Creamy Peach Porridge

A creamy oatmeal porridge featuring fresh peaches, plant milk, apple sauce, vanilla, cinnamon, and dried fruit.

When I was in Finland, I tasted porridge for the first time. It was creamy and decadent. And I enjoyed it very much. When I came home, I played around with different ingredient combinations until I got the flavor and texture just right. Alas, my Creamy Oatmeal Porridge was created. And it is delicious topped with fresh berries, mandarin oranges, and bananas.

But then my sweet neighbors brought over some fresh Carolina peaches….

And what’s a gal to do – make some scrumptious treats, that’s what!! I made and posted the Upside Down Peach Gingerbread Cake. If you haven’t tried it, you definitely should. It’s healthy enough to eat for breakfast; but why would you when you can have it for dessert?! I love eating this peach cake with vanilla ice cream (of course!).

And then brilliance struck and I simply had to make this Creamy Peach Porridge. It’s similar to oatmeal in that you use oats, of course. But the texture is so much more creamy and satisfying.

Of course, I’m sure you already know that oats are super healthy and good for lowering cholesterol, help maintain and lower blood sugar, and reducing the risk of heart disease. They are among the healthiest grains on earth, are naturally gluten-free, contain vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.

As one of the most nutrient dense foods available, Just one-half of a cup of oats contains 13 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat, and 8 grams of fiber. And the vitamin and mineral characteristics are impressive with 191% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of manganese, 41% of phosphorus, 39% of Thiamine (Vitamin B1), 34% of magnesium, 24% of copper, and 20% of Iron and Zinc. (Healthline)

Fresh peaches are divine in this porridge. Feel free to use nectarines instead of peaches. These stone fruits are easily interchanged in recipes and are both rich in vitamins and antioxidants, including Vitamins C, A, K, thiamin, niacin, and riboflavin. Like most fruit, peaches are naturally low in calories, fat, sugar, and sodium. As a result, peaches are a low-glycemic fruit with a glycemic index of 28 and glycemic load of 4, having a minimal effect on blood sugar. (Very Well Fit)

I like to add caramelized peaches to the porridge and fresh raw peaches on top. After removing the pits and cutting the peaches in cubes, caramelize the peaches with a little coconut sugar. This releases some of the natural juice and intensifies the inherent flavor. It also lends a little sweetness, but not too much.

I prefer to leave the skin on the peaches, but you can remove the skin if you choose. This can be done by carefully plunging the peaches in simmering hot water for about 45 seconds, then placing them quickly in cold water for 1-2 minutes. The skin should come off fairly easily at this point.

This Creamy Peach Porridge is great served cold, at room temperature, or warm. You can spoon additional peaches and dried fruit over top or mix it into the porridge. The choice is yours! If you prefer your porridge or oatmeal more sweet, feel free to add more sugar or even maple syrup. I find that adding some apple sauce, vanilla, lemon zest, and cinnamon add some depth and flavor complexity as well.

The best part about this Creamy Peach Porridge recipe is that it makes enough for one person to eat five or six days. I like to divide this porridge up into small individual portions when I make it for a fast and easy to-go healthy breakfast option, which makes eating a heart-healthy breakfast on busy weekday mornings a breeze.

I hope you enjoy this Creamy Peach Porridge as much as I do.  Please leave a comment below and tag a picture @pebblesandtoast and #pebblesandtoast on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!   I’m just starting out and would love to see your results.  Enjoy!!

Ingredients

• 2 peaches, cubed*
• ¼ cup coconut sugar or date sugar
• 2 cups rolled oats
• ½ cup unsweetened apple sauce**
• 5 cups unsweetened plain almond milk
• 1 T lemon zest
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ cup dried fruit
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 peach, sliced or cubed
• salt to taste (optional)

Instructions

1. Sauté the peaches and coconut sugar for 2-3 minutes in a saucepan.

1. Add the milk, oats, lemon zest, apple sauce, and cinnamon and bring to a low boil.
2. Reduce the heat to low and cover 5-8 minutes, until the oats are tender.
3. Remove from heat.

1. Stir in dried fruit, and vanilla.

Notes

* I think this is perfectly sweet with the dried fruit, applesauce, and peaches.  Feel free to add maple syrup or more coconut sugar, if you prefer your porridge sweeter.

Warning!!  Keep an eye on your covered pot!  If not, it may boil over and make a mess.