This Irish porridge recipe - both sweet and satisfying - is the perfect antidote to these dreary winter mornings.

Apart from the Scottish perhaps there's no other nation more associated with porridge oats. Here's a delicious and nutritious recipe from the Irish health food cafe, Sprout and Co.

Stewed-pear, cinnamon, and sweetened pecans Irish porridge recipe

Serves: 1

Time: Less than 30 minutes

Difficulty level: Easy

Tip: Soak oats in the milk overnight.

Ingredients: 

  • 1 part rolled oats to 2 parts milk
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup
  • 1 pear, peeled, cored, and chopped
  • ½ teaspoon five-spice powder
  • ½ teaspoon orange zest
  • 50g pecans, toasted in a medium oven until golden, toss in maple syrup, roughly chop
  • Cinnamon, to garnish

Method: 

Pour oats and milk into a saucepan, add maple syrup and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to stop it from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 5-10 minutes. Add a little more liquid if needed.

To make the stewed pear, place the chopped pear with some water and the spices, cover, and cook on medium heat until softened – about five to six minutes. Mix in the orange zest.

Ladle porridge into a bowl and finish with a spoonful of stewed pear, pecans, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

* Originally published in Oct 2019. Last updated in January 2022.