Chia porridge with Pear Cinnamon + vanilla
People often ask me what I eat for breakfast. Well for me that all depends on the weather, how I feel, what’s in season and my activity level for the day. When it’s cold outside there is nothing better than a bowl of my awesome power porridge made from fresh pear, chia, flaxseed, a little spice and my choice of milk. The fruit varies but my favourite is ripe beurre bosc pear that is naturally sweet, juicy and full of fibre. It also has a smooth, buttery flavour that I really love. I chop it up and cook it briefly in a pot with a little water, cinnamon, vanilla bean paste and muscatel. I add a little milk and that varies depending on what’s in the fridge – sometimes it’s almond, sometimes it’s soy, organic dairy, sunflower or coconut if I want it creamy. Once the milk heats up I fold through the chia and golden flaxseed then remove the pot off the heat. I also sometimes love to incorporate a few spoonfuls of organic rolled oats or quinoa for a change. The porridge thickens up quickly and I serve it with extra hot milk and fresh figs or banana. Feel free to sprinkle with extra flaxseed, flaked almonds, walnuts or ground cinnamon if you like.
This porridge is a bowl of superfood goodness and long lasting energy that will keep you going all morning. I love it because it warms me up and makes me feel good and It’s kind to my digestive system and keeps me regular.
What’s good about it:
Pears have a low GI of 38 and they are also high in fibre as are chia and flaxseeds. Fiber speeds up the movement in the intestinal tract and is great for treating digestive symptoms like IBS. It also delays glucose absorption keeping our blood sugar more stable.
Serves 1
2 small beurre bosc pears, cut into small chunks with the skin
1 tablespoon muscatel rasins
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
1/4 cup (60ml /2 fl oz) water
1/2 cup milk (your choice almond, dairy, soy, rice, coconut)
1 tablespoon chia seed
1 tablespoon golden flaxseed
Combine pears, raisins, cinnamon, vanilla and water into a small pot.
Simmer for 5 minutes over a low heat until the pears have softened and are heated through.
Add the milk and heat up.
Add the chia and flaxseed and stir through then remove from the heat and sit for 1 minute.
Spoon into a bowl.
Top with an extra splash of warm milk and enjoy.
Add extra fruit if you like or some roasted walnuts or flaked almonds for crunch.
Delicious !
Nutrition calculated using organic low fat milk
Protein: 12.5 g
Total fat: 7.9 g
Saturated: 1.7 g
Fiber: 18 g
Carbs: 40 g
Kilojoules: 1240
Calories: 296
Variations:
I sometimes add a spoonful or 2 of rolled oats or quinoa which gives it a lovely chewy texture.
Add 1 tablespoon of Healthy Chef Organic pea protein or Pure Native WPI after you remove from the stove – to pump up the protein.
Extra Notes: other fruits are lovely to top this delicious porridge, choose from fresh figs or banana.
Nuts such as lightly roasted walnut or almond flakes add a delicious crunch.
FOR MORE YUMMY PORRIDGE RECIPES CHECK OUT:
Oatmeal Power Porridge
Quinoa Porridge
Paleo Porridge
Contact Teresa Cutter
Teresa you are a star! I love all of your recipes, they are quick, very nutritious and the reward of eating your food creations are second to none! I made a slight variation with this recipe this morning. I combined the left over ground almonds from making almond milk overnight (another easy great recipe of yours) and then served with the freshly made milk. Nutritious and delicious.
Teresa, having just stumbled upon your website, I cannot express how excited I am to start incorporating many of your recipes into my diet!
Out of interest, is there any reason (nutritional, taste preference, or otherwise) why most of your traditionally oat-containing breakfast recipes (e.g. muesli, porridge) do not contain oats? I’ve always thought of oats (usually prepared with some combination of milk, fruit and nuts) to be a healthy breakfast staple, but please correct me if I happen to be wrong. Thanks!
I love oats Katie…..and have lots of oat recipes on my site check out my oatmeal porridge here………http://www.thehealthychef.com/2011/01/oatmeal-power-porridge/
My mission is to give people alternatives and inspiration in cooking healthy food……hope you enjoy the rest of my web site and recipes. :) xx
Teresa, I am on a diet at the moment and do eat healthily most of the time, one of my fav foods is fruit crumble, I sometimes add nuts and oats to the basic crumble, also cinnamon and dried fruits. Have you any more ideas? I usually only eat a dessert when I have friends over for a meal.
This looks and sounds awesome! Thanks Teresa!
Hi Teresa, just wondering how long does cooked Quineo last for in the fridge please. Thanks :)
Oh my goodness! This has to be one of the most DEVINE breakfast recipes i’ve ever come across! Absolutely AWESOME!
I love this porridge. So simple nutritious and soo yummy! Thanks for all your delicious ideas that you are sharing with everyone! It’s awesome.
Hi Teresa I’ve been looking at this recipe for awhile now, so finally got my act together and cooked it this morning for breakfast, and it was fantastic. Thanks so much for a great, easy and tasty breakfast recipe. A nice change from my normal oats (although I love my oats). Baking your fruit loaf this weekend and I can’t wait for my first taste at morning tea on Saturday.
Teresa, you have changed my life!! I love this recipe, and all the others I have tried in the last few weeks. Absolutely wonderful. Keep them coming!
This one is definitely a winner. I’m not a cereal person at all and the thought of it for breakfast leaves me cold. This however has become my new favorite breakfast. I make all sorts of variation with the fruit depending on what’s handy and is extra delish with home made almond milk. I often eat it cold as a snack at work as its very filling and stops those mid meal cravings. Thanks again.