Fonio porridge is creamy, satisfying, and ready in minutes! Fonio's neutral flavor and quick cook time make it perfect for breakfast. It's gluten-free, meal prep-friendly, and endlessly versatile.
I love simple breakfast recipes like this that are easy to customize and feel nourishing in more ways than one.
You can sweeten this porridge however you like, or skip added sugar altogether. I love the warmth of garam masala here, and maple syrup or coconut sugar are especially nice flavor-wise. If you prefer a barely-sweet porridge, the vanilla protein powder alone is probably enough.
What is Fonio?
If fonio is a new ingredient for you, let's talk about it for a moment. It's an ancient grain from West Africa that's been around for thousands of years, and it just might be the most underrated grain in your pantry (if it's even there yet)!
Fonio grains are small, like super tiny, which means it cooks up in a matter of minutes.
Fonio has a mild, nutty flavor that takes on whatever spices or mix-ins you want to throw its way. Oh, and it's naturally gluten-free, so it's an easy choice if you're avoiding wheat or oats.
As a vegan food blogger, I'm always excited about ancient grains, and millet is one of my long-time favorites - check out this millet breakfast bake next. Fonio is considered part of the millet family, and getting to know it has been a fun addition to my meal prep routine. It cooks up faster than oatmeal, but still offers the same creamy porridge texture.
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This porridge is surprisingly filling thanks to extra protein from hemp seeds, soy milk, and protein powder. But even without those additions, fonio is known for having an impressive amino acid profile and low glycemic index. Personally, I find that this porridge keeps me full longer than oatmeal.
Recipe Notes
- Sweetener options: Maple syrup and coconut sugar both pair well with the garam masala (and similar warm spices), but dates or brown sugar work, too.
- No added sugar: If you include vanilla protein powder, it adds quite a bit of sweetness. I used Orgain, which is sweetened with Stevia.
- Other spices: Cinnamon or pumpkin spice are easy swaps for garam masala. Or get creative with cocoa powder, or your own spice blends.
- Dried fruit: Instead of raisins, try chopped dates, dried cranberries, dried, apricots, or skip the fruit altogether!
Serving Suggestions
Fonio porridge is delicious on its own, but a dollop of something cool and creamy on top is nice, too. Try it with a spoonful of homemade tofu yogurt for extra protein and tang, or stir in some nut butter for richness.
Fresh fruit like sliced banana, berries, or diced apple or pear also pair really well with the warm spice notes.
I hope you enjoy this comforting fonio porridge. If you try the recipe, be sure to comment below and let us know!
Recipe
Fonio Porridge (5-Minute Breakfast Recipe)
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup water
- 1½ cups plain soy milk, divided - or your favorite non-dairy milk
- ½ cup fonio - dry, uncooked
- ½ teaspoon garam masala spice blend - or cinnamon or pumpkin spice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup golden raisins - or chopped dates or other dried fruit
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup, optional - or your favorite sweetener, to taste
- 1 scoop plant-based vanilla protein powder, optional - add more if you like
- 2 tablespoons hemp seeds - or ¼ cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, bring the water and 1 cup of the soy milk to a boil. Stir in the fonio, garam masala (or other spice), vanilla, and salt. Return to a simmer then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 1 minute or until the fonio has absorbed most of the liquid.
- Stir in the raisins and maple syrup, if using. If the porridge is too thick, add a bit more milk. Remove from heat, cover again, and let stand 3 minutes.
- Before serving, stir in the remaining ⅓ to ½ cup milk and the protein powder, if using. Serve warm, topped with hemp seeds and more raisins, protein powder, or sweetener, as desired.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and ingredients used.
Marcene Austin says
I'love fonio, as it's sooo nutritious and quick to make. These are excellent ingredients to add and make an excellent dish INCREDIBLY excellent! Thank you!
Michelle says
Lori,
I bought this some time back to share with a friend who has Celiac disease. We really never researched it sufficiently and it got shoved to the back of the pantry.
Thank you for getting me on the road again! I’ll make this tomorrow.
Does it foam too much to make in microwave or rice cooker?
Thanks!
Lori Rasmussen says
Hi - I think you'd only need to be careful about using soy milk, since it bubbles up and foams during cooking. But the fonio cooks so quickly it should work well in the microwave. You could cook it in mostly water, and once it's hot and softened, stir in any kind of milk you like, cover, and let it steep and continue to soften for a few minutes.
I hope you and your friend enjoy it!