Hercules porridge - this dish is familiar to many. In childhood, you need to eat it in order to grow faster and not get sick, in adulthood it helps to maintain a figure, and old people prefer it because of its easy digestibility. A properly prepared dish looks appetizing, has a pleasant aroma and delicate taste.
If everything is not done according to the recipe, then a slimy mixture of gray color can turn out, which you don’t want to eat. Below we will give some tips on cooking herculean porridge, but for now we suggest finding out what its benefits are and what it is made of.
What is the healthiest breakfast made of?
"Oatmeal, Sir Barrymore" - this phrase from the movie about the adventures of Sherlock Holmes is known to many. Because of her, some believe that the British eat only oatmeal porridge for breakfast. Oatmeal and Hercules is the name of one product made from oats. "Hercules" is the name of the brand that produced oatmeal in the Soviet Union, hence the second name of this dish.
Previously, oats were considered unfit for food. It was used to prepare feed for livestock. The inhabitants of the Scandinavian countries were the first to think of adding it to human food, starting to cook stew with oats in water or meat broth. It happened in the XIII century.
Oatmeal became porridge only after 300 years. Finally, this dish has earned the attention of chefs, and they began to experiment by adding various spices and additives to it. In those days, there was oatmeal porridge on the water, milk was added a little later.
Until the beginning of the 19th century, it was prepared from grains, after the invention of the method of steaming cereals, oatmeal appeared. Now they are sold in the store under different names and are used to make delicious cereals. In addition to them, you can find instant oatmeal on the shelves, but it has fewer useful substances.
Hercules includes:
- Protein;
- Amino acids;
- Cellulose;
- Fats;
- Carbohydrates;
- Starch;
- Ash;
- Elements: iodine, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, manganese, copper, iron, zinc;
- B vitamins, tocopherol (E) and niacin (PP);
- Mono and disaccharides.
Calorie content of oatmeal porridge - 350 kcal.
It's great for breakfast. Amino acids contribute to the restoration of muscle protein, fiber helps to cleanse the intestines of toxins, the presence of antioxidants slows down the aging process.
In addition, gluten gently envelops the walls of the stomach, so this product is prescribed for gastritis and peptic ulcers. And since this dish is very nutritious, contains all the elements necessary for a healthy body and allows you to forget about the feeling of hunger for a long time, it is often used in weight loss diets.
Easy Oatmeal Recipes
How to cook herculean porridge? For cooking, it is best to take flakes that require cooking. First, let's deal with cooking on the water. The proportion of cereals and liquid is 1:2, that is, 2 cups of boiling water are taken per glass of cereal. Salt, sugar and oil will also be needed.
Pour the required amount of water into a saucepan and put on fire to boil. When the water becomes hot, it must be salted and sugared. After boiling, we fall asleep cereal, and stirring constantly, cook for 4 minutes (just in case, check the cooking time according to the instructions on the pack).
After the cereal falls asleep, foam will begin to form, which will try to "escape". At this time, you just need to blow on it or briefly remove the container from the fire. After the expiration of the prescribed period, the stove is turned off, and butter is added to the porridge and laid out on plates.
You can cook hercules and milk. Such a porridge turns out very tasty if you add fruits to it. For 100 g of Hercules flakes, you will need 2 cups of milk, 1 pc. apple, orange and banana, oil, salt and sugar. Pour the required amount of oatmeal into boiled milk and cook, stirring over low heat for 5-10 minutes.
Turn off the heat and add salt and sugar. After that, cover the saucepan with a lid and leave for another 3 minutes. At this time, you can prepare the fruit. They are peeled and seeds are peeled, then the orange is cut into cubes, and the banana and apple are rubbed on a coarse grater. Fruits are added along with butter. If desired, sugar can be replaced with honey, and dark chocolate is suitable as a flavoring additive.
Another sweet recipe is dried fruit oatmeal. For 100 g of hercules, you will need 150 ml of milk and water. Pour the liquid into a saucepan and bring to a boil. After adding a little salt and sugar, we fall asleep cereal. Stirring, bring the cereal to readiness. We prepare dried fruits. Dried apricots, raisins, figs, dates and prunes are suitable for this dish. They need to be washed and cut.
After the hercules has boiled for 3 minutes, add the fruit and reduce the heat to a minimum. Cover the container with a lid, simmer for another 10 minutes and turn off. To add an original taste to this dish, it is recommended to add a little olive oil before serving.
