If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you probably know that I’m actually more of a hearty breakfast person. I’d take scrambled tofu with tomatoes and whole wheat buns over pancakes and porridge most of the time.
During the week, I, however, usually only have a green smoothie and some fruits for breakfast, but on the weekend it’s a totally different story. But once in a while, I really need a change and have something sweet. Last weekend, I had this millet porridge with cranberries and quince fruit, which was so incredibly delicious and also pretty easy to make!
I’m always totally crazy about something for a while, and then I kind of forget about it and move on to something else. Do you know what I mean? Maybe it’ just me being a bit weird about my food. Well, this also happened with millet.
About two years ago, I had it almost every morning and then all of a sudden I replaced it with green smoothies. Then some time ago, I saw it in the grocery store and I just had to buy it and I’m so glad I did! I just love millet porridge and cooking millet couldn’t be easier. Plus, it’s gluten free and of course vegan. And it’s a really great source of iron!
Some of you are probably wondering “what is quince fruit“?
It belongs to the same biological family as apples and pears and are commonly grown in Southern and Central Europe, where the summers are hot enough for the fruits to ripen. Today, they’re pretty rare in the U.S. or at least they are not often grown there anymore (they were pretty popular in the colonies back in the 18th century though). Now, they’re mostly imported from Argentina. In the fall, you can find them at farmer markets or at Whole Foods.
If you have problems finding them, you can also use pears instead. I’ve tried that and it tastes really great too! My boyfriend’s mom got a quince tree in her garden and is always happy when someone takes a couple of the quince fruits because she couldn’t possibly use them all by herself. There are literately tons of them each fall! They’re also great for crumbles and jam.
I cooked the millet with almond milk for about 15 minutes and served it with cranberries, apples, and quinces, which I sweetened with coconut sugar and cooked for about 15 minutes. If you like you could also sub the coconut sugar with agave or brown sugar. To top it all off, I sprinkled it with cinnamon, coconut flakes, and pomegranate seeds.
I’m sure this would also make an awesome dessert! Maybe it’s even great for Thanksgiving?
I hope you like millet as much as I do! If you haven’t tried it yet, you should definitely give it a try.
As always, I love hearing from you! xx
Millet Porridge with Cranberries and Quince Fruit
Ingredients
- 1 cup millet
- 2 cups almond milk or other plant-based milk
- 1 quince (about 7 oz) If you can't find quince fruit, you could use 2 pears instead.
- 1 cup cranberries
- 2 small apples
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1-2 teaspoons coconut flakes
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
Instructions
- Cook the millet together with the almond milk for about 15 minutes on a low heat.
- Cut the apples and the quince into small pieces. Put them in a small pot together with the cranberries, add the water and the coconut sugar and cook for about 10 minutes.
- Serve the millet together with the cranberry-pear-quince sauce and top it off with cinnamon, coconut flakes and pomegranate seeds.
Such a pretty festive dish! Love the colors and love that you used apples!
Thanks, Brandi! :-) We actually had it for breakfast, but I’m sure it would also make a great dessert.
Did you know that porridge refers to a rather different dish in area than in the West? It’s true!
BOTH ARE TOTALLY AWESOME! Need this in my LIFE!
I actually didn’t know this, Levan! So glad you like it! :-)
People definitely don’t use enough millet but it is sooo good! Love this recipe, Sina! The colors are so beautiful :)
I totally agree with you, Vanessa! I just love it! And it’s so healthy! :-)
I’ve been having millet porridge all week for breakfast, but your version looks much tastier and definitely prettier! Love the cranberries and quince in here.
Thanks, Kelly! :-) Millet porridge is such a great breakfast and I’m sure yours looks super delicious as well! I absolutely love how healthy it is. It was my favorite breakfast about two years ago. I had it every morning, but then I somehow just moved on to something else. I definitely can’t wait to have more millet in my life again. :D
I love millet – it has been a while since I have made it … these parfaits look fantastic, and yes a great dessert!
I do to, Kristina! :-) It’s so delicious and healthy!
I love how beautiful this recipe is. I’ve never had quince fruit!
Thanks, Sophia! I know, it’s pretty rare, but it’s sooo delicious! My boyfriend’s mom got tons of them in her garden, so I got them for free. But you can also sub them with pears if you want. :-)
the colors and the layers in here look beautiful and really flavorful too! ;-)
Thanks, Michele! :-) I actually made this for breakfast, but I’m sure it would also make a great dessert!
The colors are so vibrant!
Thanks! :-)
Such beautiful colors – I never heard of millet, though!
Thanks, Zan! You should really give it a try. It’s so delicious and also super healthy! :-)
This is the coolest, most colorful breakfast I have ever seen! All of your recipes are so unique! :D
Thanks so much for the compliment, Abeer! So glad you like it! :-)
What do nutritionists say about color in our food—the more the better?! This looks so delicious and is a delicious meatless Monday starter!
Haha! Right, Rae! Thanks so much. So glad you like it! :-)
This looks delicious! I have never heard of quince fruit before. Looks yummy though!
Thanks, Kelly! I know, it’s pretty rare, but it’s so delicious! My boyfriend’s mom got tons of them in her garden every fall! :-)
I love everything about this! New (to me) fruit, the juicy layers, the unusual grains, the presentation it’s fabulous Sina! And I’m totally the same way, I obsess over something for a few months and then just completely abandon it for something else :D haha
Thanks, Natalie! :-) Oh, it’s great to hear that I’m not the only one doing this! I already thought it was kinda crazy. ;-) But the thing is that they’re just waaaay too many delicious vegan things!!
Very cool – and yummy looking – saved :)
Samantha | pearlsandpolkadots.net
Thanks, Samantha! :-)
Ooooo I keep seeing so many millet porridges! I’m so making some ASAP!
And quince fruit is so great for homemade apple or pear sauces! It plays with the flavors perfectly!
So glad you like it, Rebecca! I was totally crazy over millet porridge a couple of years ago (I had it almost every morning), but then I somehow stopped eating it regularly and moved on to something else. Can’t wait to have more millet in my life again. ;-) I love that it is so healthy!