How to Eat Muesli Cereal

Muesli is a German word referring to a blend of grains, primarily composed of fresh, thinly rolled oats, and typically mixed with dried fruits, nuts, seeds, and puffed or thinly sliced cereals. It's a delicious and healthy breakfast option that can be enjoyed with milk or yogurt. If you're looking for creative ways to incorporate muesli into your diet, this guide will walk you through some basic methods and how to prepare your own homemade muesli mix.

Eat muesli like regular cereal, as muesli is also considered a type of cereal. The simplest and most popular way to eat muesli is just like you would a bowl of cereal, adding half a cup of your preferred milk to the same amount of muesli.

• Instead of milk, you can try adding your favorite plain yogurt (or flavored yogurt if you prefer a sweeter taste) to benefit from probiotics while enjoying a different flavor and texture.
• For a different twist, heat up the milk and soak the muesli in the warm milk for a few minutes, making it soft and porridge-like. You can also pour cold milk into a microwave-safe bowl with the muesli and heat it up in the microwave.
• Similar to regular cereals, muesli can also be enjoyed as a snack. You can have it just like granola.

Top off with some fresh or frozen fruit slices. To make your muesli bowl more visually appealing, add about a quarter cup of your favorite chopped fresh fruit, or a handful of frozen fruit for a refreshing, chilled dish. Here are some excellent fruit options to complement your muesli:

• Sliced banana
• Blueberries, black or red raspberries
• Kiwi
• Strawberries (the seeds also provide a perfect crunch and a tangy flavor that pairs wonderfully with muesli)
• Crispy bacon (if you prefer a savory muesli)
• Chopped apples
• Chopped pears
• Sliced mango
• Lychee adds a tangy, crisp bite that perfectly enhances muesli
• Pomegranate seeds

Try adding dried fruits. Dried fruits or berries are commonly found in some muesli recipes, but if you'd like to boost the fruit content or add fruits to homemade muesli, consider the following options:

• Dried blueberries
• Dried apricots
• Goji berries
• Raisins or sultanas
• Cranberries

Soak your muesli overnight. A great way to change the texture of muesli is to soak it overnight in milk, yogurt, or another liquid. Simply combine equal amounts of muesli and milk in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a lid, and refrigerate overnight. The result is a soft, porridge-like mixture that many people love.

• Coconut milk makes for a perfect soaking mixture, adding a subtle sweetness and a light fragrance to the muesli. If you're not fond of coconut flavor, you can mix in a bit of regular milk for a different taste.

Incorporate muesli into your smoothie. If you prefer smoothies to traditional cereal, muesli makes a delicious and nutritious addition that you can blend in before or after preparing the smoothie. Muesli easily integrates and provides a unique texture while adding nutrients to any smoothie recipe. Try making a simple smoothie with the following ingredients:

• A handful of frozen strawberries, or your favorite frozen fruit
• Half a cup of yogurt or kefir
• Half a cup of shredded coconut
• Two tablespoons of muesli

Pair it with apple sauce. If you're lactose intolerant or simply want to try a different texture or flavor, apple sauce is a fantastic complement to muesli. You can opt for natural, unsweetened apple sauce or make your own by cooking ripe apples to create a healthy, homemade version.

Cook your muesli into a porridge. One of the reasons people love muesli is also what some find off-putting. The raw oats in muesli provide a distinct texture and nutritional benefits that processed oats or granola don't, but you can also cook it into a porridge, just like regular raw oats.

• Boil your preferred amount of milk and water to cook the muesli, adding muesli in equal amounts to the liquid. For instance, if you want a bowl of muesli porridge, boil half a cup of water and half a cup of milk, then add half a cup of muesli.
• Reduce the heat and simmer the muesli in a covered pot for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches the consistency you desire. Enjoy once the texture feels right to you.

Try soaking muesli in coffee or orange juice. Although it may sound unusual, another excellent lactose-free option is orange juice, apple juice, or even a bit of your own brewed coffee. Think of it as a full breakfast experience. You’ll be surprised by how delicious this combination can be.

Try the traditional Bircher-Benner recipe. Muesli was created by Swiss doctor Maximilian Bircher-Benner. While most modern versions have a higher proportion of oats than fruit, the original muesli had more fruit and nuts. The original recipe creates a healthy blend with the following proportions:

• 1 tablespoon of rolled oats, soaked in 2-3 tablespoons of water
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon of fresh cream
• 1 large tart apple, grated and mixed in before eating
• Add 1 tablespoon of hazelnut powder or almond flour

Add sweeteners if needed. For some people, plain muesli may taste a bit bland. If you prefer your muesli on the sweeter side, consider adding some sweeteners to make it more delicious. Whatever sweetener you choose, use it in moderation. Here are some perfect sweeteners or mild flavor enhancers:

• Honey
• Molasses
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon
• Shredded coconut
• Lemon juice
• Maple syrup
• Nutmeg

Toast or lightly roast your muesli. If you prefer a slightly crunchy texture for your muesli mix, spread it out on a baking tray and bake at 160°C for about 30 minutes, or until it turns golden brown. You can add a bit of coconut oil or melted butter to the muesli for a beautiful golden color during the roasting process.

Make muesli bars. A great way to enjoy muesli is by making small bars that you can snack on anytime. Mix your muesli with a few tablespoons of peanut butter or your favorite nut butter to bind it, and add other ingredients as desired. Dried fruits, seeds, and other grains are excellent options.

• Press the mixture into a baking tray to a thickness of about 2.5 cm and refrigerate until the muesli tray is completely chilled. Cut into small bars and store them in the fridge for a convenient snack.
• You can also use melted butter and honey for binding, then press the mixture into the tray and wait for it to firm up.

Incorporate muesli into your baking dough. You can use muesli as a substitute for rolled oats or oat flour in recipes. Cookies, muffins, and even pancakes will taste delicious and be healthier with the addition of muesli. Try replacing oats with muesli in any of the following recipes:

• Cookies
• Pancakes
• Sponge cakes
• Muffins