How to Make Porridge

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Ah, porridge. Breakfast doesn't get more classic than that. However, because it's so simple, everyone has their own way of making it (and eating it). We'll cover three different types of porridge (oatmeal, rice, and barley) in addition to exploring ways you can spruce up your standard bowl – if you've been eating your porridge plain, you're in for a tastebud explosion.

Each recipe serves 4 people.

Ingredients

Oatmeal Porridge

  • 1 c (160 g) rolled oats
  • 3 cups (600 ml) milk, soya milk or water
  • Sea salt
  • Toppings (honey, brown sugar, fruit, yogurt, etc.)

Cooking time: 10-15 minutes

Rice Porridge

  • 4 cups cooked rice
  • 8 cups water or broth (for thick porridge; more if you want it thinner)
  • 2 eggs (optional)

Cooking time: 15-20 minutes

Barley Porridge

  • 2 cups pearled barley
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • Heavy cream
  • Brown sugar, cinnamon, chopped toasted walnuts (optional)
  • Fresh fruit for serving (optional)

Cooking time: 60-75 minutes

Simple Porridge with Bananas and Nuts

  • Skimmed milk
  • Two bananas
  • Vanilla essence
  • Nutmeg
  • Cinnamon
  • Cheap porridge
  • Nuts and seeds for topping
Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Oatmeal Porridge

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  1. Using water is easiest as milk can easily scorch on the bottom, ruining your porridge and smelling up the kitchen. You can, however, add milk towards the end if you’re concerned about your porridge not being creamy enough.
    • Rolled oats are best as they’re whole, natural, and haven’t been through much processing. However, steel-cut or quick oats are okay, too – they just might not have the exact taste you're going for.
  2. Use a wooden spoon to stir – some people even use the top of the spoon like they’re stirring their porridge with a pencil. Keep stirring until it starts to bubble.
    • Never use metal on a non-stick pan. The metal can scrape away the sides, resulting in microscopic bits of the pan getting into your food. Always use a wooden spoon or a rubber spatula.
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  3. Once it reaches that bubbling point, bring the heat down to low (this is especially important if you’re using milk to prevent it from scorching). Stir as often as you can to get it to a smooth and creamy consistency.
    • If you like runny porridge, add a splash of more milk or water until it looks like you pictured it. If you’re making for a group, let each person add more liquid as they see fit to their individual serving once it's all in bowls.
  4. Most people like to start out with a sweet base to work with. Some people even add butter! As your porridge is finishing, consider adding a few touches to everyone’s dish. Just a tablespoon or so of each ought to do it.
    • If you're trying to watch your sugar intake or prefer a more savory dish, skip this part. You can always add in whatever you like, later, too.
  5. There are dozens of ways to spruce up a plain ol' dish of porridge so breakfast can be easy but still delectable. Here are some ideas:
    • Drizzle with honey and Greek yogurt
    • Add blackberries and raspberries, stewed to bring out their juices
    • Slice up a banana or two and add some maple syrup
    • Add in a tablespoon or two of cocoa and peanut butter
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Rice Porridge (Congee)

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  1. This recipe can also be made with uncooked rice, though it takes much longer. Just make sure there’s enough room in the pot for plenty of water, too.
    • You can also make this dish with a rice cooker or in the microwave. With those, times may vary. Essentially, congee is just cooked rice with much more water, allowed to stew.
  2. As most rice porridge is used to get rid of leftover rice, measurements are not a standard of this timeless recipe. However, with cooked rice, you want about twice as much water – enough to cover the rice and then about an inch more.
    • If the rice is uncooked, you’ll need about 4 times as much water. The rice expands and absorbs the water while cooking.
    • Broth is good if you're looking for a richer, more savory taste, but it's hardly necessary.
  3. Keep stirring to nudge the grains apart and to give it a smooth consistency from the get-go. Once it reaches a boil, bring the heat down to low and let simmer.
    • Cover your pot, resisting the urge to check it more than once or twice. The more you open it, the more the steam and heat escapes, slowing the process.
  4. Be sure to break up the eggs with a fork or you might end up with bits of yolk floating around in your porridge. In traditional rice porridge, the eggs are blended right into the porridge, giving it flavor instead of texture.
    • Congee, or rice porridge, isn't about rice porridge with bits of scrambled egg floating about. To be sure it'll turn out smooth, whisk up the eggs beforehand and then add to your porridge.
  5. As the broth or water breaks down the rice, slowly it will start to congeal and become one mass. The grains will smooth out and the water will seem the thicken. If you see this, you're on the right track!
    • Be sure to keep stirring – it's best that it's all cooked evenly and nothing is left to harden on the bottom of the pan.
  6. Soy sauce is a very common addition to congee, and some people like to add a little kick with chili sauce or Sriracha.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Barley Porridge