Hercules porridge in a slow cooker is also easy to prepare. Pour the flakes into the cooking bowl, pour them with a glass of pasteurized milk and the same amount of boiling water, add sugar and a little salt. Now it remains to close the lid and set the mode "Porridge". We are waiting for the signal of the smart machine, which will notify the end of the process.
By default, the cooking time in such units takes about an hour, but if it is possible to change it, then set it to 35 minutes, this will be enough. You can add honey, butter or fruits to the finished dish. As you can see, the recipes are simple, but the porridges according to them are very tasty.
In order not to be mistaken with the cooking time and not to digest the cereal, you need to know the signs of the readiness of your dish:
- When the dish is ready, the foam is almost not formed;
- Cooked flakes should swell, but should not fall apart.
If you want to lose weight with this miracle porridge, then you need to follow a special tactic.
Hercules and weight loss
Hercules porridge for weight loss is a great option for those who want to get rid of a couple of extra pounds without ruining the body with hunger strikes. Nutritionists offer these dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but during breaks they must drink plenty of liquids: green and black tea, mineral water without gases.
Also, the daily menu will include various vegetables (except potatoes) and fruits (exception: banana, grapes, dates).
For best results, this diet is followed for 10 days if there is no additional physical activity, and a week when sports are present. Herculean porridge is not cooked in milk, but in water, without salt, sugar and butter. Fruit and olive oil can be added if desired.
During weight loss, all flour and confectionery products, except for dark chocolate, carbonated and alcoholic drinks, meat, poultry and fish, should be banned. Your weight loss menu should include only oatmeal, fruits and vegetables, kefir for the night and teas with mineral water.
You can prepare a decoction of wild rose and medicinal herbs (chamomile, knotweed). The liquid is drunk 30 minutes before and after a meal, in an amount of at least 1.5 liters per day.
At first glance, few people may like the viscous porridge, which is simply called oatmeal. But the British, of course, it was not without reason that this particular product was made cult, such that this porridge all over the world became the hallmark of the culinary preferences of the inhabitants of foggy Albion.
Oatmeal has many health and beauty benefits. It is no coincidence that oatmeal is included in the well-known beauty salads.
"Hercules" are specially prepared oat grains to facilitate the cooking process.
It is said that porridge made from Hercules is less healthy than from oatmeal, but the use of flakes has made cooking so much easier that it is difficult to refuse them. And we won't.
We have several reasons to figure out how to cook Hercules, and once we figure it out, include this unique porridge in our daily diet.
Firstly, oatmeal, like oatmeal, contains carbohydrates that give energy and strength. Secondly, hercules improves the functioning of the heart, stomach, and therefore is indispensable for people suffering from an ulcer or gastritis. Thirdly, it is an excellent stress reliever. Fourthly, the substances that make up the porridge contribute to the removal of harmful substances and toxins, as well as the production of collagen. And this, in turn, contributes to the preservation of youth and beautiful appearance.
These are not the only arguments in favor of oatmeal. You can add the rest yourself if you start eating oatmeal regularly.
Cooking steps:
Ingredients:
Milk 200 ml, water 0.5 cups, oatmeal 2-3 tbsp. spoons, sugar 1.5-2 tbsp. spoons, butter to taste, salt on the tip of a knife.
Oatmeal can be treated as you like, but no one can deny its benefits. With the launch of steam processing of cereals, the taste of porridge became less specific, and the texture became more delicate. It gained more fans, and thanks to its valuable nutritional properties, the name "herculean" was assigned to it. It is believed that on the water, the recipe of which will be given in our article, is suitable both as and as a main dish on fasting and fasting days.
Why didn't the Scots put milk in their oatmeal?
The first oatmeal was cooked in Scotland in the 16th century. Chefs immediately began to experiment with the recipe and even managed to add spices to the dish. To achieve the perfect taste, even superstitions and certain rituals were used. So, it was believed that when cooking, it was necessary to stir the porridge exclusively with the right hand in a clockwise direction. This action allegedly frightened off the crowd around. According to the cooks of those years, milk spoiled the taste of the dish, so it was customary to boil oatmeal only with water. However, milk for porridge was served separately, in a glass, so that the dish could be washed down.
Herculean porridge recipe on the water: the best breakfast
- Oatmeal - 2 cups.
- Water - 4 glasses.
- Butter - 2 teaspoons.
- Salt - 0.5 teaspoon.
- You can add sugar to taste.
