Amaranth
Amaranth is toasted for a few minutes before it’s combined with other ingredients, giving this porridge a fun textural dimension. Amaranth is a plant-based protein powerhouse, so you can expect to charge through all those morning tasks.
Barley
Coconut amaranth & millet bowl with warm berries. Source: Chris Middleton
2. Pearl barley porridge with baked apples and pears
Apples and pears baked in a little raw sugar until they caramelise, then laid across creamy barley porridge. Surely you want that to be part of your morning routine?
Pearl barley porridge with baked apple and pear. Source: annabelle hickson
Burghul
If your classic breakfast line is about being "sweet enough already", this Indian savoury porridge is for you: it's filled with vegetables like peas and carrots, fresh coriander, chilli, ginger and a heap of spices. Plus, leftovers make a great round-two meal for lunch.
Buckwheat
Cracked wheat porridge (fada upma). Source: Alan Benson
4. Roots and leaves buckwheat bowl
This is one to really impress anyone who breakfasts with you and gloat about to anyone who doesn’t. Not only does it include a bounty of roasted vege and nourishing gluten-free buckwheat, it's served with homemade pecorino crisps (don't worry, they're a cinch) and carrot-top pesto.
Chia
Roots and leaves buckwheat bowl. Source: Sharyn Cairns
5. Thai peanut chia pudding
This little pud is a real nutter: coconut milk, almond milk, peanut butter, roasted peanuts, toasted coconut. Lime zest, honey and a pinch of cayenne keep the richness in check.
Freekah
Thai peanut chia pudding. Source: Phoebe Lapine
This pretty and aromatic breakfast has a Moroccan spin, with cinnamon, orange blossom water, fresh orange, and dates. Freekah grain is cracked young wheat, a larger-sized and greener-tasting version of bourghal.
Fregola
Sweet freekeh with dates and honey. Source: Feast magazine
7. Fregola pudding with poached strawberries and rhubarb (budino di fregola con fragole e rabarbaro)
Pasta for breakfast? Trust the Italians to work out a way. Fregola is a spherical grain made when wheat is rubbed with water. Here, it's cooked with a warming line up of ingredients: milk, cream, vanilla bean, cinnamon, pine nuts, sultanas, lemon zest and nutmeg, and has the consistency of a silky and light rice pudding.
Oats
Fregola pudding with poached strawberries and rhubarb (budino di fregola con fragole e rabarbaro).
The magic ingredient in this breakfast is a coffee syrup of dark brown sugar, cocoa powder, freshly brewed espresso (or good-quality strong instant coffee) and lemon juice. It's likely that you'll find yourself working out other ways to incorporate this genius concoction into your daily life.
Quinoa
Morning coffee oatmeal. Source: Chris Middleton
You may already have a quinoa porridge recipe that you're loyal to, but this one is worth the wandering eye. Start the day before to allow the vanilla bean and honey-infused yoghurt to drain.
Rice (brown)
Quinoa porridge with roasted rhubarb and honey labneh. Source: Alan Benson
Brown rice is cooked with lemongrass, spring onion, coriander root and ginger, to make a fragrant base for the topping: an umami-rich ensemble of pork mince, fish sauce, soy sauce and chilli sauce. The addition of lots of herbs and lime juice keep it fresh.
Rice (black)
Brown rice larb congee. Source: Sharyn Cairns
11. Black rice breakfast with tropical fruit
One look at this seductively glistening breakfast grain bowl, and you'll know it was a good choice to get out of bed.
Rice (white)
Black rice breakfast with tropical fruit. Source: Gluten-free bircher muesli
Cherries baked until they’re soft and bubbly make a bright and tangy topping for this creamy coconut-milk rice pudding.
Semolina
Coconut rice pudding with roasted cherries.
13. Whipped cranberry semolina porridge (vispipuuro)
Pretty in pink: this take on a classic Nordic porridge gets its luminous hue from blended cranberries (fresh or frozen are both fine).
Whipped cranberry semolina porridge (vispipuuro). Source: Sini Ellen
Spelt
That old pina colada combination is at it again. This time, in porridge form.
Teff
Spelt & buckwheat with coconut & pineapple. Source: Chris Middleton
Teff is so nutrient-dense it's a dietary staple for Ethiopia’s long-distance runners. In this textured granola, it's baked with other grains to make crunchy clusters.
Harmony granola. Source: Benito Martin
