Newsflash! I haven’t been feeling very well lately. It’s winter, and I’ve been a bit sick and I still feel pretty crummy if I’m honest.
As always in this situation, I feel it must be a case of ‘cook, heal thy self’. So are you ready to get cozy?
This porridge is made with whole rolled oats, organic Almond Milk (the one I buy is slightly sweetened with agave), and just a pinch of salt. Super simple, but please understand that the salt is indispensable. The oats just taste oatier when that salt is in there.
To liven things up, I made a little jar of chai-spiced sugar for my morning (or anytime) porridge.
The chai sugar is very easy to make (as are most spiced sugars). Mine has vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cardamom. I simply rub fresh vanilla seeds into the sugar with my fingers, and then stir the rest of the spices through.
Immediately your kitchen smells of rich Indian spices; a scent which always make me think of dusty wooden spice boxes, bustling markets, old school shipping routes, and books like Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days.
This spiced sugar is not only delicious, but very useful to have in the kitchen. You can easily make what I like to call a ‘chai on the fly’ by steeping some black tea in milk, and then sweetening it with the chai sugar. It’s fantastic for tossing donuts in, of course (or perhaps churros?) and it’s also great to liven up a plain shortbread or other biscuit dough.
This porridge and spiced sugar combo is absolutely delicious, and felt like such a treat. What’s your favourite food to eat when you’re feeling under the weather?
xx Sarah.
- For the chai-spiced sugar:
- 1 cup caster sugar
- 1 vanilla bean
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp ginger
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp cardamom
- For the porridge:
- 1 cup oats
- 2½ cups almond milk
- ½ cup water
- pinch of salt
- To make the chai spiced sugar, place the caster sugar in a small bowl. Split the vanilla bean, and scrape out the seeds (don't waste the pod - use it to infuse some vodka for homemade vanilla).
- Rub the seeds into the sugar with your fingertips until they are well distributed, and no longer clumping together. Stir through the remaining spices.
- To make the porridge, place all the ingredients into a large saucepan and place over a low heat. Cook the oats gently, stirring often, until the oats have swelled to twice their size, and are creamy and soft (about 8-10 minutes).
- Divide the porridge between two bowls, and serve sprinkled with a few teaspoons of spiced sugar. Store the remaining sugar in an airtight jar. Feel better soon!
Breakfast breakfast for me!
Chai spiced sugar?! PLEASE!
Hope your feeling better soon! I know the cook and heal thyself all too well! This porridge looks smashing! I love gooey porridge early in the morning, particularly doused in brown sugar, but I think I might love the idea of chai sugar even more! I think you should make some chai doughnuts…or I might have to later today! :)
Thanks Molly – I love the sound of Chai donuts!
Boo winter and boo for feeling under the weather!!! We just managed to shake off our winter here so the thought of it still gives me the heebie-jeebies. But armed with this delicious chai porridge I think even I could take it on again. Love that you used almond milk (my favorite!!) and … I’d probably eat cardboard if it had chai-spiced sugar on it. Love this. Hope you feel better soon!
Mmm, this is so good! I made it this morning (Even though it’s definitely not winter here) and added a few dried cherries on top. I think the cardamom makes it taste a little like kheer.
I hope you feel better soon!
Bummer that you’re not feeling well! I always forget you guys are in the other hemisphere :) but this looks wonderful. When I’m feeling meh- it’s always gnocchi. All the time, ere’day. Feel better , dear!
Aw nuts, sorry to hear you’re not feeling well! I hope you’re better soon and drinking many chais on the fly. (That doesn’t have much to do with being sick, I just liked the rhyme and wanted to type it.)
I know, right?! I was so proud of that rhyme. Turns out I have shingles, so at least now I know what was making me feel so crap! I’m definitely on the mend now.
Gorgeous, Sarah! I love the sound of chai sugar and creamy porridge, even though it’s pretty warm here :) I hope you’re feeling better soon!