Finnish Christmas Porridge
Finnish Christmas Porridge – comforting, rich, and warming porridge that we eat during Christmas time in Finland. It symbolizes the beginning of the Christmas holidays and the end of the fall semester, reminding me of my childhood and carefree days 🤸🏾
It has been at least 10 years since I last had this porridge, and this year I found myself CRAVING for it! So of course, I had to make it and share it with you!
Traditionally the porridge is made with porridge rice, but you know, sometimes you’re out of rice and a bag of oat kernels comes into the rescue 🦹🏼♀️ Slowly cooked oat kernels will bring a similar texture to the porridge that you would get with using rice, but the flavors and overall consistency is still a bit different. As a sworn oat lover it tasted just as good (maybe even better) as the traditional one. So, if you have oat kernels laying around in your home and don’t know what to cook with them – here’s a recipe for you 😏
When you make a larger patch for your family or friends, there’s a tradition to hide an almond in the porridge, and whoever gets a plate of porridge with the almond, is the lucky one! Since I only made it for myself, I ate it with almond butter AND almonds. Guess I’m going to be extra lucky next year heheh.
Like always, this recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and super simple to make!
Eat Finnish Christmas Porridge with…
Homemade Berry Kissel
Cinnamon sugar
Cinnamon and sautéed apples
Your favorite nuts and berries
FINNISH CHRISTMAS PORRIDGE RECIPE
Cooking time 60 min (don’t run yet, only 5 min active cooking time!!)
Serves 2-3
- 2 dl or 0,8 cups oat grains (also known as oat kernels)
- 4 dl or 1,6 cups of water
- 8 dl or 3,2 cups of plant-based milk (I used oat milk)
- A pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon margarine/vegan butter (optional)
Instructions
- Wash your oat grains thoroughly (I soaked them in a hot water for 10-20 minutes, but this is optional) and measure 4 dl water into a large saucepan. Bring the water to a boil and add your oat grains. Boil them until the water is fully soaked (about 15 min) and add oat milk & pinch of salt. Let it simmer over low-medium heat for 45 minutes, giving it a mix every once in a while. Use this time to make your berry kissel!
- Take the porridge off the heat and add margarine (optional). Serve it warm with kissel or cinnamon sugar (equal parts of cinnamon and coconut sugar) and enjoy <3
Tips and notes
Note! You need to use oat kernels for this recipe, rolled or quick oats will not work 😉 You can swap out the oat kernels and prepare this Christmas porridge with rice as well! Just wash the rice well and cook the porridge the same way.
STRAWBERRY KISSEL RECIPE
- 250 frozen berries (I used strawberries and blueberries)
- 6 dl or 2,4 cups water
- 2 tablespoons potato starch
- 1 tablespoon honey or preferred sweetener (add more if you like it sweeter)
Instructions
- Measure 5 dl water into a saucepan and bring it to a boil.
- Mix 1 dl water with potato flour and pour it into the water slowly, mixing constantly.
- Add strawberries & sweetener and simmer over low to medium heat until the berries are starting to break up. This takes around 10-15 minutes.
More porridge recipes 🌻
Persimmon Oatmeal (takes under 10 minutes to make!)