The Bircher mix with oat flakes, freshly grated apple and crunchy nuts is the classic of the mueslis par excellence. We show you the recipe of the original Bircher muesli from Switzerland and give your ideas to refine it.
The classic Bircher muesli comes from Switzerland and was recommended around 1900 by the doctor and pioneer of healthy eating Maximilian Oskar Bircher-Benner.
For his muesli, Bircher used oatmeal flakes soaked in water overnight, which he mixed with some lemon juice and evaporated milk. Just before serving, add the chopped walnuts and grate an apple so it wouldn’t turn brown.
But Bircher-Benner did not invent the recipe, but took it from a shepherdess who invited to drink her muesli during a tour of the Swiss mountains.
The secret of classic muesli is a freshly grated apple, chopped walnuts and oatmeal. This makes Bircher’s muesli, in addition to being one of the most popular oatmeal recipes, delicious, extremely nutritious and healthy.
MAKE BIRCHER MUESLI YOURSELF, EASY, DELICIOUS AND HEALTHY
A real Bircher muesli consists of only five ingredients: oat flakes, milk, apple, lemon and walnuts, but this recipe can be enriched.
Ingredients (for 4 servings of Bircher muesli):
- 200 g oat flakes (ideally fine organic oat flakes)
- 500 ml milk
- 2 apples (sweet and juicy varieties like Gala or Cox Orange work best)
- Chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts)
- Lemon juice to taste
- Additional fruit of your choice (banana, fresh or frozen berries, grapes)
- Honey for sweetening (alternatively maple syrup, xylitol or stevia)
Elaboration:
- Pour the milk over the oatmeal flakes and let them soak in the fridge overnight.
- The next morning, chop the nuts, grate the apples into thick strips, chop the nuts and mix it with the milk and oatmeal.
- Add lemon juice and honey. The healthy muesli will be ready to start the day well.
MUESLI BIRCHER VEGAN
Preparing Bircher’s vegan muesli is no longer a problem with the current range of purely plant-based foods. Simply replace cow’s milk with a vegetable soy drink. If you wish, you can use the vegetable milk that you like the most, although soy milk is the most nutritionally similar to cow’s milk.
Elaboration:
- Pour the milk over the oatmeal flakes and let them soak in the fridge overnight.
- The next morning, chop the nuts, grate the apples into thick strips, chop the nuts and mix it with the milk and oatmeal.
- Add lemon juice and honey. The healthy muesli will be ready to start the day well.
MUESLI BIRCHER VEGAN
Preparing Bircher’s vegan muesli is no longer a problem with the current range of purely plant-based foods. Simply replace cow’s milk with a vegetable soy drink. If you wish, you can use the vegetable milk that you like the most, although soy milk is the most nutritionally similar to cow’s milk.
REASONS WHY BIRCHER MUESLI IS HEALTHY
- Oats are considered one of the healthiest grains, because it contains prebiotic fiber, biotin, magnesium, iron, and zinc. Itis good for the heart and intestines, protects the immune system and can be included in weight control diet.
- Soaking oatmeal makes it even a little healthier because it reduces its phytic acid content, which reduces the absorption of minerals. This makes it harder for the body to absorb these nutrients. The digestibility of flakes also increases when soaked.
- Fresh apples provide many vitamins and minerals (such as potassium and calcium). Since most of the vitamins and secondary plant substances (polyphenols) in apples are located directly under the skin, it is highly recommended to grate the apple with the skin. Organic apples are advisable to avoid pesticide residues.
- Walnuts contain omega-3s and other fatty acids, plus protein, fiber, and antioxidants.
- In addition, taking Bircher muesli for breakfast keeps you satiated for a long time and provides you with energy for hours.
