweet, tart taste of the sauce along with the crunchy nuts. For making the orange sauce. Take orange juice, sugar in a sauce pan and bring it to a boil and cook until it is reduced by half. Drizzle this over your oatmeal and enjoy.

7) Banana oatmeal

This is so far my favorite way to enjoy a bowl of oatmeal. The caramelised banana taste so good with the creamy oats porridge. This is how you make it. Heat 1 tsp butter in a pan, add in 1 sliced bananas and 2 tbsp brown sugar and stir for 3 to 4 mins till caramelised. Top this over your oatmeal and ta-da!

8) Strawberry oatmeal

When strawberries are in season, you make this fresh summer oatmeal with berries. I like to add some honey and vanilla extract to sliced strawberries and allow it macerate for 10 mins. Spoon this over oatmeal and enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is oatmeal porridge good for you?

half cup of rolled oats contains just 150 calories. Oats are packed with fibre which actually keeps you full for longer and also help in weight management. So forget all those junk foods you have been putting in your body and start eating healthy.

How to make oatmeal porridge for babies & toddler?

Oats make a fantastic first baby food. You could add apple sauce or any fruit puree while making oatmeal for babies. I have shared a recipe for oatmeal cereal.

How long can I store cooked oatmeal?

Homemade oats porridge is best when made and served fresh and hot. If oatmeal sits for longer period it may get gluey and gummy. Any leftover porridge can be stored in an air tight container in fridge, reheat in sauce pan or microwave with extra water or milk.

Is oatmeal healthy with milk or water?

Oatmeal cooked with milk are creamier and richer; while with water is lighter. Any which way oats porridge is a healthy breakfast idea, So choice is yours!

You will love these healthy porridge recipes

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