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November 30, 2020

Northern delights: 7 tasty ways you can eat Nordic porridge

For thousands of years, porridge has filled Nordic tummies with hearty goodness, helping generations tackle dark, cold winter days, and enjoy long light summer nights with vim and vigour.   

It should come as no surprise then that oats grow so easily in Nordic nature. In Finland, for example, cool weather, clean soil and pure water help the versatile, healthy food grow in abundance. Today, the small Nordic nation sends 350,000 tons of oats abroad annually, making the country the world’s second-largest exporter.

But that’s not all. The Nordics are also home to a wide selection of tasty, vitamin-rich porridge toppings like raspberries, wild strawberries, cloudberries, blueberries and lingonberries. And as the humble Nordic oat enjoys official recognition as a superfood, the Nordic breakfast is taking the world by storm.  With a proven ability to lower cholesterol and blood sugar and improve digestion, it offers thousands of hungry, health-conscious customers a quick, tasty bowl of hearty goodness. 

Needless to say, there are plenty of  delicious ways to enjoy Nordic porridge. Here’s a few we love. 

1. Nosh Nordic porridge in no time

If you’re pressed for time in the mornings, don’t stress. You can enjoy all the goodness of Nordic porridge in no time thanks to Nordic Breakfast, who make a gluten-free oat lingonberry porridge that adds a quick healthy kick to busy mornings. Simply add water or oat milk and get stuck in.

2. Blueberry porridge

If you’re looking for a super healthy, super tasty way to start your day, then blueberries are the food for you. They’re proven to lower your risk of heart disease and cancer as they’re loaded with antioxidants, vitamin C, and also have anti-inflammatory qualities.

How to have blueberry porridge in your breakfast with these steps

  1. Gather ingredients
    • ½ of frozen blueberries.
    • One egg white.
    • 2 tbsp of water.
    • Squishy berries.
    • Nordic porridge.
  2. Put ½ of frozen blueberries and two tablespoons of water into a pan.
  3. Heat for one minute until they release their juices. 
  4. Add the squishy berries and juice to your tasty Nordic porridge. 

You can also add some all-natural Nordic Berry Xylitol powder for a sweet and healthy taste. Xylitol contains 40% fewer calories than sugar and is great for your teeth, so you can start your day with a smile.

3. Porridge with homemade lingonberry jam 

If you want to add a slightly sour zing to your oats, try lingonberries. These Nordic favourites are high in antioxidants and may even support heart health and protect your eyes. 

How to make 3 delicious pints of jam in just 15 minutes.

  1. Gather ingredients
    • 2 ¼ pounds of fresh lingonberries
    • 7/8 cups of water
    • 1 cup of white sugar
  2. Place 2 ¼ pounds of fresh lingonberries in a large pot containing 7/8 cups of water.
  3. Bring to a boil. 
  4. Stir in 1 cup of white sugar.
  5. Continue to boil until the sugar has dissolved.
  6. Place your tasty jam into some handy jars and refrigerate. 

4. Strawberry porridge

Strawberries add a summer zing to a winter breakfast and offer many cold-fighting vitamins. In fact, eight strawberries contain more vitamin C than an orange and provide high levels of antioxidants.

If you’re using frozen strawberries, place them in the pan with the boiling oats to release more flavour. And if you have a sweet tooth in the morning, why not mix in some high-quality, antioxidant-rich honey. 

5. Dairy-Free Porridge 

Over 17% of Finns are lactose intolerant, but that doesn’t mean they have to miss out on a delicious bowl of porridge. Here at Zero Percent Shop, we’re making it easier than ever to say ciao to the cow with a huge selection of dairy-free milk.
For example, pea milk gives porridge a smooth, creamy taste and delivers a super dose of plant-based protein. In fact, pea milk has the same amount of protein as cow’s milk and contains 50% more calcium and 50% less sugar. Now that’s something worth drinking to!

6. Norwegian Risengrynsgrøt

Norway is another Nordic nation of porridge lovers. Unlike Finland, Norway uses rice rather than oats to make their traditional porridge called Risengrynsgrøt, which is famously served on Christmas day. But the fibre-filled dish topped with cinnamon and berries is not just for Christmas. It can be enjoyed as a healthy, filling meal all year round. Just like the Norweigian way of life, Risengrynsgrøt is not to be rushed. So be sure to wake up early if you’re trying the dish for breakfast.

How to make Risengrynsgrøt

  1. Gather ingredients
    • 1/2 cups of medium grain rice
    • 3 cups of water
    • 5 cups of soy or oat  milk
    • ⅓ cup of brown  sugar
    • One teaspoon of clear vanilla extract
    •  A pinch of salt
    •  Cinnamon, for topping.
  2. Pour the rice into a pan of water, bring to the boil and then simmer over high heat. Cook for about 10 minutes and stir continuously until the water is absorbed into the rice.
  3. After this, turn the heat down to a medium level, continue to stir, and add one cup of your chosen milk every five minutes.
  4. Once the milk is added, turn to a  low heat and wait for at least 30 minutes until your dish is thick and creamy.
  5. Finally, add sugar, vanilla extract and salt for extra flavour and serve with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.

7. Nordic oat and rye porridge 

In Denmark, traditional Nordic porridge is constantly being reinvented and restyled in trendy porridge bars. One such dish is baked Nordic oat and rye porridge, a mix of rolled oats, rye flakes, almonds and blueberries. This delicious development is super healthy, as rye flakes are rich in phytochemicals, vitamins and iron.

How to make 6 servings in less than hour

  1. Gather ingredients
    • 1 cup of rolled oats
    • 1 cup of rye flakes
    • ½ cup of sliced almonds, toasted
    • 1 teaspoon of baking powder
    • 1 ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon of fine sea salt
    • ⅓ cup of pure maple syrup
    • 2 cups of almond milk
    • 1 banana
    • 2 tablespoons of coconut oil 
    • 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
    • 1 ½ cups of blueberries, fresh or frozen
  2. Put a small amount of coconut oil in an 8 x 8 glass baking dish. 
  3. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  4. Combine oats, rye flakes, half of the almonds, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.
  5. In a second bowl, whisk together maple syrup, almond milk, banana, coconut oil and vanilla.
  6. Sprinkle 1 cup of the berries in the bottom of the prepared dish. Top with the dry oat mixture.
  7. Sprinkle berries and ¼ cup of sliced almonds over the top. 
  8. Bake for about 40-50 minutes until the dish turns golden brown.

Offering many health benefits and flavours, Nordic porridge makes healthy eating simple, fun and endlessly interesting. So why not try your hand at making Nordic porridge today, and see why the Nordic people have loved the hearty dish for so long. 

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