French chef swears by one simple ingredient to make delicious porridge

A French chef has shared his blueberry and banana porridge recipe – and there’s one key ingredient that really makes it ‘taste delicious’

Porridge is a hearty way to start your day (Getty)

Perfect for chilly autumn and winter mornings, porridge is a fantastic breakfast option that can be customized with a variety of fruits, nuts, and spices.

However, according to French chef Joel Mielle from the food blog Recipe30, there’s one ingredient that’s essential for any porridge recipe. In his blueberry and banana porridge recipe shared on his blog, Joel advises adding salt. He stated: “You need to add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor.”

The idea of salty porridge might seem odd at first, as many people aren’t aware of the long-standing tradition of adding a bit of salt to porridge. Salt is known as a flavor enhancer and helps to bring out the natural flavors in porridge. This also applies to overnight oats, a healthy, fridge-ready breakfast option.

Pinch of salt

It’s best to add a pinch of salt to the liquid (like milk, plant-based milk, or water) at the start of the preparation, before mixing in the oats. This ensures the salt is evenly distributed throughout the porridge, reports the Express.

But don’t fret, a little pinch of salt won’t make your porridge taste salty. You’ll barely notice the salt.

Porridge will be tastier when you add a sprinkle of 1 simple ingredient French chef loves(Getty)

Here’s how to make blueberry and banana porridge

Ingredients (serves two)

Half a cup of oats
Two tablespoons of chia seeds
Two tablespoons of raw almonds
Two tablespoons of sunflower kernels
Two tablespoons of pumpkin seeds
Two tablespoons of walnuts
Two tablespoons of raisins
Two tablespoons of desiccated coconut
Two cups of coconut water
Half a cup of blueberries (fresh or frozen)
One ripe banana
A pinch of salt

Add the salt to the milk or water when making porridge(Getty)

Method

Begin by adding the salt to your coconut water before pouring it into a saucepan with all your dry ingredients. Place on the stove, mix well and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to low for a gentle simmer and let it sit for 20 minutes. If the heat is too high, add more liquid to prevent sticking.

Adding blueberries and bananas

Five minutes before the end of the 20-minute period, toss in the blueberries and cook for an extra five minutes if they’re frozen. If the blueberries are fresh, add them just one minute before serving.

Next, peel the banana and split it down the middle twice so you get four pieces each time you slice it, resulting in diced cuts.

Finally, once everything is cooked, turn off the heat, add the banana, stir well, and serve.