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  1. Bring these ingredients to a boil in a large pan over medium heat. Once they reach a boil, bring down the heat to low. Keeping the temperature up too high will result in the barley burning and the water evaporating too quickly.
    • If you don't have 4 people to serve, this recipe is easily cut in half. However, don't necessarily modify the toppings too much – if you like it sweet, you may need just as much sugar!
  2. Barley is a tough nut to crack (figuratively, of course. Literally barley is a grain with just a nutty flavor). Because of it's tougher consistency, it takes longer than oats or rice to make tender. Stir every 10 minutes or so, checking on how it's doing. Every pot will differ slightly in the time needed to cook.
    • Keep the lid on as much as possible. When 10 minutes is up, take it off and give it a few stirs with a wooden spoon. When the water is mostly gone, the barley is done.
  3. Even if you're looking for a runnier porridge, drain the cooked barley. The water that's left probably won't taste as good and rich as a cup of milk will.
    • This is easiest to do with a plastic or metal colander. If you're in a bind, hold the lid up the edge of the pan and tip it over into the sink to dispel the water.
  4. 1 cup of milk, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon will turn your plain barley into a regular breakfast feast. Modify the sweetness as you see fit, of course.
    • The milk is necessary (the fatter the milk, the creamier the taste), but you can experiment with the brown sugar and cinnamon and explore other things like honey, fruit juice, or yogurt, too.
  5. This is generally how long it takes until the milk has almost been entirely absorbed. What's more, the barley will take on some of the sweet, cinnamon-y flavor.
    • When it has a thick, glutinous, porridge-like consistency, it's done! You can add more milk if you'd like it a little thinner.
  6. Right now you just have basic barley porridge. To spice things up, top each dish with walnuts, a drizzle of heavy cream, and fruit, if desired. There’s no getting tired of that!
    • If you're the curious type, try yogurt, peanut butter, cocoa, honey, or any other addition that you think would make the porridge a breakfast of champions.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Simple Porridge with Bananas and Nuts

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  7. Try cashews, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, linseed, pumpkins all of which you can roast in the oven, when the oven is in use for something else.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Measuring cups
      • Wooden spoon
      • Pot and or pan(s)
      • Colander (if making barley porridge)

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      References

      1. http://drbenkim.com/how-to-make-rice-porridge.htm
      2. http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fruit-recipes/porridge-lots-of-ways
      3. http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/09/barley-porridge-cooked-with-milk-recipe.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make porridge on the stove, combine 1 cup (90 grams) of rolled oats and 3 cups (750 ml) of water in a pot over medium heat until the water starts to boil. Then, turn the heat down to low and let the oats simmer for 5 minutes, stirring regularly. To make your porridge sweeter, add a dash of brown sugar or honey while it's simmering. After 5 minutes, transfer your porridge to a bowl, add your favorite toppings, and serve! If you want to learn how to make your porridge with rice or barley, keep reading the article!

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      • Lucy Cummins

        Jul 5, 2020

        "I am 13 years old and I have been making porridge for myself since I was 6. I have never tried rice porridge before ..." more
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