This oat porridge (Pakistani oatmeal recipe) makes a hearty, nourishing, sweet, and creamy breakfast, perfect for cold winter mornings. My grandmother's recipe and a childhood favorite, this porridge takes just 10 minutes to cook.
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Porridge is made by cooking starchy grains in water, milk, or a combination. There are countless sweet and savory variations across the globe, such as Congee in China, Oatmeal or Farina in the USA, or Upma in South India.
This Pakistani variation, known as 'dalia,' is traditionally cooked with cracked wheat, water, milk, and shakkar (jaggery). My grandmother made this rich and creamy version with oats during winter, and I love its dessert-like flavor and texture. The only change I've made to the original recipe is the addition of fresh blueberries and chopped walnuts as toppings.
For more traditional Pakistani breakfast recipes, I highly recommend my Paratha Recipe (Pakistani Flatbread), Missi Roti (Besan Ki Roti), Sugar Paratha (Meetha Paratha), and Easy French Toast Recipe (Pakistani).
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Delectable recipe: Not only is this oat porridge a hearty and nutritious breakfast option, but its creamy and luscious texture almost makes it a dessert. I often grab a bowl full when I'm craving something sweet.
- Quick and easy recipe: When I say this takes 10 minutes, I mean it! From start to finish, this is all it takes to put together a breakfast your whole family will love.
- Easy to customize: There are so many ways to customize this basic recipe. Scroll to the 'substitutions and variations' section below to see exactly how.
Ingredient notes
- Oats: I used old-fashioned oats for this oat porridge recipe. These are flat and flaky and cook very quickly.
- Milk: For a truly creamy texture, always use full-fat milk.
- Jaggery: This is a popular unrefined South Asian sweetener made from sugar cane.
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions.
Substitutions & variations
- Try different oats: If you like a more chewy texture to your oatmeal, you can use steel-cut oats. However, this will increase the cooking time.
- Change the toppings: I love my oatmeal with blueberries and walnuts, but the options are limitless. Add bananas, assorted berries, apples, or dried fruit to the oatmeal. Change the nuts, and add chia, flax, or sunflower seeds.
- Use a different sweetener: Add dark or light brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey if you find it difficult to source jaggery.
- Add seasoning: Try a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, or vanilla extract to add a more complex flavor to your oat porridge.
- Make it vegan: Use almond, oat, or coconut milk for a vegan version of the porridge.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Measure 1 cup of oatmeal in a saucepan and add 1 cup of water.
Step 2: Follow with 1 cup of milk and stir to mix.
Step 3: Add some salt to help balance out the flavor.
Step 4: Cook on high until the mixture bubbles, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
Step 5: Turn the stove off after 5 minutes, mix in the jaggery, cover, and let the oatmeal sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Expert tips
- Use the proper oats: Don't use instant or quick-cooking oats for this recipe to ensure the perfect texture.
- Don't overcook the porridge: For a perfect creamy texture, cook for just 5 minutes. Overcooking oatmeal can make it dense and clumpy.
- Make sure you use the right pot: Use a cooking pot with a heavy base and simmer the oat porridge so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Cook the porridge ahead of time: I like cooking and refrigerating my porridge to make breakfast easier. Add a splash of milk and reheat in the microwave; add your desired toppings, and enjoy!
Recipe FAQS
Porridge can be sweet or savory and is made with any type of grain, such as oats, barley, cream of wheat, and even maize. Oatmeal, on the other hand, is usually sweet and is made with oats.
This porridge made with oats is a perfect gluten-free breakfast option.
Store your cooked oat porridge in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat as needed.
Other breakfast recipe ideas
If you decide to try this recipe, Please don't forget to leave a rating and comment below! If you take a picture, tag me on Instagram! Thank You!
Oat Porridge (Pakistani Oatmeal Recipe)
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Ingredients
- 1 cup old fashioned oats (see notes)
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup jaggery (see notes)
- ½ cup blueberries
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Add the oats, water, milk, and salt to a saucepan and cook on high heat until the mixture bubbles.
- Turn the heat to low, cover, and cook for 5 minutes. (see notes)
- Turn the heat off, mix in the jaggery, cover and let the oatmeal sit for 5 minutes.
- Serve with the blueberries and walnuts.
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