Chamomile, Cinnamon and Pear Porridge

Rachel Larsson RACHEL LARSSON

Come wintertime, I crave warm, yummy, soul-nourishing foods to start my day. I was inspired to create such a dish with my naturopathic twist on food to support the health of my gut and anyone else that has gut issues. I am a firm believer that food is medicine and with my herbal and nutritional knowledge and wisdom, I wanted to share this delicious gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and vegetarian friendly breakfast to help soothe your digestive woes.

So, why did I choose these ingredients?

Chamomile has a lovely sweet, floral flavour and is a herbal go-to that is proven to help indigestion, colic, cramping and changing bowel motions.

Cinnamon is excellent for balancing blood sugar levels and may assist in a stomach cramps and spasms.

Pear provides a great source of pectin (soluble fibre) that can help keep you full, regulate blood sugar and give you wonderful soft stools.

Quinoa flakes provide a great gluten-free source of dietary fiber and are a wonderful alternative to oats. Dietary fiber is proven to have health-protective effects and disease-reversal benefits for heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and certain gastrointestinal diseases.  Avoiding gluten may also be beneficial even if you don’t have coeliac disease, as you may have non-celiac gluten sensitivity , which is five times more prevalent.

Chamomile, Cinnamon and Pear Porridge

Serves: 2
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 5-10 min

Time poor? Adjust the quantities and cook in bulk.  This recipe can last up to 4 days in the fridge so you can quickly reheat in the days to come.

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup quinoa flakes
  • 1 2/3 cup boiling water
  • 2 heaped tbsp loose chamomile herb or 2 teabags
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 pear with skin on, diced
  • Coconut yogurt to serve (optional dairy yogurt)
  • Nuts and seeds to serve

Method

  1. Boil water and make yourself 1 2/3 cups of chamomile tea. Steep the loose chamomile or tea bags for at least 15 minutes and then strain.
    ( Tip: for a stronger chamomile flavor use more chamomile and steep for longer.)
  2. In a saucepan add quinoa flakes, 1 1/3 cups of chamomile tea, pear and cinnamon.
  3. Cook on a medium-high heat for 5-10 minutes stirring regularly. Cook until the chamomile tea is absorbed and the pear is warm. You can add the extra 1/3-cup chamomile tea as you need if you like a thinner consistency.
  4. Serve when you have reached your desired consistency and top with your favorite yogurt and nuts and seeds.

Rachel Larsson

BY RACHEL LARSSON

Rachel is warm and empathetic clinical naturopath based in Melbourne. She is unique in that she works along side integrative GP’s and specializes in functional medicine, nutritional biochemistry, gut health and mental and emotional well-being. While studying, Rachel experienced her own health hurdles where the importance of having a healthy, balanced mind, body and spirit was truly amplified. Her ambitious and vibrant personality also means that outside her clinical work she is aiming to connect and empower larger audiences to promote the message of self-awareness and self-acceptance to help them live their best life.