Breakfast | Creamy Bircher Muesli

Bircher muesli is not something we eat regularly, and since I've started cutting back on refined sugars/fructose, grains and dairy that has pretty much removed it from my list completely.

However.

I do love the odd bowl of porridge, particularly in Winter, but with Winter still being somewhat well around the corner (ie. it's still stinkin' hot here) it's not really porridge weather, but Bircher Muesli?  Well that's a different story!

So Monday afternoon, while I was waiting for some overnight guests to arrive I decided I was going to make sugar-free, dairy-free Bircher Muesli.  Nothing like coming up with a new recipe at the last minute!

A lot of the Bircher Muesli recipes I have come across use apple juice as the main liquid, others use a combination of milk, cream and yoghurt, and then some just use water, but as I had an open bottle of coconut water sitting in the fridge waiting to be used, I decided to use that instead.  And then I had the brainwave of making it extra creamy by adding coconut cream.  And then I added a sprinkling of chia seeds.  And a sprinkling of shredded coconut.  And then another sprinkling of chia seeds.  And then a bit more coconut water.  Anyway, you get the gist of how this recipe came about.  Bit o' this, bit o' that, and that'll do it.

This recipe needs to be made the day ahead to get a really creamy mixture.

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Creamy Bircher Muesli

Serves: at least 8

2 1/2 cups rolled oats

2 tbspns chia seeds

1/2 cup shredded coconut

500ml coconut water

400 ml coconut cream

1 large apple/pear, coarsely grated
Extra 1/2 cup coconut water, to loosen the muesli the next day

Topping ideas:

• Fresh pomegranate seeds with chopped medjool dates & toasted almonds
• Chopped banana and blueberries with a sprinkling of pepitas
• Sliced peaches with pepitas and toasted almonds
• Mixed fruit salad

The night before:

Combine the oats, chia seeds and shredded coconut in a large bowl with the coconut water and coconut cream.  Mix well, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning:

Remove the muesli from the refrigerator.  It will be very thick.  Add the extra half cup of coconut water and mix it through the muesli until well combined.  Stir through the grated apple or pear.  

Serve with your chosen toppings and an extra splash of coconut cream if you're feeling decadent. 

Enjoy!