Cleansing Series: Chocolate Chia-Hemp Porridge + Homemade Nut Milk
This is a no-cook breakfast porridge. I'll keep it simple and say that it's a lifesaver of a breakfast. Whether you're bored of your breakfast routine, you've just run out of granola midweek and have nothing fresh in the house, you have an early start to work and need something made-ahead to grab and go, or you've been feeling sluggish and heavy from a weekend of indulgences (or a month of indulgences), this breakfast will save you. Or rather, this is what saves me time and time again, and I'm pretty confident it will help you as well.
This is basically a chia pudding that is assembled the night before and left in the fridge overnight to thicken. I think of it more as a porridge though because I top it like I would a hot porridge with fruit, coconut flakes, and nuts or nut butter. And though it's not hot, my trick for enjoying it during the cold months is to take it out of the fridge when I first wake up, which allows it a solid 1 1/2-2 hours to come to room temperature before I am ready for breakfast.
Chia seeds, hemp seeds, and raw cacao powder make this a superfood breakfast, delivering an impressive boost of complete protein (containing all 9 essential amino acids), essential fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3 ) in the ideal 3:1 ratio, antioxidants, fiber, and magnesium - all nutrients our detoxification system pleads for to help it operate smoothly.
Homemade Nut Milk
I use homemade hazelnut milk in this recipe and it's my favorite milk to have on hand, though I sometimes rotate out hazelnuts for almonds, hulled hemp seeds, or Brazil nuts using the same process as instructed below. Homemade nut milk is a part of this cleansing series because not only is it a fresher, lighter, and more digestible alternative to the controversial homogenized and pasteurized cow's milk, it also stands as a cleaner alternative to store-bought nut milk. If we're not careful some commercial nut milks (not to mention many other processed, packaged foods) can sneak in preservatives, stabilizers, and thickeners such as carrageenan, which may lead to gastrointestinal problems and tumors. And when nut milk is so easy to make at home, there's really no reason we can't avoid these questionable additives.
Next time you're in a breakfast rut or are feeling a little sluggish, I hope you give this no-cook porridge a try and it helps you out as much as it has helped me!
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Chocolate Chia-Hemp Porridge
Serves 1
Notes: If you're making this during the winter months, remove it from the fridge when you first wake up in the morning and allow it to come to room temperature (1-2 hours) before enjoying.
- 3 Tbsp. chia seeds
- 2 Tbsp. hemp seeds
- 1 Tbsp. raw cacao powder
- Pinch salt
- 2 tsp. maple syrup
- 3/4 cup (177 ml) hazelnut milk
- Mix all ingredients in a medium glass storage container until thoroughly combined.
- Cover with lid and place in the fridge to thicken overnight.
- In the morning add toppings and enjoy.
To Finish:
- 1 persimmon (or mango), chopped
- 1 passion fruit, pulp and seeds scooped out
- Handful toasted unsweetened coconut flakes
- Spoonful nut butter of choice
Hazelnut Milk
- 1 cup (120 gr) raw hazelnuts (soaked overnight/8-12 hours, rinsed and drained)
- 4 cups (946 ml) water
- 2 soft dates, pitted
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- Place soaked, rinsed, and drained nuts in an upright blender with remaining ingredients.
- Blend for 1 minute, or until nuts are pulverized.
- Allow to sit in blender for 10 minutes, then strain through a nut milk bag into a large bowl with a spout.
- Gently squeeze bag from the bottom (as to not bust the seam on the bag) until all liquid is out and the nut pulp in the bag looks fairly dry. This process takes a few minutes, so be patient.
- Transfer milk to a glass jar and store in the refrigerator. Milk will stay fresh for 3-4 days.