Banana porridge to warm on winter days

Banana porridge to warm on winter days… Yes! Absolutely necessary as we progress deeper into winter in the Southern Hemisphere. I was actually starting to think winter wasn’t coming for a while there. Now I think all the seasons are just a little delayed because it sure is chilly! This is a favourite winter breakfast for me. I can feel it nourishing and warming me with every single spoonful 💞

Have you found yourself feeling particularly contented and relaxed after a lovely bowl of porridge in the morning? That is the result of oats having a calming effect on the nervous system. Oats help reduce anxiety, improve mood and tonify the nervous system to help keep you calm throughout the day. They are also excellent for digestion, high in protein and keep you satiated making them a great food to include in your diet for weight management (1). In addition, oats are high in a type of fibre known as beta-glucan, which is strongly associated with increasing immune function, reducing cholesterol and improving heart health (2).

The last fabulous feature of the humble oats that I will mention is that they are considered a prebiotic food. Prebiotics are beneficial food for our good gut bugs that help them thrive and maintain a happy digestive tract. This in turn creates a healthy gut ecosystem making us happier and healthier overall (1). All in one bowl of porridge, hey?! That is food as medicine right there 🙌🏻

Porridge is a recipe I love to make in the Thermomix because it comes out perfectly every single time! It also means I don’t have to stand over the stove with a Hawke eye making sure it doesn’t bubble up and over 😀 It often does for me because I’m easily distracted 🙄 That is not to say it can’t be made on the stove top of course…. it just requires more patience than I possess. Hope you enjoy this 💚

Banana porridge to warm on winter days

Banana Porridge to Warm on Winter Days

Ingredients

  • 40g rolled oats (I used GF Oats Australia)
  • 1 medium banana
  • 150ml almond milk (I used PureHarvest*) plus a little extra to serve (or milk of choice)
  • 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (optional topping)
  • 1Tbsp goji berries (optional topping)
  • Cacao nibs to sprinkle (optional topping)

Directions

  1. Place the oats, banana, almond milk, cinnamon, vanilla and salt in the Thermomix and cook on 100 degrees, reverse speed 2 for 12 minutes
  2. Top with blueberries, goji berries, cacao nibs, a drizzle of maple syrup and any extra milk you’d like. Serves 1 to 2.

Banana Porridge to Warm on Winter Days

* Just a note on almond milks – You may have noticed the market is flooded with them now but they are definitely not all equal. Many companies have been quick to get their own brand out because that’s what the public wants. However, they have neglected the fact that ingredients are what makes a product wholesome, not just the name. PureHarvest are one of very few (count them on one hand!) companies that use minimal ingredients, a higher volume of almonds AND they think ethically about their waste. Last time I spoke to them I was told they send all their almond pulp off to a pig farm for food. That is a wonderful thing given the resources it takes to grow almonds. I highly recommend this brand if you’re out purchasing at the supermarket. This is not a sponsored post – I am just always in search of nourishing products to suggest to clients and have been a PureHarvest fan for a long time.

Resources:

1. Slavin, J 2013, ‘Fiber and prebiotics: mechanisms and health benefits.’, Nutrients, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 1417–35, viewed 26 June 2017

2. El Khoury, D, Cuda, C, Luhovyy, B.L & Anderson, G. 2011, ‘Beta Glucan: Health Benefits in Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome’, Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, vol. 2012, pp. 1–28, viewed 24 June 2017

16 Comments

  1. That looks delicious! I never thought of putting a banana in warm oatmeals. That will change now! 🙂 Stay warm!

    • Thanks Jas! 😊 It’s so cold down here at the moment…. but I’m sure many Europeans wouldn’t think so. No snow and no minuses 😀 Cooked banana isn’t for everyone so it could be left out but I love it 💜

  2. I don’t have a thermomix but the ingredients in this sound delicious and it could so easily be adapted. It’s not winter here but it’s not too hot and porridge suits us all year round!

    • It can definitely be made on the stovetop Corina! I just don’t trust myself to do it because I always end up doing five things at once and before I know it, it’s bubbled over ☹️ We had a very sudden cold snap so I’m enjoying this most mornings at the moment 💜

  3. Mmmm. I love porridge! Winter day, Summer day, Autumn day, Spring day. Any day. All days. Your photos are beautiful Gabby!!

    • Awww thank you, Elaine 🙌🏻 And you’ve just reminded me I should update the recipe to say it can be made without the banana! Just add more milk if taking it out 😊

  4. Though its summer in Montreal, mornings can be cold for us (coming from tropical Mombasa) so I do crave for some hot breakfast. I’ve never cooked banana with the porridge, but add it on top after cooking. Got to try this version.

    • I’m sure it’s not cold here by Canadian standards, Mayuri 😊 But cold enough for me! I love mixing the banana through the porridge as it cooks. Banana and cinnamon has to be one of my favourite flavour combinations 💗

  5. Lovely photos Gabby, they make your porridge so tempting, we’re in the Summer heat here along the Mediterranean coasts, so I’m craving for juicy fruits for my breakfast at the moment but I’m pinning your yummy recipe for later 🙂

  6. I love this idea and can’t wait to try it!

  7. Wow, Liam always eats porridge when he is back from school, I guess it helps him relax. That must be the reason why I have to scream for him to hear me when I call him….or maybe are the headphones. For him, the best of relaxation is eating porridge watching a show on his Ipad. I will give him this recipe and I am sure he is going to love it. He is like his mother, I also love porridge

    • 😂 That could be it Laura! 😀 The porridge may relax him too much to hear Mum call! I love the way a bowl of oats can make you feel. It’s such a simple breakfast but it has enormous health benefits.

  8. Hey Gabby, if you prefer cow’s milk, would this recipe still work out the same? The kiddies love bananas, so it could be the winter replacement for their morning banana smoothie.

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