Herculean flakes do not require pre-washing before laying in the pan. But even in the highest grade product, various foreign particles, husks and pebbles come across. Therefore, we will sort out the flakes before laying, so that later we do not pull out unbroken grains from our mouths. Herculean porridge on the water, the recipe of which readers are currently seeing, can provide up to 15% of the daily requirement of the human body for vitamins and microelements. Milk in this situation is seen as an extra product, especially on fasting days.
Cooking process
First, put water on fire. When the water boils, add salt, and then gradually pour in the flakes. Additional stirring at the time of laying is not required, since the flakes themselves will be evenly distributed throughout the liquid, without forming lumps. Cook over moderate heat until thickened, stirring slowly from time to time so that the porridge does not burn. After 7-10 minutes, the cereal is already able to completely boil. Turn off the heat, add oil, if required - sugar, close the lid. It is advisable to cover the pan with a terry towel and leave to sweat for another 10 minutes.
What to serve with?
Sometimes you want to treat yourself and diversify your daily diet. Some people eat daily, and it will not be superfluous for them to find out what the finished dish goes best with. A good addition to the porridge served on the table will be pre-washed raisins, honey, pieces of fresh fruit. In summer, you can add berries, of which raspberries, strawberries and cherries are best friends with the taste of the finished dish. And how beautiful and appetizing the composition of porridge, decorated on top with a few raspberries and mint leaves, will look! Our oatmeal porridge on the water, the recipe with the photo of which you see, is ready! After such a beautifully decorated breakfast, in addition to a surge of energy, a good mood is also provided for the whole day.
Herculean porridge on the water: a recipe in a slow cooker
People have long appreciated all the charms of the multicooker: it is able to save the hostess's personal time and provide a hot breakfast to the family immediately after waking up. When every minute counts in the morning, oatmeal porridge on the water, the recipe in the slow cooker of which we will now analyze, is a real salvation. In addition, it is believed that this unit retains an order of magnitude more valuable nutrients than traditional cooking.
As ingredients (for one serving) we take:
- 0.5 cup oatmeal
- 1 glass of water
- salt.
So, based on a family of 4 people, we will lay 2 cups of cereal and 4 glasses of water, and for a family of 5 people - 2.5 cups of cereal and 5 glasses of water. Salt in both cases is enough in the amount of 0.5 teaspoon. As you can see, there is no oil or sugar here. Such oatmeal porridge on the water is a recipe for weight loss and a slim figure!
Bookmark ingredients
In the evening, we will lay all the ingredients in the slow cooker, which, if desired, can be mixed. We set the “Porridge” mode, then the delay timer until the hour when the family is ready to gather for breakfast. Those who have time in the morning can bookmark after waking up. In this case, we will get by with only the “Porridge” mode. A positive point in cooking in this way is the absence of milk. In this case, the finished dish will definitely not burn.
Porridge with dried fruits
Hercules porridge on the water, the recipe of which we have analyzed, is prepared simply, and all additional ingredients are added to the finished dish. Are there variations where additional ingredients are boiled with the cereal? Yes, there are. Pieces of dried fruits in the process of languishing soften well, and also give their incomparable sweet and sour taste to the main dish. For cooking we take:
- Oatmeal - 200 g.
- Water - 400 ml.
- Olive oil.
- A mixture of dried fruits (dried apricots, figs, raisins, prunes, dates).
- Salt, sugar to taste.
The recipe for oatmeal porridge on water with dried fruits can sometimes be modified for a change. For example, take water and milk in equal proportions.
Cooking method
After the water boils, pour the flakes and cook, stirring slowly, no more than 10 minutes. Dried fruits by this point should already be washed, scalded with boiling water and cut into pieces, with the exception of raisins. It is so small in itself that it does not require grinding.
As soon as the flakes thicken in the pan, add salt, sugar if desired, as well as a mixture of dried fruits, mix. Then reduce the heat to a minimum or turn off and cover the dishes with a terry towel. The total languishing time is 10 minutes. Instead, we will use olive oil, which will add spice and oriental flavor to the dish.
The benefits of the dish
There are people who still do not understand and do not accept the taste delights of oatmeal. Sometimes life forces you to make adjustments to the diet, for one reason or another, to refuse unhealthy food. And then, willy-nilly, people turn their eyes to such a dish as herculean porridge on the water, a recipe whose benefits are described here. In the minds of people, the idea laid down by the monotonous nutrition of children's institutions about this dish is changing, and they discover oatmeal from a new side. If you supplement dishes with suitable ingredients, then each time the taste will play with new colors.
