Porridge Is Back In A Big Way. Here's How To Eat It In The 21st Century.

Oliver Twist would approve.
Naturally Ella

Porridge has a bad rap. Over the years it’s become synonymous with gruel. Gruel — which is basically just watered down porridge — always suggests something gray, bland and terrible. Porridge, however, is none of those things. When made with care, porridge makes a healthy, colorful breakfast bowl that you’ll never get sick of eating. In fact, porridge may even be the greatest invention of mankind, according to DNA researcher Alistair Moffat.

Moffat told the Telegraph that the beginning of farming brought the invention of porridge. Farmed cereal grains were cooked down until they were soft enough to feed babies. Babies’ teeth began getting stronger from eating porridge (and not just drinking milk), meaning that women could stop nursing after 1 to 2 years, as opposed to 4 to 5 years. It also caused an increase in population, because breast-feeding can act as a natural contraceptive. So in a way, porridge changed the entire course of human history.

Millet, amaranth, oats and even quinoa are some of the healthy grains being used to make porridge these days. The grains are flavored with almond and coconut milk, topped with fresh fruit, crunchy nuts and sometimes even peanut butter. These whole-grain bowls are so good, you’re going to want to eat them for every meal of the day. (And you know what? You absolutely can.)

Here are 19 beautiful — and healthy — recipes to get you started.

1
Toasted Coconut Breakfast Porridge
Pinch of Yum
2
Amaranth Porridge With Roasted Pears
Naturally Ella
3
Tahini Porridge With Roasted Banana And Toasted Almonds
Shanyara Leonie
4
Warm Maple And Pear Soaked Porridge
Faring Well
5
Cardamom Coconut Semolina Porridge
Fig and Honey
6
Blended Wild Blueberry Porridge
Tuulia
7
Banana Millet Breakfast Porridge
Savory Simple
Get the Banana Millet Breakfast Porridge recipe from Savory Simple
8
Toasted Almond And Coconut Quinoa Porridge
James Ransom/Food52
Get the Toasted Almond and Coconut Quinoa Porridge recipe from Gena Hamshaw via Food52
9
Coconut Millet
What Should I Eat For Breakfast Today
Get the Coconut Millet recipe from What Should I Eat For Breakfast Today
10
Sweet Breakfast Bowl With Chia Seed Porridge
Simple Roots Wellness
Get the Sweet Breakfast Bowl With Chia Seed Porridge recipe from Simple Roots Wellness
11
Pumpkin Pie Millet Porridge
Naturally Ella
Get the Pumpkin Pie Millet Porridge recipe from Naturally Ella
12
Quinoa Porridge With Plums In Syrup
What Should I Eat For Breakfast Today
Get the Quinoa Porridge With Plums In Syrup recipe from What Should I Eat For Breakfast Today
13
Raw Buckwheat Breakfast Porridge
James Ransom/Food52
Get the Raw Buckwheat Breakfast Porridge recipe from Gena Hamshaw via Food52
14
Millet Porridge With Lemon Curd
Naturally Ella
Get the Millet Porridge With Lemon Curd recipe from Naturally Ella
15
Quinoa Cooked With Strawberries In Orange Juice
What Should I Eat For Breakfast Today
Get the Quinoa Cooked With Strawberries In Orange Juice recipe from What Should I Eat For Breakfast Today
16
April Bloomfield's English Porridge
James Ransom/Food52
Get the April Bloomfield's English Porridge recipe from Genius Recipes via Food52
17
Mocha Latte Breakfast Quinoa
Fit Foodie Finds
Get the Mocha Latte Breakfast Quinoa recipe from Fit Foodie Finds
18
Dreamy Orange And Amaranth Porridge
Green Spirit Adventures
Get the Dreamy Orange and Amaranth Porridge recipe from Green Spirit Adventures
19
Whipped Berry Porridge
Sini Ellen | My Blue&White Kitchen
Get the Whipped Berry Porridge recipe from Sini Ellen | My Blue&White Kitchen via Food52

Before You Go

LOADINGERROR LOADING

Popular in the Community

Close

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

MORE IN LIFE