Starting your day with a bowl of chocolate porridge feels like such a treat! But this delicious breakfast is packed with nutrients and slow-release energy to keep you fuelled all morning. Plus, it’s super affordable, costing just 84p per bowl.
Porridge is quick and easy to make from scratch, so there’s no need to buy those expensive individual sachets. Follow the simple steps below for a decadent vegan breakfast that’s ready in under 5 minutes!
This recipe is part of my 3 Healthy Meals for £3 a Day series, making eating well affordable and easy.
Ingredient Cost Breakdown
Porridge:
- 50g / ½ cup rolled porridge oats (Quaker) – 12p
- 1 TBSP cocoa powder (Tesco) – 7p
- 250ml / 1 cup fortified soya milk (Tesco Longlife) – 31p
Topping:
- 6 walnut halves (Tesco) – 18p
- 6 whole almonds (Tesco Aasani) – 7p
- ½ TBSP sunflower seeds (Tesco) – 3p
- ½ TBSP pumpkin seeds (Tesco) – 3p
- 1 TBSP mixed dried fruit (Tesco) – 3p
Cost per serving: 84p
Prices listed are for November 2024, sourced from Tesco where I do my main grocery shop at the moment.
I love to top my porridge with a mix of nuts, seeds and dried fruit. Not only does it provides lots of lovely textures, but it also boosts the nutrient density of the breakfast bowl adding more protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. My go-to mix includes walnuts, almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and mixed dried fruit. You can easily switch it up or use whatever you have on hand. You can even use a different combination each day to keep your porridge fresh and exciting!
I store my nuts, seeds and dried fruit in recycled glass jars and use them like the ‘Pick n Mix’ breakfast bars you get in hotels. It’s a fun setup that’s also great for making your own Trail Mix snacks.
The Good Stuff
This breakfast bowl packs in plenty of nutritious ingredients:
✨ Oats are rich in protein, fibre (particularly beta-glucan), complex carbs, B vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, zinc and iron, promoting sustained energy, heart health and overall wellness.
✨ Cocoa contains iron, magnesium and antioxidants (especially flavonoids), which support heart health, brain function, and immune defence.
✨ Soya milk is a protein-rich plant milk, with 3.4g of protein per 100g (the same as dairy milk), while low in saturated fat. When fortified, soya milk provides essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12, supporting heart health and bone strength.
✨ Walnuts are one of the most nutrient-dense nuts, rich in healthy omega-3 essential fatty acids, protein, fibre, antioxidants, vitamin E, and essential minerals, supporting heart health and brain function.
✨ Almonds are another nutrient-dense nut, providing protein, healthy fats, fibre, antioxidants, vitamin E, magnesium, and calcium, supporting heart, bone and skin health.
✨ Sunflower seeds are rich in healthy fats, protein, fibre, vitamin E, magnesium, selenium, and antioxidants, supporting heart health, and promoting skin and immune health.
✨ Pumpkin seeds are rich in healthy fats, protein, fibre, antioxidants, and essential minerals like magnesium, zinc and iron, promoting heart, immune, and bone health.
✨ Dried fruit is a concentrated source of fibre, vitamins, minerals, and natural sugars, supporting digestive health and energy levels. They should be consumed in moderation though, due to their high sugar content.
Top Tips & FAQS
What kind of oats work best?
Quick-cooking rolled oats are ideal for making a quick, creamy porridge. UK brands often label these as “porridge oats.” My family’s favourite is Quaker Rolled Oats, which have a fine oat flake that cooks quickly and can also be eaten as Instant Oats. It’s worth trying out a few brands to find your own personal favourite!
What plant milk works best?
You can use any plant milk – each offers a slightly different flavour and texture. We are lucky in the UK to have a huge array of plant milks available in our supermarkets both in the chiller cabinets and on the ambient (long life) aisles, so have fun experimenting and finding your personal favourite!
My family prefers Waitrose or Tesco long-life sweetened soya milk for porridge. It has a creamy texture, a lovely subtle flavour (not overly sweet) and offers protein levels similar to dairy milk (around 3.4g per 100g). It’s great value too. In Waitrose, it’s currently £1.30 per litre; in Tesco, £1.25 per litre.
How do I achieve the right consistency for porridge?
I use a 1:2 ratio of oats to milk (½ cup of oats to 1 cup of milk), however everyone has their own preferences for porridge consistency. Some people love thick porridge that a spoon can stand up in; others prefer runny porridge. You can easily adjust the consistency of your porridge by adding more milk to make it runnier; or cooking for longer to make it thicker. Porridge thickens up a lot as it cools, so always factor this in.
Boosting iron absorption
Pairing your oat bowl with a piece of vitamin C-rich fruit or a small glass of orange juice will significantly increase iron absorption from the oats and nuts.
Gluten-free options
Certified gluten-free porridge oats can be found on the ‘Free From’ aisles in UK supermarkets. They tend to be more like jumbo oats so may require a slightly longer cooking time.
Recipe Card
Vegan Chocolate Porridge with ‘Pick n Mix’ Topper
Ingredients
- 50 g / ½ cup rolled porridge oats*
- 1 TBSP cocoa powder
- 250 ml / 1 cup fortified soya milk or other plant milk
- Syrup or brown sugar optional, to taste
Pick n Mix Topping:
- 6 walnut halves
- 6 whole almonds
- ½ TBSP sunflower seeds
- ½ TBSP pumpkin seeds
- 1 TBSP mixed dried fruit
Instructions
Microwave method:
- Add the oats and cocoa powder to a microwaveable bowl and stir to combine.
- Stir in the milk.
- Microwave on full power for 2 minutes, then carefully remove (the bowl will be very hot). Stir through and if it’s starting to thicken, it’s ready. If not, microwave for another 30 seconds and check again
- Leave to rest for a minute (it will thicken up as it cools).
Stovetop method:
- Add the oats and cocoa powder to a saucepan over medium heat and stir through to combine.
- Stir in the milk.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to low heat, stirring until the porridge begins to thicken.
- Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl, and let it cool slightly.
Add your toppings:
- Taste test and add a drizzle of syrup or sprinkle of brown sugar, if desired.
- Sprinkle on your ‘Pick n Mix’ toppings and tuck in.
Notes
Nutrition breakdown
N.B. The above values are estimates and for illustration purposes only. The actual nutritional values will vary depending on the specific ingredients used. The % Reference Intake (RI) will also vary depending on your age, gender, height, BMI, level of activity and other personal variables.
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If you make this Vegan Chocolate Porridge, I’d love to hear your feedback and any suggestions for adaptations. Tag your photos with #bitofthegoodstuff on social media – I’d love to see them! You can also connect with me on my social media channels here: Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest.
With love,
