Gruel
Ingredients
Directions
The book gives no cooking times; the times in the steps were added in transcription, so check for doneness rather than trusting the clock.
Bring 1 pint of water to a boil.
Stir in 1 oz. of oatmeal and reduce heat.
Simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
If desired, sweeten with 1 oz. of sugar and add salt to taste.
Transcribed from a scanned cookbook and modernised for today's kitchens. Where the book gave no heat or time, or said "a moderate oven", the temperatures and times here may be modern equivalents rather than the book's own figures.
Photo for illustrative purposes only · Contact us to use it
Explore the science
What each ingredient does
- Oatmeal
- Starch that thickens the water as it simmers, giving the gruel its body.
- Sugar
- Adds sweetness to balance the plain oat flavour.
The step that matters
Simmer gently while stirring occasionally. Oatmeal can settle and scorch on the bottom of the pot if left unstirred. Starch granules swell as they heat in water, so stirring keeps them dispersed and produces an even, smooth thickening.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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