This product appeared in the early 20th century in Switzerland when Dr. Bircher-Benner created muesli as a healthy food for patients in his clinic. Muesli has received wide acclaim and many variations have been created over the last century. At first, muesli consisted of a mixture of different cereals with the addition of nuts, seeds, and pieces of dried fruit. Muesli differs from granola in that it is less sweet (in North America, granola tends to have rice or maple syrup added) and is not baked (although muesli can also be baked if desired).
A healthy breakfast is essential to give you energy to start a busy day. If you want to increase your fiber intake, without spending a fortune, muesli can be the perfect choice for breakfast. You can make it easily at home. In addition, you can avoid harmful additives that are often added to packaged muesli. Another advantage is that you can add ingredients that suit your taste. This article will help you learn the basics of making muesli properly.
Ingredients
Basic Muesli:
- Cereals in small pieces, such as whole ground oats, ground oats, ground rye.
- Dried fruit, to taste, you should choose organic, no sulfur
- Nuts and seeds, whole or chopped, to taste
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Fresh fruit, if you want
Dr. "original" muesli recipe Bircher-Benner:
- 3 tablespoons medium oats or 4 tablespoons whole ground oats
- 135 ml of water
- 180 ml natural yogurt with live cultures
- 2o ml (4 tsp) lemon juice
- 60 ml (4 tbsp) honey
- 800 gr apples that are well washed
- 60 g almonds or hazelnuts (without blanching) finely chopped
Basic muesli recipe:
- 4 cups ground grains (in small pieces) such as barley, oats, rice, rye, or spelled
- cup (65 g) sunflower seeds (peeled)
- cup (32 g) pumpkin seeds
- cup (72 g) sesame seeds
- 1 cup (95 g) almonds, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup (230 g) chopped dried fruit
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- Fresh fruit
- plain yogurt
Swiss-style muesli recipe:
- 1 cup (60 g) whole ground oats
- cup ground barley
- cup (180 ml) low-fat milk
- 1 large apple, seeds removed and finely chopped
- 1 small basket of blueberries (or add another finely chopped apple))
- 15 ml (1 tbsp) honey
- 1 cup nonfat yogurt
- cup toasted almond flakes
- 1 g (¼ tsp) cinnamon powder
Baked muesli recipe:
- 750 whole ground oats
- 250 gr ground barley
- cup roasted sorghum
- 1 cup wheat germ
- 1 cup shaved coconut
- cup (48 g) sesame seeds
- cup almond chips
- 250 gr dry fruit mix
- 250 gr sultanas
- cup (32 g) pumpkin seeds
- cup (72 g) sunflower seeds
Step
Step 1. Select the muesli recipe you want to make
You can follow a traditional muesli recipe, or modify the basic recipe and add other ingredients until you get a muesli recipe that you like best. This article provides several options, but you are free to experiment to find a recipe that suits your taste.
- Basic muesli (grain free)
- Muesli “original” Dr. Bircher-Benner
- Swiss-style muesli (a variation of Dr. Bircher-Benner's muesli recipe)
- Baked Muesli
- Tasty muesli
- Modified muesli (for example, sultana-nut or raisin-nut muesli, tropical muesli, apricot muesli, chocolate muesli, and so on)
Method 1 of 5: Basics
Step 1. Purchase the necessary materials
Choose the highest quality product. Try to go to health food stores or markets where you can find ingredients that are always fresh. If you have any doubts about the quality of the product, ask the seller directly from where he supplies his merchandise.
- If possible, buy organic produce. You can use: oat chips (traditional), ground rye, ground barley, ground rice, and ground spelled.
- Look for organic, sulfur-free dried fruit. Dried fruit like this will be better and the absence of sulfur content makes it safe for people who are allergic to sulfur, such as those with asthma.
- Try to choose organic nuts and seeds. It is even better if you buy nuts and seeds that still have the skin/shell on as this ensures freshness. Note that peanuts and cashews are not nuts, but you can add them if you like.
- When buying milk and yogurt, again, organic is the best choice. If you don't eat dairy products, look for dairy alternatives, such as soy, oat, or nut milk and yogurt.
- Don't buy too much. It's better to buy just enough ingredients, roughly to make muesli for a few weeks, and buy more when stock runs out. This way, you'll always be using the freshest ingredients and running out of supplies in no time.
