Bircher muesli was a very recent discovery for me. On this trip to the Hunter Valley, I was hovering over the breakfast buffet laid out with a million choices. When there is too much food, I am indecisive and I hover. Like a kid in the candy store. Not being able to pick. Hovering. Often making the worst possible choice. Like picking up a mini carton of Kelloggs All Bran when there was all this fresh breakfast at my disposal. Blasphemy! The lovely plump woman who had come to replenish the gigantic bowl of soaked cereal nearly had a stroke when she saw me with the mini carton.
"Oh no no no!" she exclaimed with a look of utter agony on her pleasant face. "You must not have that. You must have this!" she continued as she shoved the big bowl right under my nose.
As my eyes widened, she swooped around and switched the big empty bowl with the one filled to the brim with the cold cereal.
"You must try this. This is our chef's special overnight soaked muesli. He makes it with apple and honey and yoghurt ...". I was sold and just like that I had the first bowl of Bircher in my life and was instantly taken by the simplicity of the recipe and the complexity of flavour possibilities at my fingertips. When I got back from wine country, I had nothing but delicious cold muesli for breakfast over the next couple of weeks, a trait of mine that allows me to listen to the same song hundred times or perform the same series of yoga stretches for three months (I am obsessive compulsive in the nicest possible way!). I made all kinds of muesli mixes. A gorgeous coconut and rose version made it into Tasty Express, a chocolate and dried fruit version became a bit of an obsession whereas this special summer version studded with mango and spices graced my inaugural article in The Hornsby Advocate's Lifestyle section.
Introduced by Swiss physician Max Bircher-Brenner around 1900, the breakfast dish of oats soaked in lemon juice and condensed milk topped with grated apple and nuts was meant for his patients at the hospital. Over the years, the original Bircher muesli evolved and became utterly adventurous and delicious. I think of Bircher Muesli as a breakfast pudding. On busy days, which are most days; having a big bowl of delicious over night soaked Bircher muesli waiting to nourish you in the morning is priceless. This is a summer spice version made beautiful with lots of coconut and cinnamon. What is your most favourite Bircher muesli concoction?
Recipe
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SUMMER SPICE BIRCHER MUESLI
Ingredients
muesli mix
- 2 cups rolled oats
- ½ cup wheatgerm
- ½ cup shredded or flaked coconut
- ½ cup almond flakes
- 1/3 cup sultanas
- 1/3 cup pepitas
- 1 teaspoon mixed spice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- zest of 1 blood orange/ orange
overnight Bircher muesli
- 2 cups muesli mix, see above
- 1 cup diced mango, fresh or frozen
- 1 cup Greek yoghurt
- ½ cup coconut water
- ½ cup apple juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- fresh fruit to serve
Instructions
- Place oats, wheat germ, coconut flakes, almond flakes, sultanas, pepitas, spices, salt and zest in a large bowl. Toss to combine thoroughly. Store this muesli mix in an airtight container in a cool part of your pantry for up to 2 weeks.
- To make the overnight soaked Bircher Muesli combine 2 cups of the muesli mix, mango, yoghurt, coconut water, apple juice and honey in a large bowl. Mix well to combine evenly. Cover and soak in the fridge overnight. Enjoy chilled with fresh seasonal fruit and extra yoghurt.
I LOVE Bircher Muesli, and I’m in need of some breakfast inspiration with easy prep, so I look forward to making this! Just checking..the overnight oats serves 6-8, or is it just the muesli mix? And from the quantities, I gather you don’t use ALL the muesli mix for the batch of overnight oats, so as I’m the only one eating this, how long will this batch of overnight oats keep in the fridge?
Hi Deborah! You are correct. The overnight oats is 6-8 servings depending on your serving size. For one person, it is perfect for the whole week and the overnight oats keep well for at least 5-6 days in the fridge. You can easily halve the overnight oats recipe and use only 1 cup of the Bircher mix.The recipe for dry Bircher Mix makes roughly 4 cups of dry Bircher to be stored in your pantry.x
I love BM - but not too sloppy. I make a dry mix of rolled oats, LSA and hazelnut meal then add chopped prunes & sultanas and cover with water for a couple of minutes. I pour the water off and put the moistened mix, covered, in the fridge overnight. In the morning, I add a couple of spoons of yoghurt (the thicker the better), a sliced banana, some stewed apple (I make this in bulk and freeze in mini-muffin trays - pop them out and store in a zip-lock bag), and some berry puree (also made in bulk and frozen the same way - a great way to use up punnets that are starting to spoil) half an hour before I want to eat and they defrost nicely - delicious!
I've tried Bircher on several occasions at hotel breakfast buffets not knowing what it was, thinking it was something incredibly bad for me as it tasted so good! When I looked at this and saw it's made with super-healthy ingredients I'm going to give it a go and make it for my brekkie at home. This stuff shouldn't be legal!
I'm always looking for breakfast ideas. It's always the hardest meal for me. Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
I've never had Bircher muesli, and actually only just had muesli for the first time over Christmas break! Who knew uncooked oats could be so good?! I love that you add orange zest & coconut water to the dish. Sounds like such a treat 🙂
Coconut and mango are a perfect match! In summer I love my Bircher muesli topped with fresh raspberries, coconut yogurt, and toasted sesame seeds but in autumn I soak my Bircher with grated pear, loads of cinnamon, nutmeg, and honey, and top it with persimmon slices and roasted hazelnuts. So good!
We love Bircher muesli but I have never made it. This is such a great recipe for breakfast, healthy but delicious!
I remember the first time I tasted bircher muesli - it was love at first mouthful! It's also amazing with a little bit of cream or full fat coconut milk on more indulgent days 🙂
I agree spices are a MUST for me in muesli and bircher. Lots and lots of cinnamon, and coconut chips. Everything else is come or go for me. Love the way the frozen blueberries have thawed and left a purple trail, very pretty 🙂
Delicious and healthy! That is something I have always loved. Your recipe sounds wonderful.
Cheers,
Rosa
I'd never heard of Bircher muesli, but after reading your recommendation and other comments here, it sounds like it's pretty delicious. I think I might like it as I love Greek yoghurt with honey, nuts etc and this sounds a little like an extra posh version of that!
I love muesli. Wonderful idea to have a mix ready to go for whenever a craving strikes!
We love Bircher muesli, and this looks perfect. I'm also a big fan of Brook farm stuff, as we always seem to be running late in the mornings and need something quick.
Bircher is so so tasty. I always order it when I go out. People don't know what they're missing! This will defs be added to my breakfast list.
Looks delicious! I may as well swap my usual granola for this, as oats rock in this house.
I love Bircher muesli and make mine very much like this. Perfect for breakfast.