Granola and Fruit Muesli

I was introduced to muesli — or at least the proper way to eat it — during our last vacation in Europe. I had bought store-brand muesli in the past, including the IKEA variety, but never really knew how it was meant to be enjoyed. I usually just added milk and ate it like regular cereal.

Our more recent trip to Bali changed that completely. We ate muesli every morning for breakfast at the hotel, and it turned out to be a refreshing and welcome change from the usual options. That’s when I realized how easy it is to prepare and how much time it can save on busy mornings. The oats can be soaked overnight in milk and or juice, making breakfast essentially ready the moment you wake up.

I tried this version at home, and my in-house food critic, Nikhil, gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up.

Ingredients

(Serves 3–4)

• Granola – 1 cup
  (I prefer granola since it already contains nuts and dried fruits, but rolled oats work well too)
• Milk – 1 1/2 to 2 cups
• Yogurt – 1 to 2 tbsp
  (I used Greek yogurt for added protein, but plain or vanilla yogurt works just as well)
• Orange juice – 1/4 cup (optional)
• Red apple, finely chopped – 1/2
• Banana, chopped into small pieces – 1/2
• Raisins, chopped – 1 tsp (optional)
• Pecans, chopped – 1 tsp (optional)
• Honey or agave syrup – 1 tsp

Method

1. Soak the granola in the milk. You may also soak it in orange juice first, if desired. This step is completely optional.
2. Add the yogurt to the mixture.
3. Stir in the chopped fruits, raisins, and nuts.
4. Allow the mixture to soak for at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours. For best results, refrigerate overnight and enjoy cold the next morning.

Simple, nourishing, and incredibly convenient, this granola and fruit muesli has quickly become a reliable breakfast option on busy days.