In collaboration with Dorset Cereals.
I confess I am very late to the whole overnight oats thing, I really am.
Porridge is, by all means, my number one favourite thing to have for breakfast, with home made granola or muesli over plain natural yogurt with plenty of fresh fruit a close second.
The concept of overnight oats, I confess, has not appealed to me. Cold porridge for breakfast? Why would anyone want to do that?
Bircher Muesli was developed by Swiss physician and pioneer nutritionist Maximillian Bircher-Benner in the late 19th/early 20th century.
Bircher was convinced that he had cured himself of jaundice by eating raw apples and he began to study and observe the health effects raw foods had on the body. At the time the popular diet was mainly meat and bread based, and Bircher believed that raw foods, namely fruit, vegetables and nuts, could be used to heal sickness. In 1897 he opened a sanatorium in Zurich called ‘Vital Force’ which proved to be very popular among the people, but attracted criticism from his fellow scientists who did not agree with his lifestyle advice.
It wasn’t until the 1930’s when vitamins were discovered in fruits and vegetables that Bircher was taken seriously in the scientific community.
The original Bircher Muesli, or raw porridge, served to Bircher’s patients was a combination of one tablespoonful of raw oats, soaked overnight in water, several whole grated apples (skin, core, pips and all), one tablespoonful of nuts, the juice of half a lemon and a tablespoonful of cream, honey or condensed milk (Source: Fruit Dishes & Raw Vegetables by M. Bircher).
Now, with our heightened awareness of the importance of fruit and vegetables in our diet, the breakfast has seen a surge in popularity. Ready made Bircher museli mixes are now available on supermarket shelves from companies such as Dorset Cereals.
Dorset Cereals recently sent me some of their Bircher museli mixes in Raspberry & Blackcurrant and Honey & Almond flavours, challenging me to try their cereal and create my own ‘summer in a bowl’ recipe with it.
I’m not going to lie, I was sceptical. Cold porridge. Blergh!
However, I was really pleasantly surprised! The instructions on the box suggest to soak the museli overnight (or for at least 30 minutes if you’re in a hurry!) in apple juice with a dollop of yogurt on the top, stirring in the yogurt in the morning and top with your favourite ingredients for a cool and creamy muesli breakfast.
It was delicious and sweet, like an oaty dessert instead of a healthy breakfast. I used coconut yogurt in my recipe and topped the muesli with organic locally grown raspberries and blackcurrants from my CSA veg box as well as some coconut shavings and a sprinkling of shelled hemp seeds. For a garnish I used one of the tiny windburnt leaves left on my mint plant after the gales last week. A Shetland summer!
I’m now a convert to overnight oats and will be experimenting with different toppings with the rest of the packets.
Dorset Cereals Bircher Mix retails between £3.49 – £3.80 for 600 grams and can be found at Waitrose, Sainsburys and Ocado.
Are you a Bircher museli fan? How do you make yours?
Raspberry, Blackcurrant & Coconut Bircher Muesli
Ingredients
- 50 grams Dorset Cereals Bircher mix raspberry and blackcurrant
- 70 ml apple juice
- 50 grams coconut yogurt plus extra to garnish
- fresh blackcurrants
- fresh raspberries
- 1 tbsp coconut flakes
- 0.5 tsp hemp seeds
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Instructions
- Measure the cereal out into a bowl, pour over the apple juice and stir well. Dollop over the yogurt and leave to sit for at least half an hour in the fridge, or preferably overnight.
- Stir the yogurt through the soaked muesli and top with the remaining ingredients.
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I’ve recently gone vegan and have been struggling for breakfast ideas. I love the sound of this and how easy it is too.
Ooh I’ve seen these bircher mixes, they sound yummy! And so easy to make a healthy breakfast. Will definitely try this out!
I’m definitely a convert now – wondering why I left it so long!
Love the idea of using coconut yoghurt to give it that extra flavour! I love porridge for breakfast too so much try this at home 🙂
I was wanting to try something a little different. I’m quite the fan of coconut yogurt now too – so delicious and creamy!
I love the sound of this muesli and the colour is really pretty!
It’s it lovely! Such a pretty pink shade 🙂
I love Bircher muesli, but never got round to making it myself – definitely gonna give it a go, yours looks so tasty!
This looks so good. I am on crutches at the moment, so preparing food is hard for me but I need to try this soon.
I completely get your misgivings about Bircher muesli and cold porridge! I thought the same – especially as I cannot even swallow porridge normally. I too love Bircher muesli though – Just so filling and tasty in a morning.
This looks delicious! I live trying new things for breakfast and I’m a big fan of breakfasts like this
I’ve never had anything like this before but I will definitely give it a try x
I’m not a big fan of muesli but my husband is so he would love this. xx
I absolutely love Bircher muesli, may just have to give this a go. I didn’t know Dorset Cereals produced a mix designed especially for it.
I have always liked the idea of overnight porridge but never really fancied it (if that makes sense), I do think the raw food diet does have its benefits.
For a more economical option, use 40gm of ordinary porridge oats (mine cost 45p for 250gm pack), soak in milk (I use almond milk if I have it), add a handful of dried berries and soak overnight. Add some fresh berries or banana or whatever you fancy. Eat. Yum.
This sounds very similar to overnight oats which a lot of people rave about, especially if they are following Slimming World. I am yet to try it but like you I am a bit concerned with it being cold!
Your recipe does look fab though, and I am going to give it a try.
Laura x x x
This looks so delicious! I’ve already recommended it. I use crushed cereal on my yogurt and fruit, it’s so nice.
I’ve never really fancied overnight oats either, especially as I don’t like porridge at the best of times! I imagine the apple juice makes it lovely and sweet, though – I may have to give it a try! 🙂
I’ve never actually tried muesli for breakfast, i usually just have cereal x