Alex Hely-Hutchinson founded 26 Grains after spending her year abroad studying in Copenhagen. Come rain, shine or freezing winds, Copenhagen is a city where you cycle whatever the weather. Alex quickly realised she needed something warm to wake up to and to fuel herself with, and porridge was the perfect answer to those two things. The city already had a couple of popular porridge shops, where the humble bowl of porridge got elevated to a top-tier dish. It was this idea of making a simple breakfast into something outstanding that Alex brought back to London with her. Since then she’s been making delicious breakfasts and lunches at the two 26 Grains locations.
If you’re looking for a simple way to upgrade your own breakfast, Alex’s granola recipe is what you’re looking for. The warmth from the cinnamon and cardamom is a great touch and the nuts and seeds add a fab crunch. It’s also a recipe that’s really easy to make your own. If you’re not a big hazelnut fan, don’t worry about it. Swap them for pecans, brazil nuts or even macadamia nuts. Create your own ultimate granola by adding your favourite nuts, seeds and spices.
Bang it out at the weekend or at the beginning of the week with minimal effort and have it ready for all your breakfasts. It’s an absolute crowd pleaser and ridiculously easy to scale up. So simple. So delicious. Perfect with a dollop of yoghurt, as a topping for apple sauce or simply with milk. (Come on Eileen.)