Porridge

published May 1, 2022
a bowl of porridge with strawberries and blueberries on top.
Credit: Kelli Foster

This creamy steel cut oat porridge is sure to get your day off to a great start.

Serves2 to 3

Prep2 minutes

Cook32 minutes to 35 minutes

Jump to Recipe
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
a bowl of porridge with strawberries and blueberries on top.
Credit: Kelli Foster

In my humble opinion, there is no breakfast dish more underrated than a bowl of perfectly cooked porridge.

If I’m being totally honest, I struggle to eat breakfast with regularity. The morning hours often seem to just whirl past me, and somewhere around noon it dawns on me that I haven’t yet had breakfast. But these days, I’m making more of a concerted effort to eat breakfast because it definitely gives me a boost for the day ahead. And when I do eat breakfast, porridge is my go-to.

It’s warm and cozy, nourishing and energizing, and endlessly versatile. You can make it with any kind of grains or cereals you have on hand; sweeten it as much (or as little) as you want with honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar; and top it off with nearly anything (fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts and seeds, coconut flakes, chocolate chips). The world really is your oyster.

So, whether you’re a breakfast evangelist or you only eat breakfast when the mood strikes, I highly recommend a bowl of this porridge to get your day off right.

Credit: Kelli Foster

Are Oatmeal and Porridge the Same Thing? 

Oatmeal is always a porridge, but porridge is not always oatmeal. Porridge can be made with any number of grains or cereals cooked down with water or milk. For example, you could make porridge with corn, wheat, or barley. Oatmeal is a type of porridge made with oats.

While you can use any kind of oats, I adore steel-cut oats for their slightly toothsome texture, which is why I’ve used them here.

What Is the Best Oats-to-Milk Ratio? 

For the perfect consistency, I go with 1 1/2 cups water and 1 1/2 cups milk to 1 cup oats. This results in a porridge that is creamy and not too runny or too dry.

What Toppings Can You Put on Porridge?

Everything and anything! You could go with fresh berries, some chocolate chips, or a variety of nuts for a little bit of crunch. You can go savory or sweet. Here’s some inspiration.

Porridge Recipe

This creamy steel cut oat porridge is sure to get your day off to a great start.

Prep time 2 minutes

Cook time 32 minutes to 35 minutes

Serves 2 to 3

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups

    water

  • 1 1/2 cups

    milk

  • 1/4 teaspoon

    kosher salt

  • 1 cup

    steel cut oats

  • 2 tablespoons

    maple syrup or granulated sugar, plus more for serving

  • 1/8 teaspoon

    ground cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

Show Images
  1. Place 1 1/2 cups water, 1 1/2 cups milk, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt in a small or medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add 1 cup steel-cut oats. Cooking, stirring regularly, until thickened significantly, about 15 minutes.

  2. Reduce the heat to low. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, until almost all of the liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes.

  3. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add 2 tablespoons maple syrup or granulated sugar and 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon if desired and stir to combine). Let cool for 5 minutes to thicken. Serve with more milk and maple syrup or granulated sugar if desired.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Porridge is best eaten immediately, but leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in a bowl in the microwave, thinning out with more milk or water as needed.