Step 2. Prepare the storage container
Muesli should be stored in an airtight container to keep it fresh. Look for a suitable sealed container, for example a plastic bag with a clip, or a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, etc.) Store the muesli in a cool, dark place.
Step 3. Mix all ingredients
It's easiest if you mix the ingredients in a large bowl and then pour them into the container. However, if the storage container is large enough to shake the ingredients, you can mix the ingredients directly in the container (see the following steps). If you're making muesli without following the recommended proportions, make sure that the largest portion of the muesli is the grain, while you can add other ingredients to your liking. Don't forget that dried fruit is high in calories and fructose. So, use as little as possible. Or, you can follow the proportions recommended in the recipe in this article.
Cut larger dried fruit, such as dried apricots or apples, into small pieces to mix well. Small dried fruit, such as raisins and dried cherries, can be left whole. Dried fruit is usually expensive, but you only need a small amount to add some flavor to the muesli
Step 4. Mix well
Do not fill storage containers to the brim. Leave a little space at the top, then close the lid and turn the container over slowly a few times until all the ingredients are well combined.
Step 5. Enjoy the homemade muesli
You can have muesli with milk or yogurt and fresh fruit (prepare separately). Check out the recipe below for ideas on how to have muesli with yogurt and fruit.
Method 2 of 5: Dr. Muesli's “real” recipe Bircher-Benner: Immersion Variation
This recipe is often simply called “Muesli Bircher”. Initially, this food was called an “apple dish”, not a cereal for breakfast. Even today you can enjoy it as a dessert or breakfast.
Step 1. Pour the water into the bowl
Add oats. Soak overnight.
Step 2. Mix yogurt with lemon juice
Add to the soaked oats, along with the honey.
Step 3. Grate the unpeeled apple directly into the muesli
Stir well so that the color does not change.
Step 4. Sprinkle nuts on top
You are ready to enjoy muesli.
Immersion Variation
Step 1. Try this alternative
In this variation, you soak the muesli overnight and the lactic acid will make the grains softer. You will get positive benefits because muesli is easier to digest and absorption of nutrients is maximized.
Soak the muesli overnight in 1 cup of water, yogurt and apples. Cover the bowl with a plate and put it in the refrigerator
Method 3 of 5: Conventional Muesli
Step 1. Prepare a large bowl, then mix all the ingredients
Muesli is ready to be stored or served. Add fruit and yogurt on top.
Step 2. Add various ingredients to the muesli
You can use roasted seeds and nuts. Add cup of grated coconut, or flaxseed. If you like vanilla, add the vanilla pods to a bowl. Vanilla will enhance the taste of the muesli.
Method 4 of 5: Swiss-Style Muesli
Step 1. Take a small bowl and mix ground oats and barley with milk
Store in the refrigerator overnight.
Step 2. Remove the bowl from the fridge at breakfast and add the other ingredients
Stir well. Muesli is ready to serve.
Method 5 of 5: Baked Muesli
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C
Step 2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
Step 3. Pour the oats into the pan and spread it evenly
Place in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Watch carefully as oats scorch easily, and stir frequently.
Step 4. Take a frying pan, roast the shaved coconut, sesame seeds and almonds
Stir frequently so it doesn't burn. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
Step 5. Once cool, mix all ingredients and pour into an airtight sealed container
If you close the container well after use, the baked muesli will last for up to two weeks.
Tips
- If you like lots of variety, use a smaller container and make different types of muesli, such as chocolate muesli in one bowl, dried berry muesli in another, and so on.
- Try different types of yogurt (unsalted) until you find one you like. The taste of yogurt can be very sour or neutral. You can mix yogurt with milk if it's too sour.
- You can make muesli using oats and nuts. Then save. As a variation, sprinkle pieces of fresh and dried fruit when you want to eat it. This muesli can even be used as a warm cereal and consumed interchangeably.
- Whole ground oats are often chosen as the main ingredient, whether or not they are mixed with other grains. Go to a grocery store that sells natural ingredients and find other grains for variety and texture.
- If the oats are too tough, soak them briefly in milk, yogurt, or a mixture as mentioned in several of the recipes in this article.
- Muesli is perfect as a dessert, or sprinkled over fruit desserts, muffins, biscuits, cakes, cutlets, muesli/granola sticks, and so on.
- Yogurt "goes great" with muesli if you choose a product that isn't thickened (such as gelatin, pectin, or starch).
- Store muesli in a dry and cool place.
