What is the difference between porridge and overnight oats? Aren't they the same thing? – Yes and no. In any case, both are popular breakfast dishes that not only taste delicious but are also healthy.
Porridge from Verival – Try it now
Both porridge and overnight oats consist of the basic ingredients oat flakes and water or milk, but they are prepared differently. In addition, overnight oats are enjoyed cold, unlike warm porridge. Find out what else you need to know about the trend breakfast here:
What is porridge and where does it come from?
Porridge is basically nothing more than warm oatmeal that is mainly eaten for breakfast. Meanwhile, porridge has developed into a real food trend.
But it wasn't always like this: porridge is probably one of the oldest meals since humans were able to make fire themselves. About 15,000 years ago, many nomads settled down and started farming. Incidentally, historians suspect that oats originated in the Near East.
Oats were first cultivated in the Near East
The oldest finds in Europe are thought to date from the 5th millennium BC. Oats probably grew in the northern Black Sea region and in Poland at that time. In Central Europe, it was the pile dwellers of the Neolithic and Bronze Ages who grew oats north of the River Main. The ancient Greeks and Romans, on the other hand, looked down on oats as a weed.
Nordic peoples, on the other hand, greatly appreciated the plant: porridge was a staple food for the Scots, Vikings and Germanic peoples centuries ago. It was a regular part of the diet of the working classes in northern England, who ate it several times a week.
The oats cooked in water or other liquids are still a national dish in Scotland today and are an essential part of breakfast. The porridge has become a real cult here: since 1994, there has even been a “World Porridge Making Championship” for the best preparation.
This is how porridge is properly prepared
For a classic cooked porridge, you need only two ingredients: oats and a liquid of your choice. For a filling breakfast for one person, 50 grams of oats and about 250 milliliters of liquid are enough. If you're watching your calorie intake, water is the way to go. The dish will be creamier if you use milk.
Are you vegan? No problem, because warm breakfasts can also be made with plant-based drinks. Almond, cashew or hazelnut drinks give the dish a taste of nuts. Oat drink is also a natural match for the Scottish national dish. Coconut milk gives it an exotic flair, but is relatively high in energy due to its high fat content.
Whichever liquid you choose, the steps are the same: you cook the flakes in milk or water for two to three minutes. It is important to stir vigorously to prevent the food from burning.
If you like your breakfast with a bit of bite, large-leafed oats are ideal. They remain crunchy after cooking. Fine-leafed flakes, on the other hand, become really creamy. Finally, garnish your porridge with berries (cranberry), fresh fruit, nuts (hazelnuts), spices or other toppings of your choice, such as chia seeds.
What are overnight oats?
No time for a healthy breakfast? This excuse won't wash once you've tried overnight oats. It's not known exactly when this new trend was invented. Perhaps the dish was created by accident because someone wanted to prepare porridge and forgot to turn on the stove?
Verival porridge mixes – perfect for overnight oats
The realization from this was presumably that oats also swell in cold liquid. However, they take longer to do so than when cooked. The name overnight oats means oats soaked overnight. Simply prepare them in the evening, put them in the fridge and enjoy them fresh the next morning.
Overnight oats – the preparation
Just like for warm porridge, you only need oats and liquid for overnight oats. Since plant-based drinks, water or milk do not boil away with this preparation method, you need less of them. If you want to prepare breakfast for one person, you need around 40 grams of oats and 120 milliliters of liquid.
You put the ingredients in a bowl, stir them briefly and let them swell in the refrigerator. Soaked overnight, the oats turn into a healthy morning meal without any additional effort. Then, depending on your personal preference, you can refine the porridge with a spoonful of yoghurt, fruit or nuts.
Overnight oats have been unfairly discredited for a long time because of their high calorie content. Unsaturated fatty acids, such as those found in nuts, are known to protect the heart and blood vessels. Enjoyed in moderation, they make your breakfast even healthier. Those with a sweet tooth serve overnight oats with cinnamon, chopped bananas and chocolate sprinkles after a night in the fridge.
Are porridge and overnight oats healthy for breakfast?
Oats soaked in cold or hot liquid not only taste delicious, they also provide many healthy ingredients. One of the reasons why nutrition experts recommend them even for those on a diet is their high content of fiber. They are rich in indigestible plant substances that swell up to 100 times their weight in the intestines and ensure a long-lasting feeling of satiety.
They also regulate digestion and serve as food for the good bacteria in your intestinal flora. The reason why more and more athletes are having porridge for breakfast is because of the high magnesium content: this mineral prevents muscle soreness and ensures better muscle growth. In addition, oats are an ideal plant-based source of iron.
Since vitamin C promotes absorption, porridge is best enjoyed with fresh fruit. The beta-glucan contained in oats also lowers blood sugar levels 1 and makes oats an absolute superfood. When consumed regularly, porridge also has a beneficial effect on the complexion: zinc and biotin are responsible for this.
Porridge from Verival – Try it now
- Mathews R, Kamil A, Chu Y. Global review of heart health claims for oat beta-glucan products. Nutrition Reviews . Published online July 30, 2020:78-97. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuz069
