After the feasting of Yuletide fades and winter settles over the Shire, hobbits embrace simpler fare by beginning the day with a cozy hobbit breakfast of creamy barley porridge with apples.
Winter Comfort in the Shire
With the chill of winter blanketing the Shire and the fires and celebration of Yuletide fading, the hobbits settle into their hobbit holes and await the coming spring. After all the feasting and celebrating at Yuletide, the hobbits look forward to simpler fare as they make use of their well-stocked pantries and larders. While still enjoying their plethora of daily meals, the hobbits turn to the vegetables, fruits, and other foodstuffs preserved from the year before to create simple but nourishing dishes.
Creamy Barley Porridge with Apples for First Breakfast
Start your day right with a warm, comforting bowl of porridge. For a twist on the classic, chewy pearl barley stands in for traditional oats. Pearl barley is simmered with water and oat milk until thick and creamy while a grated apple adds a touch of sweetness and apple flavour to the porridge. With a hint of cinnamon, this barley porridge is topped with honey sweetened sautéed apples, yogurt, and toasted hazelnuts for a filling and hearty breakfast.
More Hobbit Recipes
- Don’t forget second breakfast, elevenses and luncheon!
- Discover more breakfast recipes from the different regions of Middle Earth.
Ingredients
Barley: I used pearl barley for this recipe. Be sure to rinse the barley before using.
Oat milk: This porridge uses a blend of water and oat milk. Oat milk is high in fibre and a great alternative to dairy milk. You can substitute with another non-dairy milk of your choice or regular milk if you prefer.
Apples: I used Pink Lady apples in this recipe, although you can your favourite apple instead. One apple is grated and added to the porridge while the remaining apples are sautéed and added on top of the porridge. I chose to leave the peel on although you can peel them if you prefer.
Honey: While the grated apple does add some sweetness to the porridge, you may want to add a bit more sweetener. A heaping tablespoon of honey will yield a lightly sweetened porridge. Add more if you prefer it sweeter.
How to Make Creamy Barley Porridge with Apples
Make the porridge
In a medium saucepan, combine the water and oat milk and place over medium heat. Rinse the barley through a fine mesh sieve and add to the saucepan. Grate one apple and add to the saucepan along with the kosher salt and cinnamon. Stir to combine.
Bring the porridge up to a simmer then turn the heat to low. Cover and let cook until the barley is tender, about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. The porridge is done when the barley is tender and creamy. If you want the porridge to be even creamier, you can add a bit more oat milk and cook for a few minutes more. Add honey to taste if you prefer a sweeter porridge.
Cook the apples
Quarter and remove the cores from the remaining two apples. Chop into bite sized pieces. Place a non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add the apples along with the water and cinnamon and stir to combine. Cook the apples for 2 to 3 minutes until they begin to soften. Add the honey and cook for another minute or two until the apples are tender but still have a bit of bite. Remove from the heat and keep warm.
Serve the Creamy Barley Porridge with Apples
To serve, divide the porridge into bowls. Top with a dollop of yogurt, sautéed apples, and toasted hazelnuts and enjoy!
