instant porridge flavourings suggestions pls

iammumtoone

I have been making my own instant porridge to take to work.

I am looking for some dried ingredients to add some flavour to it, the only thing I can think of is cinnamon.

The pots in the shops have some lovely sounding flavours I am wondering how they get those flavourings eg honey and vanilla using dried ingredients?

Anyone else make up their own instant porridge, what do you put in yours?

Thanks

fridge_raider

How are you making the porridge 'instant'? This greatly interests me.

In terms of flavours, they're using all kinds of industrial processes, and you can tell from the taste, I think those porridges are so artificial tasting, no matter how good they sound. I would add dried fruit of different descriptions, possibly some granola, nuts, etc. Perhaps put honey in a little pot or something. Also, try adding a couple of vanilla pods to a jar/packet of sugar - this gives the sugar a vanilla taste, you could then mix this in.

Callie22

Sainsburys and Waitrose (I think) sell little pots of freeze dried raspberries and strawberries, which are nice in porridge. I'd imagine that commercial companies use honey powder etc, which you can buy but it's very expensive and tends not to be 100% honey. You could add some proper honey and a little vanilla bean paste to your oats to get a similar flavour.

iammumtoone

fridge_raider wrote: »

How are you making the porridge 'instant'? This greatly interests me.
.

I use approx 4 tablespoons of oats and 1-2 tablespoon dried milk powder and mix together you could add sugar but I am being good at the moment so don't At work I add hot water and leave for a few minutes like a pot noodle!, it took me a few goes to get the amount of water right but I know where abouts on my tub to fill the water up to now. I add the water to approx half the level again of where the oat mixture comes up to iyswim, but its a matter of personal taste I like mine quite thick.

iammumtoone

I make up the dried mix the night before, I could make up a little pot of 'wet' ingredients as well to add after I have put the water in, that would work. Thanks

sparrer

For healthy I add dried dried fruit - apricots, raisins, prunes etc which also add a natural sweetness. Mixed spice and dried fruit gives a lovely 'Christmas Puddingy' flavour. Try a swirl of fruit yogurt to the finished dish. Or one of my favourites, a chopped banana.
If you want to be naughty once in a while add a little chocolate powder or grated chocolate to the dry ingredients, or crushed honeycomb.

Linda32

Hi,

You can get honey on a squeezy tub, so you could just squeeze honey on top of the porridge.

Do you like dried fruit? you could snip up apricots, prunes, stoned dates etc.

[Deleted User]

Dried cherries (urban fruits at Mr.T 2 packets for £3.50) in with the dry porridge, a nut of butter too before you add the hot liquid and then when the porridge is soaked and ready to eat some cinnamon sugar, Mmmmmm lovely!!!

pablakeman

Squeezy honey should be easy enough for you to take along to work with you? Otherwise like others have said dried fruit and nuts are good, depending on what you like/how healthy you want it to be.

I am trying to lose weight atm but I am wondering how good nutella/choc spread would be with porridge!

Seakay

sunflower seeds and currants
pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries
bay leaves (remove before eating), grated nutmeg, powdered cardamom, powdered cinnamon, mixed spice
chopped dried figs and chopped walnuts
coconut powder and chopped dried or fresh pineapple

TravellingAbuela

Those little boxes of raisins, chopped apricots, etc to pop in kids lunch boxes would transport easily to add to your porridge when it's ready to eat.
Personally, I add some Farmfoods summer fruits to mine once it's cooked. If you have a little Tupper box this would be easily transported.