Porridge is the true unsung hero of cold autumnal mornings. The steaming bowl of oats is instantly enough to make you want to get out of bed, and the topping opportunities are almost endless.
Whether you’re a fruit and nut type of person or prefer something more indulgent like chocolate, syrup or peanut butter, getting that creamy base right is the first and most important step.
And although it seems fairly self-explanatory, there’s one trick that helps to make it a lot creamier – and it’s probably not what you think. That’s according to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, who has shared his failsafe recipe for porridge that is so simple to recreate at home.
Taking to TikTok, the chef revealed that he actually cooks the oats in water rather than milk – choosing to add the latter further on in the process.
This is because the coarse oats he’d opted for need softening, and when this happens, that’s when you get that creamy texture. Jamie’s ‘perfect’ recipe is so simple as well – all you need is oats, sea salt, water and milk, with brown sugar serving as a gorgeous caramel topping perfect for autumn.
Kicking off the video, Jamie said: “Okay, we’re making perfect porridge, because we love it. I’m going to use the coarse porridge oats, and one builder’s mug is absolutely perfect for four people.”
He tipped the oats into a large pot before adding three cups of water and a pinch of sea salt before bringing the mixture to the boil. When it reaches boiling point, turn the heat right down and leave to simmer for around 10-15 minutes. Reaching for the milk, Jamie said: “If you want to add milk, you can put a little splash in now.”
When the porridge was ready. he then portioned it out into four bowls and got to work on the sweet topping. He said: “What happens in the Oliver household is we either have the brown sugar – and if you put the brown sugar [on the porridge] and leave it for a minute, it almost turns into caramel.”
Golden syrup is another favourite topping of his, if you don’t have any brown sugar to hand.
In the comments, people thanked Jamie for his advice, with many people offering their own delicious suggestions of what to have your porridge with. “Grate carrot, maple syrup, tastes like carrot cake!” said one fan. Another said: “My kids love strawberry jam and raisins on theirs.”
“Maple syrup all the way,” raved another, while a fourth said: “Tablespoon of granola on top, banging.”