What do you put on/in your porridge?

[TheBlackCatWithTheWhiteSpot]

I’m usually a brown seeded toast and marmite for breakfast person, but I’m trying to economise, so thought I would have porridge for breakfast instead.

The problem is, I’m a bit weary of it already, one week in.

I have a mild intolerance to milk, but I hate soy and nut milk substitutes.
So I make it with water and just add a small splash of real milk on top to cool.

I don’t really like overly sweet things for breakfast, I’ve been adding cinnamon and a tiny dab of honey. It’s fine, but I just feel there must be more to life than this!

What can I add to make me look forward to eating it?

I make my porridge with water (can't stomach milk first thing).
put in linseed and chia as well.
and raisins.

then top it with ground cinnamon, cardamon, ginger. or dark chocolate shavings. or some peanut butter. or all of it

I am definitely drawn more to the mushrooms and garlic end of the spectrum.

But I don’t have much time in the morning, so I need something cheap I can just chuck in the microwave, rather than start frying fish and mushrooms.

I do like peanut butter, and we always buy a good quality one as DH and DC are great connoisseurs, but I’m struggling to imagine it with porridge. Maybe I should give it a try.

Stewing and freezing fruit is probably the way forward, if I can organise myself sufficiently.

Nectarines are delicious with porridge
Also coconut interfere then toasted flakes

Love nuts and berries
And for me can't beat a lump of butter and a bit of sugar.

You could also try making overnight oats.

I'd love to see the recipes for some of these. They sound awesome!

Salt

You might like porridge with chicken stock, then add cooked chicken or egg, diced spring onion, chilli oil and soy sauce. If you have the ingredients ready prepared in the fridge it would not take long in the morning. Not the cheapest option for breakfast but when I make this, I find that I do not need much for lunch.

I use Oatbran instead of porridge oats, make it with almond milk and add a spoon of almond butter.

It's the best.

Tinned or fresh pear with a couple of squares of dark chocolate that melt in the top. Add a sprinkle of chopped nuts.

Blueberries and maple syrup.

Add cocoa to the porridge when cooking and add orange segments or fresh cherries.

Stewed apple with cinnamon.

I use the no sugars almond milk btw. It's very quick.

Cream and brown sugar. Brings back very special memories of my childhood. Now it's an equally rare treat.

I fill half the bowl with a fruit or mix of fruits I like and that are alright when heated/cooked: strawberries, blueberries, peaches, apricots, cherries... usually canned ones (in juice or light syrup).

Half fill bowl with oats. I prefer less ground up oats.

Whatever fluid works to moisten the oats, cow milk probably but could be the canned juices or soymilk or ...

Cook in microwave.

I don't like it very milky or like puree <boak>

Slightly Mix in Peanutbutter or another nut butter or jam. I used to like Greek yogurt with that mix, too.

I like grated ginger root added to the oats and when cooked I added a dollop of apricot jam on top.
But if you like something savoury, why not try marmite and/or peanut butter, or seeds or soy sauce on top?

I make it with oat milk.
Add pumpkin and sunflower seeds, chopped dried fruit like figs, apricots.
Sometimes berries or banana.
Brown sugar or maple syrup.

Raisins. Put them in with it when it's cooking and they go nice and plump and juicy.

I put golden syrup on top as it reminds me of being little as my Gran used to do this 🥰

But I guess that bit's not for you if you don't like it sweet.

I make overnight oats using layer of oats, some tinned apple (mixed with cinnamon and/or mixed spice) Greek yogurt, more oats, chopped almonds and any frozen fruit.
It's lush.
I also make it hot with the tinned apple and/or sliced banana and/or almonds.

Congee is made with rice, I think you'd prefer it if you're savoury

Cream, blueberries and a sprinkle of brown sugar. Or vanilla bean paste and pears, or cardamon and chopped apricots.

I mix pinhead oats (roughly chopped oat groats) with flax, sesame, hemp, poppy, pumpkin, sunflower, chia seeds, walnuts, a scoop of whey powder, a tablespoon of inulin and water in the pan the evening before. Sometimes I'll add a bit of dried fruit, like raisins or chopped apricots.

In the morning I add a teaspoon of cinnamon and a portion of frozen berries before switching on the heat under the pan. Unless I eschew the berries for a bramley apple, nuked in the microwave and and a teaspoon of cardamom.

Most days I serve it with a dollop of extra thick double cream, but every now and again I'll choose peanut butter instead.

Breakfast is my biggest meal of the day, and I've been fasting for 18 hours by the time I tuck into it, so I don't stint on the ingredients.

Honey, and walnuts for me.

Ok try bovril or marmite. Hummous, patè, cheese spread, dairylea, ham and mustard, bacon jam, salted caramel, ricotta, goats cheese, other soft cheeses. Off the top of my head.

I love this. Especially excited to try the coconut yogurt with blueberries combination and also preparing it with almond milk, think that would make a lovely smooth textured bowl of porridge. I usually have just fine oats cooked in full cow milk which I find very comforting. I have tried banana, peanut butter and cinnamon sugar, very delicious.

Oat milk is great for porridge as it's just more oats.

I try to do a fruit, a nut, and a seed and mix it up each day.

Peanut butter, banana, and chia seeds.
Grated apple, walnut, linseed.
Frozen berries, figs, pistachio.

All with a splash of maple syrup.

The milled seed packs from Lidl are brilliant!

I have just made myself a bowl of porridge. DH can get his own lunch.

I make mine with oat milk and add a pinch of salt. Sometimes with a sprinkling of mixed seeds. I don't really like sweet porridge.

Another vote for oat milk.

i also use chia plus frozen fruit, often cherries sometimes with a bit of dark xhoc.

i find almond butter adds a salty / savoury note (vs peanut butter).

if you’re leaning towards savoury, how about polenta instead which is pretty quick and easy and could be topped with whatever? Can also be made in advance and baked into a tin if you prefer it more solid