I've often wondered why some people put sugar on their porridge. I just put some milk on mine and flavour it with salt. So what do you put on your prrridge?
I am into porridge at the mo and I like cinnamon, raisins and a bit of sugar....Can't imagine salt on it....
I just put some milk on mine and flavour it with salt.
Ha Jon, that's why I published the Poll. Most Scots would only put salt on their porridge. You should try it it really brings out the flavour of the oats. Which is another thing traditionally porridge was made from oatmeal and not the porridge oats many folk use these days. Go on try some salt, not too much though.
Ok Fred, here is my challenge....I will try it with some salt, it does intrigue me even though it sounds awful, but you my friend have to try it with cinnamon and raisins and some sugar.... You up for it....?
Way ahead of you Jon! I have indeed tried it this way and, to tell the truth, it's quite good. However, the best way, and the more traditional in Scotland, is with milk and salt. In the past the milk, or cream, would have been in one bowl and the porridge in another. Dip the spoon into the porridge and then transfer the loaded spoon into the milk/cream to coat the porridge the eat. I have tried it this way, a bit of a fiddle and more washing up, up boy it is good.
Nice one...Ok, I am gonna try it your way. Do I boil the oats in water or milk and do I add salt as a topping or put it in the pan..?
This is the way I make it but, as you will see from the comments of others, there are many ways.
Put a cup of oatmeal or porridge oats into a pan. Add 2.5 cups of water and stir. If you can let this soak overnight. Add a small teaspoon of salt an put on the heat to boil stirring regularly. As it comes up to the boil it will thicken. Turn down the heat and simmer for 2-3 mins, still stirring regularly. Pour into a bowl, better than a plate, and add some milk. If you like you can add some more salt at this stage. If this not to your liking you can experiment, but thanks for trying anyway. Let me know what you think.
Traditionally porridge is a savoury dish but has obviously been much adapted over the centuries. You can make it with milk instead of water. In fact when I was a kid and had a cold, or whatever, my mother would make it this way as a treat.
There is an alternative to porridge called Brose. Here you just add the boiling water to the oatmeal and stir it in, also having added salt to taste. Put a saucer over the bold and leave for 2-3 mins. Again add milk as in porridge. Brose is a great meal whem you are out camping as it only requires oatmeal salt and hot water. It was probably more common than porridge in past centuries as it was so easy to make. Interestingly oatmeal was carried in the sporran, one of its traditional uses before it was used to hold your wallet and a hankerchef at weddings!