Make ahead easy, nourishing and delicious, this overnight Creamy Coconut Porridge is one of my favorite ways to get the day going. Enjoy chilled or warm. This recipe is vegetarian, vegan + gluten free.
The name is nothing exciting. I get it. But if this is unfamiliar territory, please allow me explain.
Table of Contents
What is Porridge?
- Porridge can be made of various grains, nuts and seeds and typically includes milk, water or both. Porridge is different than oatmeal in that porridge is usually made from grains like polenta, kasha or grits, rather than oats.
- For some, a piping hot bowl of oats is referred to as oatmeal, mostly in the U.S., while in other countries, it is referred to as porridge. Like oats, porridge can be served warm or chilled.
I was skeptical, trying overnight porridge for the first time, but I was in an every-morning green-smoothie breakfast rut. Don’t get me wrong, I love green smoothies. But a girl’s gotta have variety.
Enter roasted buckwheat groats, also known as kasha. In other words, Kasha is raw buckwheat groats that have been roasted. I’ve known buckwheat flour. It makes its way into my waffles and pancakes. Soba noodles are also made from buckwheat flour.
But I had only used kasha once before in Pumpkin Kasha Energy Bites recipe. Then I saw Kate’s recipe on her blog, so I knew it was time to learn how to make porridge!
Quick Guide: How to Make Creamy Coconut Porridge
This breakfast recipe is so simple to make and easy to whip up. It only takes a bit of pre-planning because the kasha and walnuts need to be soaked overnight. I make a single or double batch and store it in little 8oz jars in the refrigerator where it keeps for at least three days. Waking up to an already prepared breakfast means I can start the day with a little less hurry. In summary, here’s how to make it (see details on recipe card):
- First, soak the kasha and walnuts overnight.
- Second, rise the kasha and walnuts.
- Next, place walnuts, kasha, coconut milk, dates, maple syrup, chia seeds and salt in a blender (I use VitaMix) and blend on high speed.
- Last, spoon into lidded jars and refrigerate. When ready to eat, simply add toppings and enjoy!
There’s nothing quite as comforting as a bowl of healthy overnight porridge with seasonal fruit and other mouthwatering toppings to start the day. Even in Summer, I enjoy this right out of the refrigerator with blueberry compote, but it can be warmed if desired.
Creamy Coconut Porridge is filling and will stick with you well into the morning.
A drizzle of maple syrup is a naturally sweet finish to this nourishing, creamy, nutty and comforting breakfast.
More Quick and Easy Healthy Overnight Breakfast Recipes to Love:
- Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
- Overnight Turmeric Chia Oats
- Matcha Chia Pudding
- Pumpkin Porridge
- Overnight Oats with Coconut Milk
Creamy Coconut Porridge
Ingredients
For the Porridge:
- 1 C Kasha 200g, aka Roasted Buckwheat Kernels
- 1/2 C Walnuts 60g
- 14 oz Coconut Milk full fat (one can), 396g
- 4 Medjool Dates pitted
- 2 Tbs Pure Maple Syrup
- 2 Tbs Chia Seeds
- 1/8 tsp Sea Salt
Options for the Toppings:
- Mango or other seasonal fruit or berries
- Banana
- Unsweetened, Toasted Coconut
- Cinnamon
- Macadamia Nuts
- Cocoa Nibs
- Drizzle of Maple Syrup
Instructions
- ***advance prep*** – In a large glass jar, soak the kasha and walnuts overnight, or at least 4 hours.
- Rinse the walnuts and kasha through a fine mesh strainer under running water, shaking the strainer several times ensure through rinsing.
- Place walnuts, kasha, coconut milk, dates, maple syrup, chia seeds and salt in a blender (I use VitaMix) and blend on high speed for about 20 seconds. Scrape down sides and blend again for another 5-10 seconds. If a looser porridge is desired, water or additional milk can be blended in.
- Spoon into small 8oz jars for easy grab and go breakfasts to be stored in the refrigerator or into bowls to serve right away. Can be served chilled or gently warmed. Top with favorite toppings, like mango, banana or blueberry compote is quite nice. Drizzle with maple syrup and or thin with a bit of milk. Store into lidded containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
Nutrition is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate. If this information is important to you, please have it verified independently.
Traci, this recipe sounds so yummy! Do I soak the walnuts and kasha separately in water, enough to cover them? Thanks!
Hi Melissa! You found this gem hidden in the archives… I love this recipe SO much! You can soak and rinse the walnuts and kasha together! They’ll swell up so make sure the jar or container can accommodate both. I usually just soak mine separate – in small jars. Whatever works for you! Thank you for stoppin by! I hope you enjoy this porridge!
