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11 November 2013

Baked Porridge a la Gordon Ramsay

We finally have a new TV. And when I say finally, I mean FINALLY! This is the first television that we have ever bought. We survived on what was affectionately known as "the postage stamp" for our first 4 years living together in Melbourne (it was deeper than it was wide!). 

And then we inherited a hand-me-down TV from a neighbour in Oxford that didn't actually receive signal. 

And then we moved to London and realised our flat was actually too small to even put a TV in, so didn't bother with one. 

And then, we moved our room around, and were sitting on the couch soon after and realised, we now have space for a TV! I had to give up a shelf in my book/pots&pans-case, but we could finally have a TV. 


I wasn't really fussed without one, we had plenty of devices to keep me up to date with The Mindy Project, but having had one for a few weeks, I absolutely love it and wish we'd done it sooner! 

I am so enjoying watching cooking and travel shows again, I had forgotten how much I love them. We've also been watching A LOT of Gordon Ramsay shows, in particular, his Ultimate Home Cooking series on 4oD. I just love it. At least one meal from each show goes on my "must try" list. And yesterday, I tried two out, well I guess it was three really, but the other posts will have to come later in the week. 

I had my brother visiting over the weekend and if you know him, you know he loves to eat. Being an ex-rugby player it used to take a thrice-daily-smorgasbord to fuel him each day, but now it is only a twice-daily requirement. I was watching Gordon's Baked Porridge recipe and thought it would be a great one to try out on Ash, fill that immense hunger!!! 

meg-made: Gordon Ramsay's Baked Porridge

I wanted to make the porridge more "me" so used my favourite nuts and fruits in the place of a few suggested in this porridge. Instead of the recommended almonds and raisins, I used macadamias and dried apricots. But I will keep Gordon's recipe as is, because I can't be claiming this one as my own!!!

Ingredients (recipe here)


  • 150g (5oz) jumbo rolled oats
  • seeds from 1 vanilla pod
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1⁄2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg, plus a little extra to sprinkle
  • 50g (2oz) whole blanched almonds
  • 50g (2oz) blanched hazelnuts
  • 75g (3oz) raisins
  • 1 ripe pear, peeled, cored and chopped into small chunks
  • 500ml (18fl oz) milk, plus extra for serving
  • 200ml (7fl oz) double cream
  • 2 tbsp demerara sugar


  • Method

  • 1. Cut the vanilla pod in half and scrape the seeds out carefully. I have never ever used real vanilla beans before, so was pretty excited with how incredible they are. If only they didn't cost £3 each, I'd use them everyday!!


  • 2. Rub the vanilla seeds through the oats to infuse the flavour throughout the porridge. 

    meg-made: Gordon Ramsay's Baked Porridge

    3. Chop the nuts and fruit of your choosing and place them in the bowl with the oats. Add the spices and mix well. 



  • 4. Add the milk and cream and pour in an oven-proof dish. 

  • 5. Bake in a 180C/350F oven for about 30 minutes, or until the liquid has all been soaked up by the oats and they are nice and tender. 




  • 6. To create a crunchy breakfast creme brûlée effect, pour the demerara sugar on top of the porridge and leave under the grill for 3 minutes. I did this and half started to burn and the other half wasn't melting, so I got out my blow torch to finish it off. 


  • meg-made: Gordon Ramsay's Baked Porridge

    And serve warm and ENJOY!!

    meg-made: Gordon Ramsay's Baked Porridge

    The spices and fruit and nut combo elevate the humble oats to another stratosphere!!! I loved the crunch of the nuts, the soft sweetness of the pear, and the sugar brittle on top is just sensational. It probably shouldn't be a regular weekday breakfast, but for a Sunday morning brunch it was divine!

    meg-made: Gordon Ramsay's Baked Porridge


  • We all added a little splash of extra milk to ours just to give it a little more moisture and next time I would probably take it out of the oven five minutes earlier too. Far more filling than a regular bowl of oats, we all didn't eat again until dinner time. But, when you see what dinner was, you'll understand our patience!!!

  • What a delightful way to enjoy porridge! I love this adaptation of a classic breakfast. I even think oats would be happy to finally be used in a luxurious and indulgent way.

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  • 2 comments:

    1. Looks fabulous! I can't believe how long you went without a TV! I love my home and cooking shows.

      Thanks for sharing!
      xoxo

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. I know, now that we have one it's hard to believe we've been without one for so long!! Cooking shows are everything!!! xx

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    Thanks for your comments, I SO love hearing from you! xx Meg