This year is already flying, I cannot believe we are in mid January! I have been surrounded by books and scientific papers over the past two weeks, so I have been keeping a low profile. Yesterday I finally submitted my work. One of the things that kept me focused throughout the mornings was a yummy and nutritious breakfast. Porridge is one of my favourites, especially in the winter and when working on assignments. It is the best start into a cold winter morning and usually keeps me going until lunch time.
I was inspired to add turmeric to my porridge when I saw it on a restaurant menu the other night. Turmeric is a bright orange coloured spice full of powerful antioxidants giving it anti-inflammatory and detoxifying properties. I usually use it for making curries, so the more I was intrigued and couldn’t wait to try it out.
So, the next morning I went and added half a teaspoon of turmeric and a little honey to my porridge and I absolutely loved the flavour! I topped it with pomegranate, papaya including the seeds and some raw shelled hempseeds – divine! In case you wonder, the little black seeds of the papaya fruit are actually edible. They have a peppery taste and are really good for boosting the immune system and digestive health. Because of the peppery taste papaya and its seeds go amazingly well with salads and in smoothies. They can be dried and used like pepper as well.
A quick note on oats, they are mineral rich and have a low glyceamic index. This means the body releases energy gradually, keeping blood sugar levels stable and food cravings away. The high fiber content of oats is also known to lower cholesterol levels.If that is not a good start into the day !!
Turmeric porridge with pomegranate and papaya – serves 1-2
1 cup of rolled organic oats
1-2 cups of water or rice milk (alternative milks: coconut, almond, soy, dairy, hemp or just water)
1/2 tsp of turmeric, 1/4 tsp of cinnamon & a pinch of ginger (optional)
1 tsp of honey or maple syrup
1 tsp of chia seeds
1 hand full of pomegranate
1 hand full of papaya including seeds ( seeds are optional)
1 tbsp of shelled hemp seeds ( pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or chopped almonds, pecan or macadamia)
Porridge is really easily made with water or a variety of milks that are available in the shops now. I love rice milk it gives the porridge a nice creamy taste and texture and with some added fruits and nuts or seeds you are set for the morning. When not using turmeric, I love adding cinnamon, which gives a delicious warming flavor and keeps the blood sugar levels stable, so even less food cravings in combination with oats.
Method:
Place the oats, chia seeds and milk in a pot, add turmeric and honey and cook under medium heat until the the porridge has a nice creamy texture, adding more oats if its too liquid or more milk if its getting too thick. Keep stirring with a wooden spoon to make sure the porridge doesn’t stick to the pan. Chia seeds soak up a lot of liquid, so keep that in mind if you are using them, you might need to add some extra rice milk to get a nice creamy texture. Serve topped with pomegranate and papaya and sprinkle with hempseeds or your favourite nuts & seeds. Enjoy !!