Muesli (/ˈmjuːzli/MEWZ-lee[1][2]) is a coldSwiss breakfast dish, the primary ingredient of which isrolled oats. Traditionally, it is set to soak in water overnight ("overnight oats") and eaten the next morning with fresh fruit, nuts, lemon juice, and cream sweetened with honey. Additional ingredients, such as other grains, seeds, and dried fruits are sometimes added, and other citrus juice may be used.[3]Yogurt, milk or othermilk products, ormilk substitutes are now commonly added to both homemade and commercially packaged muesli recipes.
Developed around 1900 by Swiss physicianMaximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital,[4] it has become a commonbreakfast cereal dish. In Switzerland, it is also consumed forsupper asBirchermüesli complet – muesli withCafé complet (milk coffee, accompanied byButterbrot (bread, butter andjam)).[3][5]
In addition to being prepared raw, muesli can be toasted. Muesli can also be processed further by adding sweetener and oil to bind the ingredients together and baked to producegranola.[6][7][8]
Originally known in Swiss German asBirchermüesli after its creatorBircher-Benner or simplyMüesli, the word is anAlemannic diminutive ofMues (non-Swiss Standard German:Mus) meaning "mush" or "purée".[9]
Muesli was not originally intended as a breakfast food, but as anappetiser similar to bread and butter. It was consumed asSchweizer Znacht (lit. 'Swiss supper'), but not as a breakfast cereal.[10]
It was introduced around 1900 by Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital,[4] 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 theSwiss Alps.[3]
Bircher-Benner himself referred to the dish simply asd Spys,Swiss German for "the dish" (German:die Speise); it was commonly known asApfeldiätspeise (lit. 'Apple Diet Meal'). Bircher opened a chalet-stylesanitorium onZürichberg calledLebendige Kraft (lit. 'lively power'). These facilities had risen in popularity during the era oflebensreform, a social movement which valued health foods and vegetarianism.[10]
The original Bircher-Benner recipe consists of the following ingredients:
The dish was prepared by mixing the cream and honey or condensed milk with the soaked oats and lemon juice and, while stirring, grating the whole apple into the mixture. This method prevented the apple pulp from browning. The intent was to serve the dish fresh, immediately before any other dishes in the meal.[11][12]
Muesli traditionally is freshly prepared using driedrolled oats orwhole grain oats that have been soaked in water or fruit juice.[13] Other common ingredients are grated or chopped fresh fruit (e.g., bananas, apples, berries, grapes, mango), dried fruit, milk products (e.g., fresh milk, yoghurt, cream, condensed milk,fromage frais,quark, cottage cheese) ornondairy milk substitutes, lemon juice, ground nuts, seeds, spices (especially cinnamon), honey and muesli mix.[14][15]
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.[16] 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.[17]
Packaged muesli is a loose mixture of mainly rolled oats orcornflakes 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 orrye flakes.[18]
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 orcompote to taste.[19]
Cafes, restaurants and chefs in the English-speaking world often use the labelBircher muesli to distinguish their dishes from the store-bought variety, indicating it has been prepared in a manner based on the original recipe – with grated fresh apple, lemon juice, cream and honey – rather than just being poured from a packet and having milk added. However, these dishes are usually a marked modification of the original recipe rather than a faithful reproduction. Many use orange or apple juice instead of lemon juice, and add other more exotic ingredients such as berries, grated fresh pears, poached or roasted fruit, vanilla essence andagave syrup.[20][21]
Muesli has been associated from the beginning with health-conscious diets and back-to-nature lifestyles. In English-speaking countries, these connotations have led to the coinage of terms linking muesli to social liberalism and the middle classes. These include the Britishmuesli belt[22] and the Americangranola type.[23]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)humorous, derogatoryBritish A region regarded as being populated by middle-class, health-conscious people.
{{cite encyclopedia}}:|website= ignored (help)1.1 derogatory [as modifier] Denoting people with liberal or Green political views, typified as eating health foods.
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