“A nourishing, Fall breakfast that is sure to fuel you for the day (or workout) ahead! ”
Recipe: Warming Millet Porridge with Cardamom Blueberry Jam
Growing up in Canada, I’ve always enjoyed starting cold Fall mornings with a nice cozy bowl of porridge. With the temperatures dropping lately, I’ve been craving my childhood favourite and what better way than with this superfood, anti-inflammatory and gut healing Millet Porridge! It combines two of my Fall favourites – spiced turmeric lattes and warm porridge with a twist using millet instead of traditional oats.
This recipe is chock-full of anti-inflammatory ingredients to help reduce overall inflammation in the body (after those intense strength training days!) as well as those that help with overall digestion and gut health. Making this a great breakfast for anyone that’s looking for a little extra gut love, or those that might also be following the Low FODMAP diet.
We use the classic Turmeric Latte spices including ginger, cinnamon and, of course, turmeric sweetened with a splash of maple syrup and balanced out with some healthy fats from our homemade cardamom blueberry jam.
So, let’s break down some of the key health ingredients:
Turmeric – largely known to reduce overall inflammation in the body while targeting the gut as it has a lower absorption in the gut allowing the majority of benefits to be absorbed by the digestive tract.
Ginger – this is a traditional remedy to sooth the gut and stomach providing gastrointestinal relief. Studies also show that it contains very strong anti-inflammatory compounds.
Cinnamon – contains anti-inflammatory properties, reducing inflammation in the body. It is also an excellent source of calcium and fiber which bind to bile, helping to remove this from the gut and can reduce the risk of colon cancer.
Millet – a good source of copper, manganese, phosphorus and magnesium. The phosphorus is especially helpful in developing and repairing body tissue.
Chia – high in healthy omega-3 fats and excellent for athletes given their hydrophilic property as they can absorb more than 10 times their weight in water. This means they can keep you hydrated longer as they soak up the water we drink.
Ghee – supportive to the mucosal membranes of the digestive tract and contains a good dose of healthy fats to slow the digestion and sugars from the millet keeping you feeling full and satiated for a longer period of time.
Pumpkin seeds – full of anti-fungal and anti-viral properties as well as a good source of protein to balance out this breakfast and assist in keeping you full for longer.
So, there you have it! Give this hearty breakfast a try and start your morning off with a warming bowl of porridge that is sure to keep you going strong.
Recipe: Warming Millet Porridge with Cardamom Blueberry Jam
Serves 1
Prep: 10 minutes (plus overnight)
Cook: 20 minutes
Millet Porridge
¼ cup Hulled Millet (soaked overnight if time permits)
½ cup Water
½ tsp Turmeric (dried)
¼ tsp Ginger (dried)
½ tsp Cinnamon
½ cup Almond Milk (or other non-dairy milk)
1 tbsp Ghee
½ tsp Maple Syrup (or to taste)
1 tbsp Pumpkin Seeds (for topping)
Cardamom Blueberry Jam
¼ cup Frozen Blueberries
¼ cup Water
½ tsp Lemon Juice
¼ tsp Vanilla Extract
1 tsp Maple Syrup
¼ tsp Cardamom
1 tbsp Chia Seeds (whole)
Directions:
- Add the soaked millet, water, turmeric, ginger and cinnamon to a blender and blend on high for 5 seconds only (this is key!). This should be just a quick blast as we still want to see some whole millet seeds.
- Pour the blended millet mixture into a small pot and add the almond milk and ghee. Cover and bring to a boil on medium heat.
- Once boiled, reduce to a simmer on low heat. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring regularly.
- While the porridge is simmering, combine all jam ingredients into a separate small pot. Cover and bring to a boil on high heat then reduce to a low simmer to thicken for 10 minutes, uncovered. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Remove porridge from heat once the whole millet seeds are soft and stir in maple syrup to taste.
- Serve the porridge warm topped with the blueberry jam, pumpkin seeds and a splash of almond milk. Enjoy!