Oatmeal, or oatmeal, is considered to be a highly valuable product. It contains in its composition a maximum of useful elements and vitamins. The original Scottish breakfast is prepared with water, not milk. Oatmeal is suitable for people suffering from heart disease, ladies who follow their figure love it. To enjoy all the delights of the dish, you must have practical knowledge regarding cooking. Let's consider the important aspects in order.
Hercules porridge on the water (classic recipe)
The cooking technology consists in the heat treatment of herculean groats in a deep container using a stove. It is this recipe that is considered traditional, everything else is just a variation.
To reproduce the Scottish method, prepare a thick-walled cast iron or stainless steel pan in advance. In no case do not use an enameled container, as the composition remains on the walls and bottom of the dishes.
Before you start cooking, sort through the cereal, sifting out everything superfluous (husk, foreign debris, etc.). After all the manipulations, rinse the hercules with cold water, squeeze out excess liquid. The last recommendation is more about personal preference than recipe requirements.
Cooking technology
- After choosing a suitable saucepan, pour 550-600 ml into it. filtered water. Put on the stove, turn on a large fire, add 2 pinches of salt (preferably iodized), wait for the crystals to dissolve.
- Bring the liquid to a boil, then turn down the power (medium heat), start slowly pouring in the oatmeal. At the same time, stir the dish with a wooden spatula so that the oatmeal does not stick to the dishes.
- Cook oatmeal until the first bubbles appear. After that, cover the pan with a lid, switch the burner to low heat and mix again.
- Cooking time varies between 20-25 minutes. In this case, the porridge must be constantly stirred to avoid burning and the formation of lumps.
- At the end of the period, turn off the stove, do not open the lid. Wrap the dishes in a thick blanket or cover with a towel, leave to infuse for about half an hour. Optionally, you can add dried fruits, honey, jam, jam and other sweets.
Important!
In cases where you plan to cook hercules with figs, raisins or dried apricots, add these ingredients after you turn off the burner. In the process of infusion, oatmeal will absorb the aroma and taste of additives, as a result of which it will acquire the necessary richness and saturation.
Hercules porridge on the water in the microwave
The age of technological progress leaves its mark on society. It is rare to meet people who do not have a microwave oven in their apartment / house. A household appliance of this kind saves time, oatmeal turns out delicious, despite the fact that it is cooked in haste.
- Before cooking, sort out the oatmeal (1 cup), excluding the husks and foreign debris. Soak the cereal in purified water, leave for 10 minutes, rinse.
- Choose a suitable container (preferably glass), fill it with 500 ml. filtered water. Salt, add sugar if desired (for sweet lovers). Wait for the salt and sand granules to dissolve (in cases where it is added).
- Set the microwave oven to the maximum mark, put the bowl with porridge on the edge of the rotating plate, turn on the timer for 3.5-4 minutes.
- Watch the cooking process. Pause the microwave every 40-60 seconds, mix thoroughly and send it back to cook.
- At the end of the cooking time, close the bowl with porridge with a lid, wrap it with a thick towel, leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes.
- As in the previous case, you can add seasonal berries, jam, honey or fruits. When mixing hercules with dried fruits, add them immediately after removing the finished dish from the microwave.
No matter how ridiculous it may sound, true gourmets cook oatmeal in the oven. The recipe does not involve any particular difficulties, most importantly, observe the exposure time and temperature regime. To prepare oatmeal porridge, take a cast-iron pan or cauldron.
- Rinse the cereal with plenty of running water, eliminate all debris, get rid of the husk. After that, place the hercules on a gauze cloth, squeeze out the liquid.
- Put two cups of prepared oatmeal in a cast iron pan or other thick-walled non-enamelled dish, pour in 2.5 cups of purified water. Salt, sweeten (optional).
- Preheat the oven to 180-190 degrees, maintain this temperature for 10 minutes. After that, put the dishes with the cereal inside, reduce the power so that the composition does not burn on the bottom of the container (if the oven is gas).
- Cooking time for oatmeal varies between 20-30 minutes, it all depends on the initial component of the oven. You can understand whether porridge is ready for consumption by its consistency: swollen soft grains will melt in your mouth.
- At the end of the period, turn off the oven, leave the dish to infuse for about 10 minutes. Do not increase this interval as the grits may dry out.
- If you wish, add raisins, candied fruits, dried fruits, honey or jam to the porridge. Then mix, cover the container with a lid and wrap with a towel. Let it brew for 20 minutes, no less.
- Lovers of fresh fruits need to add them immediately before serving, otherwise the pieces of treats will become soft, elusive.
- Especially tasty is oatmeal cooked on water in the oven with the addition of spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, ground cloves.
