Lingonberry Whipped Semolina-Porridge

Puolukka Vispi-Mannapuuro

It is the season of lingonberries, and everybody notices the large boxes of lingonberries in the supermarkets available. These small red berries are usually picked from the Finnish forests and sold in the food stores in small containers or big boxes. If you are interested in knowing more about the health benefits of lingonberries and also tasting a delicious traditional Finnish dessert, this article is meant for you.

Ingredients:

5 dl (2 cups) of water

2 dl (1cup) lingonberries

1 dl (½ cup) semolina (wheat or spelt)

3 TableSpoon sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla sugar (optional)

Instructions:

Bring the water to a boil in a pot and add the lingonberries

Cook for about 5 minutes on low heat until the berries get soft.

Strain if you wish, the result will be a more uniform and creamy consistency.

Add sugar and semolina to the juice, and cook for about 5-10 minutes until getting thick, stirring occasionally. Adjust the sugar, and add more if desired.

Let it cool totally and whisk for about 5 minutes until getting mousse-like thickness.

For best results, transfer the porridge into the fridge, serve after a few hours, or the day after.

You can enjoy your porridge as it is for breakfast or dessert, with some extra lingonberries or sugar on top. Some people like to top it with milk or yogurt of their choice; coconut yogurt/coconut milk is a wonderful choice because of its aroma and creamy texture.

Tips:

-There is a variety of semolina in the shops; if you choose gluten-free options such as buckwheat (tattari), the result is still a good taste, but the consistency might be different.

-If you wish to make a healthier sugar-free option, add the soft dates (taatelit) to your juice, blend, and adjust the sweetness by adding extra dates. Follow the instructions by adding semolina, etc.