How to cook perfect porridge

Cooking a perfect bowl of porridge takes just minutes and only needs three easy steps. Once you’ve made your perfect breakfast, liven it up with fruit, nuts and other healthy options.

Go stir-crazy and add your favourite topping for the perfect porridge.

You can top your porridge with a variety of fruits, seeds and other foods.

How to make porridge

Step 1: Combine oats, milk, water and salt in saucepan.

Step 2: Cook, stirring, until mixture thickens enough to coat spoon.

Step 3: Spoon into bowls and add topping.

Try adding vanilla yoghurt, pistachios and honey to porridge.

Quick ideas

1. Top porridge with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and 1/4 cup brown sugar. Drizzle with pouring cream.

2. Top porridge with 1/3 cup vanilla yoghurt, 1/3 cup chopped pistachios and 1 tablespoon honey.

3. Stir 2 grated granny smith apples into porridge after removing from heat. Sprinkle porridge with ground cinnamon or mixed spice to serve.

4. Add 1/3 cup sultanas, 1/3 cup chopped dried apricots and 1/3 cup craisins to mixture at the start of step 1.

Creamy porridge with stewed rhubarb.

5. Place 6 chopped rhubarb stalks in a roasting dish. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup brown sugar. Drizzle with 20g butter, melted, and 1/4cup cold water. Cover with foil and bake in a 190°C oven for 10 minutes or until soft. Top porridge with rhubarb mixture and sprinkle with toasted slivered almonds to serve.

6. Make a quick berry compote topping with 500g frozen berries and 1/4 cup caster sugar simmered for 10 minutes.

7. Add a spoonful of choc-hazelnut spread and sliced banana. Stir through sultanas, cinnamon and chopped almonds. Top with a drizzle of honey.

8. For a spot of indulgence, caramelise apple wedges in butter and maple syrup until tender and spoon over porridge.

For more recipe ideas, go to taste.com.au or check out the Taste Test Kitchen now.

Originally published as How to cook perfect porridge