Wow what a wonderful recipe and the Pictures are amazing. I love how you creaed the step by step pics. Please not you still have 201 in your footer Traci. Enjoy your day! Can’t wait to test out this idea.
oooOOOooo buckwheat! I wasn’t able to have it for so long but I am just starting to be able to tolerate it again, which coincides nicely with the rock bottom of my breakfast rut. I need to try this!
Hooray for buckwheat and being able to enjoy it again! I absolutely love it and am so excited to try new things with it. I hope you enjoy it Nora! :D
I’m eating oatmeal as I read this, and now I’m craving mangoes. A hearty breakfast is a must every day. This recipe will get the day started off right!
The best way to start the day… a nourishing and hearty breakfast. Now go find some mangos Meagan! :D
Now this is a way to get out of a breakfast rut!! You’ve got me seriously craving this, Traci! I’ve long been a fan of porridge and view it as a blank slate – there are so many fun ways to customize it. I’ve always been a banana and almond butter gal, but this tropical version looks so, so perfect. Chia seeds for crunch, dates and coconut for some sweetness…I love it all! P.s. I’ve always loved your photography, but it is looking especially amazing lately! Such an inspiration :)
Thank you, Julia, for your encouragement! :D Oh my! It IS a great way to get out of a breakfast rut, Julia. I was laying in bed this morning waking up, tummy growling as usual, thinking how I don’t want a green smoothie… but I’m soooo hangry! Then I remembered… I’ve got porridge ready in the fridge! Yee Hawww!!! I sprang out of bed and got my day going! It totally is a blank slate.. this morning, I put blueberries and cocoa nibs in it.
OMG!!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this creamy coconut porridge SO MUCH, Traci. I have never made it, surprisingly, so I am SO EXCITED to make your recipe for the first time very very soon. :)
What a wonderful recipe & yummy photos you have here!!! :)
Thank you, Pang! I was surprised to find how delicious Kasha is… it was a sweet surprise! It’s so nutty and satisfying. I hope you enjoy the recipe Pang! And thank you for your kind words! :D
Absolutely stunning as always, Traci! Love, love, love the idea of a hearty but healthy breakfast. Yahm!
Me too… hearty – yes, please! Thank you my Dear! :D
Delicious, Traci! This looks like the best type of breakfast for me! Love the toppings!!!
One of my favorites, Evi! It’s all about the mango! :D
Oh my word, this looks so good!!! And the toppings, oh yes!
I came to your blog right now specifically looking for the mosquito bite cure (I forgot what you used), but I’m not craving breakfast again :)
Also, what plugin do you use for your optin box after the post? It looks so nice!
Thank you Jenne’! I used coconut oil and apple cider vinegar… but found the coconut oil to work better… although I had to reapply it several times. Check out popup ally for the optin box. :D
Hey Traci, do you find that soaking your walnuts makes them taste bitter? I know you’re supposed to soak all nuts before eating them, but walnuts always taste off to me when I do.
We eat oatmeal just about every morning, and Graham loooves coconut milk, so I’ll have to try this out :) Great photos – I especially love that cinnamon-sprinkling shot!
I’ve not experienced bitter walnuts, Alexandra, but then again, I always eat them with something else after I soak them. Perhaps I’m just not picking up the taste? I’ll try one without anything next time. I hope you and Graham enjoy this! It is so nice and coconutty! Thank you my dear!! D:
I love the name! It’s funny, because my husband and his family (from South Africa) call it porridge. I’m used the alternative breakfast lingo ;)
And hooray for perfectly ripe mango. I’ve never been good at slicing and dicing those things. When I get to the pit, I’m on a mission to get every last bit off which is totally impossible. I feel like half of it goes to waste. One day…
Thanks for a scrumptious looking breakfast recipe, Traci. It’s a nice change from green smoothies!
Oh good! I love it too, but often, when I say it, I’m met with scowls (perhaps unaware how good it is!). You’ll be slicin and dicin those mangos in no time, Emilie! :D
I love porridge and kasha porridge in particular. This recipe and photos look just scrumptious making me want to go kitchen and make me some for tomorrow morning.
Well done Traci. Cheers!
Thank you Aysegul! Oh yes, I know! I completely agree… it’s craveworthy. In fact, I am out, so I am making the drive to our Co-Op (1 hour away) to get more Kasha, and of course a few other bulk items I can’t get where I live! I craaave it! hehe
Wow!! I love everything about this porridge! From the coconut milk and the dates to the mangoes and cocoa nibs…I honestly can’t tell you which part is my favorite because I love them all!! Plus, you make porridge look so decadent and mouthwatering…I’m pretty sure porridge in the rest of the country (and world) does not look as good as this; you’re a magical culinary fairy, Traci! Such gorgeous porridge, and extra brownie points that it’ll last for 3 days so no breakfast fuss for a few mornings! Love this, Traci!!
