It’s often said that you either love porridge or hate it. I certainly belong to the first group and porridge has been my go-to breakfast at work for years – ever since I started working, actually. 😉 Although I love the cooked version of porridge which I can make at home, on most days I eat breakfast at work. And that’s where, after many tries, I managed to find the method which yields the best results. What you add to the porridge is a matter of preference, the possibilities are countless. 🙂 Today’s version is one of my favourites – cherry, chocolate and coconut. And yes, this does take some (5 minutes?) preparation – it’s not store-bought, sugary oatmeal which you just dissolve in boiling water. I always prepare the food that I take to the office at home, the evening before – in terms of my breakfast porridge, that involves measuring, weighing, chopping or defrosting the ingredients – whichever is needed that day.

For 1 serving of no-cook cherry and yoghurt porridge:

The base:

• 1/2 cup (50g) of rolled oats (not instant!)
• 1 cup (150g) of plain yoghurt (I use 0% fat Greek yoghurt – it’s creamier and less sour than most natural yoghurts)
• A big sprinkle of cinnamon

This step is what I repeat every day, regardless of the extras I go for. In a bowl, pour some boiling water onto the oats – just enough to cover them + a few tablespoons. Put them to the side for a few minutes – make yourself tea or coffee in the meantime. 😉 After about 3 minutes all water should be absorbed, you can now stir in the yoghurt and cinnamon. Mixing the oats straight into the yoghurt results in an almost solid, dry block of oaty yoghurt – that’s why it’s good to let the oats drink some water first.

Extras:

• A handful of frozen cherries, defrosted (take them out of the freezer the evening before and put in the fridge – they should defrost by the morning). I prefer frozen cherries to fresh due to the juice they ooze while defrosting – it turns the porridge this beautiful pink colour and gives the yoghurt cherry flavour
• 1-2 tablespoons of desiccated coconut
• 1 square of dark chocolate, finely chopped
• A teaspoon of honey if you like your porridge sweet and/or use yoghurt that’s sour in taste

Stir all the extras into the porridge and enjoy your healthy, delicious, filling, 5 minute breakfast. 🙂

• Sweet