Muesli
Muesli is a cold Swiss dish that has become a common breakfast cereal prepared without cooking. Developed around 1900 by Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital, in Switzerland, it is also consumed for supper as, i.e., muesli with café complet.
Traditionally, the primary ingredient is rolled oats which have not been processed further. The original preparation was to soak the oats in water overnight and eat the next morning with fresh apple, nuts, lemon juice, and sweetened condensed milk. Variation over time was natural: substituting other citrus juice or adding additional ingredients such as grains, seeds, and fresh and dried fruits. Yogurt, milk or other milk products, or milk substitutes are now common ingredients in both homemade and commercially packaged muesli recipes.
Modern commercial brands market muesli that is toasted. If it is processed further, by adding sweetener and oil to bind the ingredients together and baked, it is granola.
Etymology
Originally known in Swiss German as Birchermüesli after its creator Bircher-Benner, the word Müesli is an Alemannic diminutive of Mues meaning 'mush' or 'purée'.History
Muesli was not originally intended as a breakfast food, but as an appetiser similar to bread and butter. It was consumed as Schweizer Znacht, but not as a breakfast cereal.It was introduced around 1900 by Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital, where a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables was an essential part of therapy. It was inspired by a similar "strange dish" that he and his wife had been served on a hike in the Swiss Alps.
Bircher-Benner himself referred to the dish simply as d Spys, Swiss German for "the dish" ; it was commonly known as Apfeldiätspeise. Bircher opened a chalet-style sanitorium on Zürichberg called Lebendige Kraft. These facilities had risen in popularity during the era of lebensreform, a social movement which valued health foods and vegetarianism.
Recipes
Original Bircher-Benner recipe
The original Bircher-Benner recipe consists of the following ingredients:- Apples: "two or three small apples or one large one". The whole apple was to be used, including skin, core, and pips.
- Nuts, either walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts: 1 tablespoon.
- Rolled oats: 1 tablespoon, "previously soaked in 3 tablespoons water for 12 hours".
- Lemon juice: from half a lemon.
- Either cream and honey, or sweetened condensed milk: 1 tablespoon.
Fresh muesli
Muesli traditionally is freshly prepared using dried rolled oats or whole grain oats that have been soaked in water or fruit juice. Other common ingredients are grated or chopped fresh fruit, dried fruit, milk products or nondairy milk substitutes, lemon juice, ground nuts, seeds, spices, honey and muesli mix.The preparation of home-made muesli varies according to the tastes and preferences of the cook, but the basic proportions are around 80% grain, 10% nuts and seeds and 10% dried fruits. Some home cooks prefer to mix the dry ingredients ahead of time and store a batch of it in a container, adding wet ingredients such as fresh fruit, dairy products, honey and fruit juice immediately before serving.
Packaged muesli
Packaged muesli is a loose mixture of mainly rolled oats or cornflakes together with various dried fruit pieces, nuts, and seeds – the main ingredients of any muesli. It commonly contains other rolled cereal grains such as wheat or rye flakes.There are many varieties, which may also contain honey, spices, or chocolate. Dry packaged muesli can be kept for many months and served quickly after mixing with milk, filmjölk, yogurt, coffee, hot chocolate, fruit juice or water. If desired, pieces of fresh fruit may be added. Alternatively, the mix may be soaked overnight in milk and then served with fresh fruit or compote to taste.