Hercules porridge in a slow cooker
The slow cooker entered the life of a modern person not so long ago, but has already taken pride of place in the heart of every housewife. The innovative device saves time, providing the opportunity to do your own business in parallel. So in the case of cooking oatmeal, for breakfast you will get a rich and satisfying dish. An important feature of cooking porridge in this way is considered to be that it retains much more nutrients than when cooked in a microwave, oven or stovetop.
- To prepare oatmeal in a slow cooker, you will need to take 0.5 cups of cereal, 1 cup of water, 2 pinches of salt (the components are designed for 1 serving). You can increase or decrease the proportions based on personal preferences and the number of family members.
- Rinse the hercules with running water through a colander, dry with a gauze cloth or towel. Pour the porridge into the multicooker container, fill with water, salt, mix. If desired, you can add sugar and a slice of natural butter.
- Set the “Porridge” function on the device, set a timer in case you lay the ingredients in the evening. In the morning after waking up, all you have to do is press the button and wait for the product to be cooked.
- If you lay the ingredients in the morning, limit yourself to the “Porridge” mode, the time does not need to be set manually. Wait until the timer turns off, if possible, do not open the lid for a quarter of an hour so that the dish is infused.
- As in all previous cases, additives in the form of raisins, candied fruits, dried fruits, nuts and other things interfere immediately after preparation, but before infusion. In the case of fresh berries and fruits, toss them immediately before use.
Experienced housewives have brought out an interesting feature: oatmeal cooked in a slow cooker goes best with fresh and frozen berries. For the most part, you should give preference to cherries with the addition of honey, raspberries, strawberries and cherries. Also, a delicious dish is obtained if you mix it with figs, gooseberries, black or red currants.
Hercules porridge on the water is a real find for girls on grueling diets, as well as people with gastrointestinal diseases. A truly hearty breakfast will not leave indifferent even the most sophisticated connoisseur of gourmet food. Choose your favorite recipe, supplement it at your discretion, experiment. Bon Appetit!
Video: how to cook oatmeal porridge
Hercules flakes: cook correctly
How to cook hercules?
Many different dishes can be prepared from hercules: cereals, meatballs and casseroles. Hercules porridge can be crumbly or viscous. Therefore, when cooking porridge, it is very important to observe the ratio of cereals and liquid, as well as take into account the cooking time. As a rule, oatmeal should be poured into boiling salted water. Cook over low heat until thickened. Then tightly cover the dishes with a lid and place in a water bath or in an oven preheated to about 50 ° C.
Hercules is useful for improving immunity, normalizing metabolism, and improving skin condition. Homemade face masks are made from oatmeal flakes
For the recipe you will need: - 2 cups of hercules; - 5 glasses of water or milk; - 50 g of butter; - ½ teaspoon of salt.
For sweet porridge, reduce the amount of salt. Boil the hercules for 10-15 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add butter to the prepared porridge. To prepare milk porridge, you can use dry or condensed milk. Powdered milk is diluted in cold water in a proportion of 2 tbsp. spoons of milk to 1 glass of water. Dilute condensed milk in approximately the same proportion. When using condensed milk, remove sugar from the recipe.
Cooking hercules delicious
You can make a delicious fruit casserole from hercules porridge. For the recipe you will need: - thick oatmeal porridge, which is cooked at the rate of 3 cups of milk per 1 cup of oatmeal; - 1 tablespoon of sugar; - 1 tablespoon of breadcrumbs; - 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil ;- 1 raw egg;- 200 g of raisins.
Put part of the finished porridge into a mold, greased with oil and sprinkled with breadcrumbs. Put washed, peeled raisins on top. Cover the raisins with a second layer of porridge, brush them with a lightly beaten egg and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Put the finished casserole on a dish, pour with butter, sour cream or yogurt.
Hercules cutlets
You can cook delicious vegetarian cutlets from hercules. For the recipe you will need: - 300 g of hercules; - 100 g of celery; - 1 onion; - 3 boiled eggs; - 1 lemon; - breadcrumbs; - salt to taste.
Hercules flakes for cutlets do not need to be cooked. Simply pour a small amount of hot water or milk over them, or leave to thicken. Finely chop the celery stalks, peeled onion and eggs. Mix ingredients with hercules. Add lemon juice to minced meat and form patties. Roll them in breadcrumbs, fry in hot vegetable oil. During heat treatment, the main useful properties of flakes are preserved. Consumption of oatmeal can reduce the risk of developing heart disease.