Description
This creamy Caramelized Banana Porridge is a comforting and wholesome breakfast made with rolled oats cooked in milk, flavored with cinnamon and vanilla, and topped with sweet, caramelized banana slices. Enhanced with crunchy nuts and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup, this porridge combines warm spices and natural sweetness for a delicious start to your day.
Ingredients
Scale
Porridge Base
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (or steel-cut oats, adjust cooking time accordingly)
- 1 cup milk (or water, or plant-based milk like almond, oat, or soy milk)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Caramelized Banana Topping
- 1 ripe banana, sliced lengthwise or into rounds
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil or unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar (or maple syrup)
- Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
Additional Toppings
- Chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds)
- Drizzle of honey or maple syrup
- Yogurt or a splash of milk
- Granola for crunch
Instructions
- Prepare the porridge base: In a medium saucepan, combine the rolled oats, milk, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.
- Cook the oats: Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the oats soften and the porridge thickens to your liking—this usually takes about 5-7 minutes for rolled oats or 20-30 minutes if using steel-cut oats. Add more milk or water as needed to achieve desired consistency.
- Heat the fat for caramelizing: While the porridge cooks, heat the coconut oil or unsalted butter in a small skillet over medium heat until melted and hot.
- Caramelize the banana slices: Add the banana slices to the skillet and sprinkle them evenly with brown sugar or maple syrup.
- Cook the banana slices: Let them cook for 2-3 minutes on one side until golden and caramelized. Carefully flip the slices and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Optionally, sprinkle with a pinch of cinnamon to enhance the flavor.
- Assemble the dish: Once the porridge is ready, ladle it into serving bowls. Top each bowl with the caramelized banana slices and your choice of additional toppings such as chopped nuts, a drizzle of honey or maple syrup, a spoonful of yogurt or splash of milk, and a sprinkle of granola for added texture.
- Serve and enjoy: Serve the caramelized banana porridge warm to fully enjoy its comforting flavors and textures.
Notes
- If using steel-cut oats instead of rolled oats, increase the cooking time to 20-30 minutes and add more liquid as needed.
- Adjust sweetness by choosing between brown sugar or maple syrup for caramelizing the bananas, and topping with honey or syrup as desired.
- For a vegan version, use plant-based milk and coconut oil instead of butter.
- Feel free to customize toppings with your favorite nuts or seeds for extra nutrition and crunch.
- To make it gluten-free, ensure your oats are certified gluten-free.
