Banana and Date Porridge

METHOD

Step 1

Remove the stones from the dates. Peel the banana, slice off the third and set aside with one date half; these will be used to finish the porridge.

Step 2

Chop the remaining dates and banana very finely. Place in a small pan and pour on 185ml boiling water. Cook over a low heat until you have a thick, mushy, reasonably smooth paste, stirring regularly and using the back of the spoon to crush any lumps; this should take around 10 minutes. You can also use a stick blender to deal with any stubborn lumps.

Step 3

While the banana-date mixture is cooking, pour the milk into a bowl, tip in the oats and leave to soak for a few minutes.

Step 4

When the banana-date mixture is ready, add the milk and oats to the pan, bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 12–15 minutes, stirring regularly, until the oats are completely tender.

Step 5

Slice the remaining third of the banana and finely shred the reserved banana date half. Serve the porridge in a warmed bowl, topped with the banana slices and dates.