Bircher Muesli – The Original Overnight Oats
Overnight oats are quite the trend in today’s world when it comes to healthy breakfasts, but it all started over 100 years ago with the “Bircher Muesli.” A dish that originated as a humble, nutritious meal for the sick is now an everyday breakfast staple not just across homes in Europe but even on the breakfast menus of high-end hotels. it is definitely healthy, and also hearty with all the variety of ingredients that go into it and the myriad flavours and textures of it make it an absolute delight to begin your day with.
Credit for the invention of this delightful meal goes to a Swiss doctor, Dr. Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner. He was a man fascinated with nutritional science and also someone who was convinced that cooked and processed foods were unhealthy for the human body. He was on the lookout for a healthy dietary dish to give to his patients every day. The inspiration for this dish came during a hike in the Swiss Alps when a dairymaid served him a similar dish consisting of 4 key ingredients viz. fruits, nuts, oats & milk. This was apparently eaten by the Alpine shepherds for over hundreds of years.
The Classic Bircher Muesli consisted of Oat flakes, Milk, Water, Lemon juice, chopped nuts and grated Apples. It was originally known as “Apfeldiätspeise” (German for “apple diet meal”). This apple diet meal introduced the patients to a a wholefood diet with fresh fruits. Also, by the end of the 19th century, the consumption of raw, unprocessed plant based food had fallen into disrepute and was avoided. The Bircher Muesli not just revived an age old custom but also changed people’s perception towards consumption of raw, plant based foods.
Ever wondered where the term “Muesli” comes from? Well, the focus of the classic recipe was not on the soaked oats but on the grated apples, which were similar to apple puree. The term Muesli is derived from the German word “Mus,” which means puree. Over the years, the classic Bircher Muesli has been built upon with various combinations of ingredients. For example, Chia seeds are the recent trend, but the oats and the grated apples always form the base on which these variants of this dish are built. With the variety of ingredients that make up this dish, the various flavors, the textures, and its overall consistency, one wouldn’t be wrong in enjoying the Bircher Muesli as a dessert.
How to make Bircher Muesli
In my recipe, I combine milk with yoghurt to form the liquid base. This gives the muesli a very creamy, dessert like consistency. Also, I use Orange juice instead of lemon juice because Orange juice resonates better than Lemon juice when it comes to breakfast. The primary function of the citrus in this recipe is to prevent the apple from oxidizing. Do feel free to use the citrus of your choice. I combine this liquid base of milk, yoghurt and orange juice, with rolled oats, grated apples (skin-on), Chia seeds, Raisins and dried Cranberries and leave it overnight in the refrigerator (you can store it in an air-tight container for up to a week).
In the morning, scoop this overnight Muesli into a bowl and serve it with your favorite toppings, drizzled with some honey. I use a mix of fresh fruits, berries, nuts and sometimes even toasted coconut. Experiment and play with different ingredients to get your favourite Bircher Muesli.
Bircher Muesli
Ingredients
For the Overnight Oats:
- 150 gms Rolled Oats (about 2 cups)
- 400 ml Milk (about 1⅔ cups) (see notes)
- 375 gms Yoghurt (about 1½ cups) (see notes)
- 120 ml Orange juice (about ½ cup) (see notes)
- 1 pc Red Apple, cored and grated with the peel
- 2 tsp Chia Seeds
- ¼ cup Raisins
- ¼ cup Dried Cranberries
- 2 tbsp Honey (optional)
Suggested Toppings:
- Fresh Fruits- of your choice (diced/ sliced)
- Fresh Berries- of your choice
- Nuts- of your choice (chopped)
- Toasted Coconut
Instructions
Making the Overnight Oats:
- Combine Rolled Oats, Milk, Yoghurt, Orange juice and grated apple, along with the Chia seeds, Raisins and dried Cranberries in a large enough bowl and let it sit overnight in the refrigerator.
- In the morning, add the honey (if using) and the toppings of your choice (see notes) & serve!
Notes
- This Muesli has a very creamy & mushy texture. If you prefer a thicker texture, decrease the amount of milk & yoghurt
- I have used fresh orange and some mixed berries and dried fruits, along with some toasted coconut as my toppings. Feel free to experiment.
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