Bircher Muesli

Bircher Muesli

One of the most popular recipes from Switzerland is bircher muesli, perhaps even more so than fondue or raclette.

But if you have never heard of bircher muesli, it is probably because it is better known as overnight oats in the rest of the world, especially in the US.

What is Bircher Muesli?

Bircher Muesli is a breakfast dish made with oatmeal which has been soaked overnight (hence the American name, “overnight oats”) in water, milk, yoghurt, juice, or a combination of these ingredients. Other ingredients, such as fruit and nuts, are also often added to the oatmeal for flavour and colour.

Swiss Bircher Muesli

Bircher muesli is the original overnight oats, and it was developed by a Swiss doctor called Dr. Maximilian Bircher-Benner for his patients at his clinic in Zurich.

The Bircher-Benner Clinic is now occupied by a local insurance company and, in my previous life as a financial services lawyer, I worked on these premises on many occasions. The building is nestled atop a hillside on the Zurichberg with magnificent views of Lake Zurich and, in between chatter about financial planning and legal strategy, I used to marvel about how such a humble breakfast dish could have such resounding success worldwide.

Original Bircher Muesli Recipe

The original recipe for bircher muesli calls for different ingredients and instructions to that specified below.

First, the oatmeal is soaked overnight in plain water. Just before serving, condensed milk and honey are added, followed by ground hazelnuts or almonds with freshly grated apple and a squeeze of lemon juice.

What is nice about the original bircher muesli recipe is that the apple is served fresh so that you get more nutrients, and that the freshly grated apple also adds a bit of texture to the softened oatmeal.

Bircher Muesli Recipe

The recipe for bircher muesli and overnight oats has evolved a lot over the years, and my favourite version contains whipped cream and strawberries! In fact, it is quite common to find restaurants and cafés in Zurich serving bircher muesli with whipped cream to add air and lightness to the mixture. I’m not sure what Dr. Bircher-Benner would think of that but it certainly tastes good!

In the US, there are many delicious and decadent overnight oats recipes, with many tending towards dessert rather than breakfast.

Why Bircher Muesli is Good For You

One of the health benefits of eating oatmeal is that it slows down digestion, meaning that you will feel fuller for longer. So a good serving of bircher muesli or overnight oats in the morning will help prevent any mid-morning hunger pangs.

Oatmeal is especially recommended for children, especially when compared to most breakfast cereals which have a high sugar content and which can contribute to dips in blood sugar levels, thereby affecting concentration in the classroom.

I once read somewhere that it was a good idea to eat a bowl of oatmeal before, say, an important meeting or job interview; this is advice which I still follow to this day!

How to Make Overnight Oats

Making bircher muesli or overnight oats is so quick and easy that you will never buy it again.

The recipe below is a fairly basic overnight oats recipe. You should treat it as a blueprint and add other flavourings or ingredients that you like.

Once you start making your own bircher muesli or overnight oats, you will find that the variations are endless.

To start, grate the apples into a large bowl. I prefer to use a coarse grater so that the grated apple can add some texture to the overnight oats. However, a traditional bircher muesli calls for a fine grater like that pictured in the photo below, and which is sold throughout Switzerland for the purpose of making bircher muesli.

To the grated apples, add the rolled oats, natural yoghurt and apple juice.

For a slightly thicker overnight oats, you could use plain Greek yoghurt in place of the natural yoghurt.

Give everything a good mix until all of the ingredients are thoroughly combined. Wrap the bowl in plastic wrap and place it in the fridge overnight.

During this time, the rolled oats will soften and the mixture will thicken considerably.

To serve, I like to add fresh fruit – usually anything which is in season – plus a good drizzle of honey for some added sweetness.

FAQs

• How long does Bircher Muesli keep? Bircher Muesli is best eaten within 1 to 2 days, but it can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 or 5 days. However, the longer Bircher Muesli is stored, the softer the oats will become.
• How long does it take to make Bircher Muesli? This depends on how soft you like your oats. Most recipes will instruct you to soak the oats overnight, but if you prefer your oats with a bit more bite, you can prepare your overnight oats about 4 to 5 hours ahead of time.
• What type of oatmeal should I use for Bircher Muesli? You should use rolled oats when making overnight oats or bircher muesli, as they absorb the liquid well and retain a nice texture afterwards. In Switzerland, both small and large rolled oats are available in the supermarkets, and the small rolled oats is better for making Bircher Muesli.
• Which type of yoghurt should I use for Bircher Muesli? I like to use plain natural yoghurt, but Greek yoghurt will give the overnight oats a thicker consistency.

Update

This recipe was first published on 6 October 2018. It has been updated with new photos.