In German, the term muesli means a generic mixture of oats, dried and dehydrated fruit, seeds, cereal flakes and honey. It is a perfect combination for a healthy and tasty breakfast, excellent when paired with honey or yogurt. If you want to know how to creatively integrate muesli into your diet, learn its basic techniques and find out how to delight your palate according to your preferences.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Basic Methods for Eating Muesli
Step 1. Eat it as you would any variety of cereal
The simplest and most common way to eat granola is to just enjoy it as you would any bowl of cereal, adding about 120ml of your favorite milk to an equal serving of granola.
- You can replace milk with plain yogurt of your choice (or flavored for extra sweetness), enjoying the benefits of probiotics and a different texture and flavor.
- Try heating the milk, then let the muesli soak in hot milk for a few minutes to soften slightly, becoming more like oatmeal. Alternatively, pour the cold milk over the muesli contained in a cup suitable for use in the microwave, and then heat the entire mixture.
- Like puffed cereals, muesli is a great snack to munch on its own.
Step 2. Add sliced or frozen fruit
If you want to spice up your serving of muesli, try chopping around 30 grams of fresh fruit into small pieces, based on your preference, or add some frozen berries for a refreshing treat. Any of the following ingredients are great with muesli:
- Bananas
- Blueberries, blackberries or raspberries
- Kiwi
- Strawberries (the small seeds will give a pleasant crunchy note)
- Greaves (ideal for a savory version of the dish)
- Apples
- Pears
- Mango
- Lychees (add a pleasant sour note)
- Pomegranate
Step 3. Try dried fruit as well
Often dried fruits or berries are an integral part of ready-made muesli recipes, but if you want to add an extra amount, or incorporate them into your own blend, here are some suggestions:
- Redberry
- Apricots
- Goji berries
- Raisins
- Currant
Step 4. Try leaving the granola to soak overnight
An excellent way to change its texture is to soak it in a liquid of your choice, such as milk or yogurt. In a small bowl, pour the muesli and milk in equal parts, cover with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate until the following day. The muesli will turn into a cold porridge-like mixture, loved by many.
Coconut milk is an excellent alternative liquid, able to give a delicate sweetness and an additional note of flavor to the muesli. If its taste is not among your favorites, you can mix it with cow's milk
Step 5. Pour some granola into your smoothie
If you prefer a fresh smoothie to the more classic bowl of cereal, muesli can be a great addition or decoration, before or after using the blender. The muesli will mix nicely with the other ingredients and give the drink greater texture, making it even more nutritious. Try making the following simple recipe:
- A handful of frozen strawberries (or your favorite frozen fruit)
- 120 ml of yogurt or kefir
- 30 g of grated coconut
- 2 tablespoons of muesli
Step 6. Mix it with applesauce
If you are lactose intolerant, or if you want to turn your muesli into an experience with a different texture or taste, applesauce can be a delicious alternative. Cook apples that are too ripe to make a natural, sugar-free applesauce yourself, or buy it ready-made.
Step 7. Cook the granola to turn it into porridge
Oddly, one of the characteristics that people appreciate about muesli is one of the characteristics that others despise about muesli. Unlike cooked oatmeal, raw oat flakes have a different texture and nutritional benefits, but can still be cooked and made into a simple porridge.
- Bring the desired amount of milk and water to a boil, then pour half of the muesli into the pot. In other words, if you want to enjoy a serving of cooked granola, bring 120ml of milk and 120ml of water to a boil, then add 50g of raw granola.
- Reduce the heat and cook the granola in the covered pot for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it reaches the desired consistency. As soon as it looks appetizing, eat it!
Step 8. Try soaking it in coffee or orange juice
While it may sound bizarre, other great lactose-free options are orange juice, apple juice, or even coffee. Think of it as a full breakfast. You may be surprised by the pleasantness of its flavor.
Method 2 of 2: Make Your Own Muesli Blend
Step 1. Try to replicate the original recipe from Swiss doctor Maximilian Bircher-Benner
He was originally the inventor of muesli. Although most modern versions of muesli have a high proportion of oats to fruit, the original recipe called for a larger amount of fresh and dried fruit. The doctor's original prescription, whose aims were to benefit the health of patients, provided for the following proportions:
- 1 tablespoon of rolled oats, soaked in 2–3 tablespoons of water
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon of cream
- 1 large sour apple, finely grated and mixed with the muesli directly before serving
- 1 tablespoon of hazelnuts and almonds to sprinkle on the muesli before serving
Step 2. If necessary, sweeten of your choice
For some people, classic muesli can be a bit subdued. If you want to sweeten it a little, try adding a small amount of a sweetener to your taste in order to make it tastier. Whatever you decide to use, do it in moderation. Here are some great tips for anyone looking to add an extra note of sweetness or flavor:
- Honey
- Molasses
- Whole sugar
- Cinnamon
- Toasted coconut
- Lemon juice
- Agave syrup
- Maple syrup
- nutmeg
Step 3. Lightly cook or toast the granola
If you want your mixture to be a little more crunchy, try spreading it on a baking sheet and baking it in the oven at 165 ° C for about 30 minutes, or until golden. It may be helpful to add a small amount of coconut oil or melted butter to promote an appetizing golden color.
Step 4. Make granola bars
A great way to carry your muesli and always have it at hand is to turn it into handy bars. Mix it with a few spoonfuls of peanut butter, or your favorite dried fruit butter, it will serve as a binder. If you wish, you can also incorporate additional doses of dehydrated fruit, dried fruit and other cereals.
- Crush the mixture into a mold, giving it about 1 cm thick, then place it in the refrigerator to cool. Cut the mixture into bars and keep them cool to then enjoy them as a quick snack.
- Melted butter and honey can also be used as binders, by crushing the mixture in a mold and then waiting for it to solidify.
Step 5. Incorporate the muesli into the batter of your baked goods
Granola can be used as a substitute in any recipe that uses flaked oats. Cookies, muffins and even pancakes can be made healthier and tastier by adding small amounts of granola. Try replacing the expected doses of oats with equal doses of muesli in the recipes of:
- Cookies
- Pancake
- Cakes
- muffin
