It's the quick and simple treats that attract me the most. Those that you can whip up in a matter of a few minutes, using the ingredients you already have at hand. I admire those who can spend ages decorating a cake or making delectable desserts that require much patience and skills. I have neither, so I've always thought of myself as more of a rustic, casual, country-cook. Well I am a country-girl at heart and I think it'll always show in my cooking.
Whipped lingonberry porridge is one of the first things I always ask my mum to make when I go back home to Finland. I have loved this treat for as long as I can remember and it's one of the dishes I most miss from home. Along with rye bread, quark, wild berries and squeaky cheese, whipped lingonberry porridge is definitely on the top 5 of my favourite Finnish foods.
Now, there is an obvious lack of frozen lingonberries here in Sydney - so far I haven't found any. The second best option for those wanting to make any lingonberry dishes is, in my opinion, to use frozen cranberries that tend to be more widely available. I wouldn't use lingonberry cordial to make this as they are too sugary and won't give the same taste nor colour.
This whipped cranberry porridge is just as soft, fluffy and sour as it is supposed to be and served with a dash of milk it's the best I can get here in Australia.
Whipped Cranberry Porridge
(serves 2)
250g frozen cranberries
750ml water
65g semolina
1 tablespoon rapadura sugar
1. Place the cranberries and water into a saucepan and bring the mixture to boil. Let simmer for 20-30 minutes, then drain through a sieve preserving the liquid and saving the berry mash for a later use.
2. Return the cranberry juice into the saucepan and add enough water to make up to 750 ml. Bring the liquid to boil then gradually sprinkle in the semolina, whisking continuously.
3. Simmer the porridge for 15-20 minutes, whisking every now and then and adding a dash of water if necessary. The porridge can be quite thick. Add the sugar in at the last stage, stir it in and take the saucepan off the heat.
4. Place the saucepan in a sink filled with cold water. Leave to cool, then beat with electric beaters until light and fluffy. Serve the porridge at room temperature or cold with a dash of milk.
This looks lovely - definately trying it! Quick Sydney-sider question for you...what kind of semolina do you use, and can you find froze cranberries all year or do you just stock up on the Creative Gourmet ones during x-mas?
ReplyDeleteThat looks divine! I love country-style and rustic recipes.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
ohh this looks sooo good and pretty...ive never had whipped porridge before so im really curious about the taste/texture! it doesnt seem all that simple and quick to whip up though! will make it when i come across frozen cranberries next time!
ReplyDeleteOMG! That is the best looking porridge I have ever seen! It looks so beautiful... creamy, fluffy and lite. I might have to use some other fruit I have on hand to make it. Though it will not taste the same I think it can still be good with many other fruits!
ReplyDeleteAlso... wanted to tell you that your rustic, country style food is what I LOVE about your blog! I too am a country girl at heart but love food which is hearty, comforting and filling!
Maria, this looks awesome! I think I will have to make this very very soon.....
ReplyDeleteI was all excited thinking that you'd found some lingonberries here! I'm still trying to get someone to grow cloudberries! Cranberry is a great substitute and this looks lovely :)
ReplyDeleteoh wow this looks so delicious! (I wonder what would work as a gluten free semolina substitute....)
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence, yesterday I was craving for whipped lingonberry porridge, but I don't get lingonberries in Singapore. But cranberry is a good substitute :) Thanks! This is also one of my favorites, that my mum makes when I visit Finland :)
ReplyDeleteWow! This looks awesome! I've never cooked semolina so this would be fun to make
ReplyDeleteYummie-licious! :)
ReplyDeletewow, this looks completely delightful. like nothing I've ever eaten before. i adore learning about your culture through your food posts :) such a shame about the lingonberry shortage. My mum makes a lovely lingonberry gravy!
ReplyDeleteHeidi xo
I would happily have that tomorrow for my breakfast...or a snack right now.
ReplyDeleteMaaaaybe, you could find lingonberries in Tasmania. They grow a lot more different types of berries, than around these parts, not sure of the season though.
Oh my goodness this sound absolutely delightful:):)
ReplyDeletewow, I have never seen anything like that. looks perfect for this time of year - love that it doesn't sound too sweet either ;-)
ReplyDeleteoh wow! what a great idea! I love the color!
ReplyDeleteI am busy jotting this down as I read it! Looks great!
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty pink! This sounds lovely.
ReplyDeletethe color and the perfectly whipped porridge looks amazing. I love how homey and light it is. Perfect for any day!
ReplyDeleteThis looks sooo pretty and I've definitely bookmarked it for when it gets a bit cooler here in boston! I love cranberry anything :)
ReplyDeleteSues
I'm with you, Sues (we are not martha)! Definitely bookmarking this for winter in Colorado. I love porridge and can't wait to try whipped porridge with cranberry. Looks wonderful!
ReplyDeletethis look soooo good! healthy, refreshing and delicious
ReplyDeleteWow that looks delicious! Love that it's whipped, it looks more like pudding than the kind of porridge I'm used to. Yum! I even have cranberries in the freezer so I'll give this a try to use up some cranberries(I went a little crazy last winter and stocked up! :D)
ReplyDeleteThis looks, gorgeous, Maria! I wonder if Ikea would carry frozen lingonberries. I thought I had seen it there before... But I believe you can replace this with just about any berries... frozen raspberry could be great too... Yum!