Hehe!! I love a decadent feeling breakfast, especially when it’s a nourishing as this one. Sometimes richer breakfasts can be so heavy and carb loaded (and I love those occasionally), but this is so comforting without the heavy! Thank you, Beeta!
I never thought I would ever say this but you actually have me craving porridge right now. Gorgeous!
Hehe, it’s fabulous Jocelyn! :D
Your photography just keeps getting better and better! These pictures are just stunning!
I’ve actually never had porridge (other than oatmeal) but I will definitely start with this recipe because it looks amazing. The coconut, mango and banana combo sounds so refreshing and perfect for summer!
Awh, thank you Sarah! :D I’m tellin ya, it’s the mangos!! They’re gorgeous! I hope you’ll give this a go. It’s so easy and comforting!
Traci – this is just so beautiful! I love how the mango + coconut make it feel like dessert, but it’s totally worthy enough for breakfast. While I’ve used buckwheat flour and buckwheat groats before in breads, I’ve never used the groats in a porridge like this – can’t wait to try!
Thank you, Sarah! It feels decadent for sure. I hope you’ll give this a go! :D
Love that this is GF, vegan, and features Kasha and Mejdool dates, two of my favorite good-for-you ingredients. We’re big I am a big fan of Bob’s Red Mill brand Whole Grain Kasha!
Traci I have never tried kasha, but I’m game because this porridge looks beautiful! And delicious! Love the coconut, mango and dates!
Kasha is so nutty and nourishing. The more I find out about it and eat it, the more I love it!
I’m going to have to break out of my breakfast rut and try this, Traci. Love that you can prep this overnight and then whip it up in the blender. Looking forward to trying this one – definitely with the mangos – I’m a big mango fan!
DO it, Geraldine! I was in a rut for sure! Oh mangos are so good this time of year… I keep getting them, slicing ’em up and freezing them… I need a bigger freezer. They are soo good stuffed into a green smoothie. I hope you give it a go! :D
You just blew my mind..never knew that you could cut mango like that!!
Hehe.. me neither until I watched those videos! Crazy! Now I don’t fear the mango! :D
I’ve not had kasha but am a big fan of oatmeal, so I’m sure I would love this – especially with your tropical toppings! Love the dates, mango and cocoa nibs!! Pinned!
Yup and yup! Me too Annie. I really enjoy cold oatmeal, year round, but Kasha has such a nutty flavor, it has surpassed cold oatmeal for me. I hope you’ll try it! :D
I love this! Porridge just sounds so much fancier than oatmeal. Especially since it seems like all the fairy tale characters ate porridge. I can’t wait to make this Traci. And your toppings are just perfect!
Hehe.. fancier than oatmeal – yes – fairy tale characters do eat porridge! So lets eat more porridge, Natalie!! :D
I’ve never been crazy about buckwheat groats, unless they’re mixed with other grains, but your porridge is beautiful! I love the additions on the top!
Thank you Mimi! What a great idea… perhaps mixing in some oats or barley? Mmmmm…
Never had kasha before. Looking forward to trying it out! Love all the tropical flavors here, Traci!
I see buckwheat here, love it! This will be perfect for breakfast! Love the pictures!
Thank you Mira! :D
This looks fabulous! Porridge is amazing :) Pinning!
Thaaank you, Medha and for your pin! :D
Mmmm, this sounds so nourishing, and I love that it’s so filling yet not hot and heavy!
Oh yes, the best part, cool and creamy! :D
Yup, the terms “oatmeal” and “porridge” sometimes could be confusing:) I do love buckwheat, and I often make porridge as well as incorporate it in other food (such as salads, stuffed veggies, and other savory stuff). But never ever have I mademade a sweet version, and that sounds intriguing and interesting! Nice idea!
I had no idea porridge is used in savory applications! I’m intrigued and am looking forward to learning more. Thank you, Ben and try the sweet stuff! :D
Traci this looks DECADENT! So many of my favorite things in one mason jar. Love kasha or raw buckwheat groats for do many reasons and it’s perfect in porridge! Beautiful xo.
Thank you, Alison! No doubt, so much goodness can be packed in a little jar. So excited to have learned about porridge… your right, it’s soooo good! :D
This looks like a perfect summer breakfast! I have never had porridge but I’ve always been curious about it. And I love kasha! Plus those toppings are just fabulous!
Thank you, Allie! It’s time to try porridge. The toppings make it extra special!