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Bircher Muesli

Bircher muesli is a wonderful, nutritious and simple breakfast dish made up rolled oats, a liquid – usually juice, milk and/or yoghurt, fresh fruit – typically apple and often banana, nuts and seeds. It was developed by Dr Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner, a Swiss physician and nutritionist, at the beginning of the last century.

Makes 1 large potion

Course Breakfast, brunch, Snack
Cuisine Switzerland
Keyword fruit, Oats, yoghurt
Prep Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

NB Ideally the basic muesli needs to be mixed the day before, you want to eat it.

Basic ingredients per person:

  • 2 tablespoons rolled oats
  • 3 tablespoons liquid – milk, water or juice
  • 150ml yoghurt – natural or fruit flavoured
  • 1 apple – peeled (optional), cored and grated
  • 1 small banana or 1/2 large banana, skinned and chopped

Suggested additional ingredients:

  • Fruit – such as raspberries, blueberries (halved, if large), strawberries (hulled and chopped) chopped mango, chopped kiwi, chopped pineapple, pears (cored and grated)
  • Cooked fruit purees – such as apple, gooseberries, blueberries, rhubarb, plums, raspberries, strawberries
  • Dried fruit – such as raisins, sultanas, currants, figs, dates, apricots, mango, pineapple, cranberries, coconut
  • Nuts – almonds, hazelnuts, pecan nuts/walnuts, pistachios, macadamias, cashews
  • Seeds – pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, flax, chia
  • Crunchy granola – homemade or shop bought
  • Jam/preserves – spoonful of your choice of jam
  • Nut butter – spoonful of peanut, cashew, almond or pistachio butters
  • Sweetener – I prefer not to add any sweetener. However, if you have a sweet tooth, honey or maple syrup can be drizzled over before you eat it.

Instructions

  1. Collect together your equipment (see Recipe Notes below) and ingredients.

  2. The night before – chop the banana, core and grate the apple and mix both with the oats, yoghurt and milk. Also, stir in any additional fruit of your choice. You could also stir in the nuts and seeds but I prefer to add these the following day so they are nice and crispy.

  3. Cover and refrigerate over night. Transfer to a serving dish now, if you prefer.

  4. In the morning – give the muesli a good stir and if necessary, add any extra liquid, until it is the consistency you are looking for.

  5. Add your chosen extra ingredients, such as nuts, seeds and sultanas to this muesli.

  6. Nuts and seeds – I like to quickly roast my nuts and/or seeds for a minute or two in a medium hot pan. This brings out their flavours and ensures they are nice and crispy.

Recipe Notes

Equipment:

  • kitchen scales
  • chopping board and knife
  • grater
  • mixing/serving bowl

How far ahead do I need to make Bircher Muesli?

Classically the basic muesli is mixed the day before you want to eat it and left in the fridge overnight. This allows the oats to swell, soften and become more easily digestible. However, if, like me, you forget to do this the night before, don't worry. Just make it up as directed and leave it for as long as possible before eating. Even if it is just 10 minutes, it will still be delicious.

Blueberry Bircher Muesli with Blueberry Compote

Ingredients:

  • as above but with blueberry yoghurt, half an apple and 75g fresh blueberries (halved, if large)

Topping:

  • 75g fresh blueberries
  • 1 – 2 tablespoons water
  • roast nuts and seeds

Instructions:

  1. The night before – as above
  2. Compote - tip the blueberries into a saucepan with the water. Cook for a few minutes over a moderate heat until the blueberries have burst. Store in the fridge overnight. (Alternatively, cook in the morning.)
  3. In the morning – stir well and serve with the compote and roasted nuts and seeds.