ReplyDeleteMmm looks wonderful, Maria! I'll have to keep this in mind when fall comes around in a few months :).
ReplyDeleteIt almost looks like some kind of pudding! And I love the color.
ReplyDeleteYUM! Can't wait to pick up some semonlina and berries and give this a go ... Bet it would've been nice for those tart, fresh black currants I just bought in Scotland ...
ReplyDeleteYUM! I've never heard of whipped porridge before - love this! Could you use other sweeter berries if you dont like cranberries?
ReplyDeleteAh... it's more a pudding than a porridge, isn't it? I was wondering where are the oat/quinoa/whatever flakes? :)
ReplyDeleteSo divine; its looks so light and fluffy, almost like a mousse!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! You're right this is a simple dessert that just so happens to be healthy and beautiful. I love it.
ReplyDeleteWell, don't you just make porridge look gorgeous! Great spin on the usual clumpy stuff I'm use to.
ReplyDeleteThis is a copy of my favourite childhood dish when knee-high to a grasshopper in Estonia. Your recipe super-easy - will be on the menu by the weekend!
ReplyDeleteThis is the most pretty and luscious porridge I have ever seen. My Mom had really tough time feeding me porridge of any kind. I would have loved them only if she had made something like this.
ReplyDeleteThis looks lovely...and the color so pretty! Love you posts on Finnish food :) One day I shall return!
ReplyDeletehello!!! long time!! love the new blog look!! and that porridge looks so simple, light and fluffy!!
ReplyDeleteLove the addition of the semolina and of course the cranberries give this such a beautiful colour.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful dessert it is, Maria! Oh...I love the color and texture of the it in that spoon.
ReplyDeleteThis looks delicious! And it sounds so good for you.
ReplyDeleteI've seen lingonberries, frozen or in jam form here...but never tasted them. Your post got my interest, I'll have to try them next time I find some.
Looks abs delicious & very pretty color..I have to try these soon..such a simple and mouthwatering recipe!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. I'm all about quick and I can't spend all day cake decorating. This dessert is just fabulous. Four ingredients?! I'm all over it!
ReplyDeleteYum -- we made something once only used frozen bananas. It was just that -- frozen bananas put into the food processor. Kind of like banana ice-cream!
ReplyDeleteI love Cranberries -- so hard to find in Italy!
Now see .. I think only you can make a porridge recipe look that pretty and gorgeous. I could have some right away!
ReplyDeleteNow see only you can make a porridge look that pretty. Such gorgeous color!!
ReplyDeleteincredible! that looks really very delicious (as always, of course!)
ReplyDeleteBerry porridge? I've never made it before, but I'm now asking myself why not? This is truly making my mouth water. Thank you for the inspiration! xo
ReplyDeleteFantastic! I have made cakes and biscottis with semolina but not something like this! Love cranberries, any berries and this looks so creamy and tangy and fresh! Bookmarked and will try a version mañana!
ReplyDeletelooks so interesting, i'd love to try this.
ReplyDeletewhat a delicious idea! you made me craving porridge and i just ordered my bro to make some black sticky rice porridge haha! this almost looks like a cross between a yoghurt and milkshake :P
ReplyDeleteI have never seen porridge look so creamy and delightful! It looks almost like mousse...
ReplyDeleteThanks for such lovely photo's - the colour and texture of this porridge is just divine. They sell lingonberry jam at Ikea - don't they have the frozen berries?
ReplyDeleteFascinating, I've never seen anything like this creamy looking treat. You're a country girl done good daaaaaaahling!
ReplyDelete*kisses* HH
Semolina makes the absolute creamiest puddings! This is really lovely!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog! Wonderful pictures and very interesting recipes! cheers, Marina
ReplyDeleteI love this dessert!
ReplyDeleteI know that in finnish is called "vispipuuro" - whipped porridge or "ilmapuuro" - air porridge.
I'm in love with some finnish dishes, like this one or karjalanpiirakka!
Have a nice weekend!
Wow looks so delicious and beautiful! AND so simple! Will have to try this lovely recipe- er, I think I say that about all your recipes! xoxo
ReplyDelete~Juliane
Thank you all for your comments!
ReplyDeleteJJ: I use normal semolina (doesn't have to be extra fine). Frozen cranberries are available at some green grocers all year around.
Nic: You could use other berries, but it just won't be the same. For me the whole point of this dish is that it's tart, just like lingonberries are too ;-)
Amanda: Haven't seen frozen lingonberries at IKEA here in Sydney, unfortunately!
Maria
x
I have to admit that i have never prepared porridge like this. Yours looks amazing so I am more than convinced to try it :-) It looks really delicious :-)
ReplyDeleteI need to learn to make this. By heart. This is so lovely. And the pictures are fantastic too!
ReplyDeleteThis looks delicious...and what a colour! So girlish... ^_^ cute
ReplyDeletethis is light, luscious, and lovely, maria--nice share!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing! I have some fresh cranberries in the garden now and I was wondering what to do with them! Thanks for this lovely idea :)
ReplyDeleteOh wow, found this recipe years after you've posted at but can't wait to try it! I love semolina porridge and this is a nice twist on it. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteRee / Coffee with Ree