This past week was a lot of crazy things but it ended with a great surprise. I received an email informing me that I was included in the Top 10 Healthy Food Bloggers of 2014 by the wonderful and very kind folks at Better Homes and Garden. I won’t lie, I was blown away and completely ecstatic to be included among these talented and inspiring bloggers. Though, I’m not in the running for the final awards, please do stop by their site and vote for some of the amazing food bloggers in this and other categories.
I should have titled this post as “out with the milk”. You see, I ran out of milk this week, no dairy or nut or any other type of milk at home for my morning oats. When it comes to eating my breakfast oats, I need something other than water in it. I usually add some milk, a dash of vanilla and a little fruit to my oatmeal but I was out of options. Desperation led to making a sweet potato based porridge that at first I was unsure about sharing but once I tasted it, I knew I should. Plus, I think my trainer might be pleased with this one, since she keeps asking me to increase my sweet potato intake.
I flavored the sweet potato puree with freshly ground green cardamom seeds but as I’ve mentioned in the recipe, cinnamon works great too! So if you don’t have or don’t like either spice, feel free to swap or leave them out completely. If you do leave them out then I recommend increasing the vanilla extract to 1 teaspoon. I didn’t make this very sweet because personally, I am not a big fan of very sugary breakfasts but do go generous with the raisins, they provide little bursts of sweet surprises with every spoonful you taste that will make you smile.
oat and sweet potato porridge
yields: 4-6 servings
ingredients
1 lb sweet potatoes, washed, peeled and diced
4 cups water + 2 cups
3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/4 teaspoon, green cardamom seeds, freshly ground / 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, freshly ground
1/4 teaspoon madagascar bourbon vanilla extract
a pinch of salt
3 tablespoons honey (you can increase if you like it sweeter)
1/4 cup golden raisins (you can be a little generous here)
1. Place the sweet potatoes with the 4 cups of water in a large stock pot. Bring to boil on a medium-high flame and then reduce to medium-low, cover with a lid and cook for about 20 – 25 minutes until completely tender. Remove the stockpot from the stove and using an immersion blender or blender puree the sweet potatoes with its liquid until completely smooth. Keep aside until ready to use. The puree should be thick and velvety in texture. (You can cook it a little longer if it is not thick enough.)
2. Bring the oats and remaining two cups of water in a large saucepan on a medium-high flame to a boil. Reduce the flame to a medium-low and then cook for about 20 minutes until the oats are completely soft and tender. Stir occasionally, to make sure the oats do not stick to the pan.
3. Add the cooked oats, cardamom, vanilla, salt and honey to the sweet potatoes puree in a large saucepan. Heat the contents of the saucepan on a medium-high flame until it begins to boil with constant stirring. Taste and adjust the sweetness if desired. Fold in the raisins, remove from stove and serve warm.
11 Responses
Wauw this looks do delicious! Gotta try it sometime – SOON! 😉
Emma
http://www.thecasualcliche.blogspot.dk
You shouldn't be surprized by the nomination… this blog is excellent !
Even if – for us Italians – any kind of "porridge" is not the properly the appealing food we dream of, your recipe seems very tasty and healthy. It seems a pumpkin velluatata ! Wonderful shoots, then.
I just discovered your blog and love it so much I am now following you… congrats on your award – it is very well-deserved!
Congratulations! Totally deserved, and I love the sound of this porridge. Delicious.
Tasty sounding porridge and great photos!
Thanks Emma Jo!
Thank you so much, I need to try a pumpkin velluatata, it sounds interesting.
Thank you so much and I am so glad you like the stuff that you see here. It is great to meet you.
Thanks Sarah!
Thank you!
Lovely photos! Can't live without porridge or oats for that matter!