a whisk and a spoon

Bircher Muesli

Despite my love of oats, muesli has always had bit of a negative connotation for me.  Why would I ever want that dry, sawdusty stuff when I could have deliciously toasted granola instead?  It wasn’t until we were living in Sydney, where it’s a café breakfast staple, that I finally discovered Bircher muesli.  Oh, Bircher muesli…where had you been all my life?  Better late than never, I guess.

With Bircher muesli, dry oats are soaked for at least a couple hours (overnight’s best), eliminating the whole sawdust thing.  While you could use any number of liquids (such as OJ, milk or water) as your soaking medium, I prefer the light, neutral sweetness of apple juice.  Next you add in lots of tasty bits…yogurt, fruit and nuts.  Here I used grated red apple, along with strawberries, blackberries, sliced almonds, hazelnuts and unsweetened coconut flakes, but it’s really anything goes with the fruit and nuts.  (Sliced peaches are incredible in this, as is rhubarb compote!)  To me, the grated apple is the only really essential fruit, both for moisture and texture, so I would definitely not omit that.  I’ve used all types of apples in the past, though, red or green..whatever you have…grate them skin-on.

This is such an easy and and satisfying breakfast, and a great way for oat lovers to get our fix when it’s hot outside.  Thank you Maximilian Bircher-Benner!

Bircher Muesli– makes 2 large or 3 small servings

1 cup rolled oats (the “old-fashioned” kind)
½ cup + 2 T unsweetened apple juice
½ of a coarsely grated apple
5 oz plain yogurt
pinch of ground cinnamon
handful of toasted nuts and/or coconut flakes
handful of fresh berries and/or sliced stonefruit
honey or maple syrup for drizzling

-Put the oats and apple juice in a lidded container and leave in the refrigerator to soak overnight.

-The next morning, stir the grated apple, cinnamon, yogurt and half of the toasted nuts and/or coconut into the soaked oats. Spoon into bowls and top with fruit and remaining nuts.  Drizzle with honey or maple syrup.