The Proats Starter Pack: How To Make Protein Porridge the Tasty Way
Proats; some of you will know what they are, others won’t. Quickly search the term on Instagram and you’ll find nearly 250,000 posts dedicated to the breakfast staple though. For the uninitiated, proats are when protein in the form of a powder is added to oats in your porridge. Yes, it really is as simple as that.
A great source of carbohydrates to get you set for the day ahead, porridge oats also contain a lot of fibre. When you add protein powder on top of that as well then you’re getting a meal that is as nutrient-dense as the best of them, while using a flavoured protein powder also means you can alter the taste of plain porridge to suit what you fancy.
And while adding one portion of your desired protein powder to normal porridge might seem like an impossible task to mess up, there are some important things to remember when making it up. Here are some tips to remember then, as well as some of my favourite flavour combinations to add to the mix.
5 Tips For Making Great Proats
Always Cook Your Proats Low And Slow
I know most of us are in a rush to inhale our oats in the morning but if you have the time, cook them on a low heat for as long as up to 15 minutes. Stir them frequently and watch the creamiest oats form.
Cooking on too high a heat is one of the biggest mistakes I see. The protein porridge can burn and will stick to the bottom of the pan, making washing up even less enjoyable
Wait Until The End To Add Your Protein
Don’t add your protein powder until about a minute towards the end. And when you do, also add a big glug of milk to keep your proats creamy. I also like to add some flaxseed and sometimes chia seeds for added fibre and goodness.
Plant Milk Over Water
Some people use water instead of milk (dairy free in my case), but I find using dairy free milk makes a far nicer consistency and makes them extra creamy. I tend to use oat milk most of the time. After all, you can never have too many oats, right?
Don’t Skimp On The Liquid
Another big mistake is not using enough milk or liquid. You don’t want the proats to be so sticky they get stuck to the roof of our mouths.
Protein Porridge Ingredient #Inspo
As well as flaxseed and chia seeds above, coconut yoghurt is an ultimate favourite to make an even more gorgeous texture to your proats. Grated courgette is another great one as it’s a fabulous way to add in some veggies and you can’t taste it.
Cacao powder works really well depending on the flavour of protein powder you are choosing. And a top tip for a lovely surprise is to hide a teaspoon of nut butter in the middle.
In terms of toppings I always opt for fresh or frozen berries, some nuts and seeds, cacao nibs, nut butter and some grated dark chocolate if I’m feeling extra.
How To Make Toffee Proats
Ingredients
- ½ grated apple
- 50g gluten-free rolled oats
- 200ml plant milk of choice
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp Form toffee Superblend Protein
Method
- Place the grated apple, oats, milk and cinnamon in a pan and cook on medium heat until creamy.
- Remove the pan from the stove, then stir in the toffee Superblend.
- You can top your protein porridge with a swirl of cashew nut butter and thinly sliced apple.
How To Make Chocolate Hazelnut Protein Porridge
Ingredients
- 50g oats
- 200ml hazelnut milk
- 1 tbsp Performance Choc & Hazelnut
- 1⁄4 tsp orange extract
Toppings:
- Sliced pear
- Hazelnuts
- Activated buckwheat
Method
- Stir all ingredients, minus the protein on low heat until creamy.
- Once the porridge achieves the desired consistency, remove it from the heat, add the protein, mix well, transfer to your bowl, add toppings and enjoy.
How To Make Cinnamon And Vanilla Proats
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Performance Vanilla
- 1⁄2 tsp cinnamon
- 1⁄4 tsp vanilla extract
- 50g oats
- 200ml almond milk
Toppings:
- 1 tbsp almond butter
- Handful of blueberries
Method
- Stir all the ingredients (except for the protein powder) in a saucepan on low heat until creamy.
- Once porridge achieves the desired consistency, remove it from heat. Add in the protein, and mix well.
- Transfer the porridge into your bowl, add your toppings and enjoy!
Luce Hosier is a food blogger and recipe developer, specialising in vegan recipes with a healthier twist. You can find more of her recipes and tips on her website at whatluceeats.com or on her Instagram page.
