Delicious Breakfast Yogurt Parfait

Who doesn't love a quick, make ahead breakfast like overnight oats or just a bowl of cereal when you wake up!

Being from India, we grew up eating hot breakfasts like dosa (savory rice-lentil crepes), idlis (savory rice-lentil steamed cakes), savory semolina pudding called "Upma" or even a hot paratha; plain with some spicy Indian pickle or just yogurt or even a stuffed one like Aloo or Spicy Potato Paratha!

But on some days, some fresh yogurt with some delicious crunchy texture like granola and/or nuts and fruits is all I want!

Maybe I will sweeten it with some honey or maple syrup or even add some nuts!

But this one - Yogurt Parfait with a fresh Strawberry Compote and boxed cereal is my favorite! Do make it with your favorite box of cereal or even homemade granola...yumm!

2 cups thick yogurt (Greek or hung yogurt or any flavored yogurt)

2 to 3 tbsp honey (if using plain yogurt)

1 cup breakfast cereal (I have used Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Crunch; you can use any that you have or even granola)

2 cups strawberries, chopped

2 tsp sugar

1 tsp lemon/lime juice

¼ cup slivered almonds or any other chopped nuts (Optional)

Few blueberries and strawberries for garnishing

Optional add ins:

Toasted flax seeds

Chocolate chips

Granola

Crushed peanut brittle (or chikki as we call it in India)

Crushed biscuits or cookies etc.

First step is to make strawberry compote.

TO MAKE THE STRAWBERRY COMPOTE:

In a saucepan, add chopped strawberries and sugar; cook on medium heat stirring often until slightly softened.

Once the strawberries start to release water, gently macerate or press down with the ladle, crushing a few berries, stirring occasionally.

After a few minutes, when the berries have thickened a bit, add lemon juice and remove from heat.

Cool completely.

At this stage, it can be refrigerated until ready to layer the parfait.

Meanwhile; if using plain yogurt, stir in honey (or sugar or any sweetener if using to sweeten the yogurt) or leave it unsweetened.

You can even drizzle honey over the layered yogurt instead of mixing it in now. You may have to whisk the yogurt to make it creamy and flowing.

Gather the ingredients needed to layer your parfait.

In large parfait individual glasses (or any dessert glass that you have), start layering the elements of the snack or breakfast parfait.

Start with a layer of yogurt, about 2 tbsp or more depending upon the size of the glass. Spread it out at the bottom of the container. Drizzle some honey over it; as much as or as little as you want.

Then spoon some cooled strawberry compote over it and level with a spoon over the yogurt.

For added flavor and texture, place some blueberries on top of the compote.

Next top with or sprinkle cereal (you can crush the cereal a little if the grains or flakes are too large); about 2 tbsp and level it evenly over the yogurt.

At this stage, you can sprinkle some nuts and then continue layering with cereal, yogurt (with more honey) and compote, ending with a final layer of cereal on top.

Place a dollop of yogurt on the top of the parfait.

Garnish with fresh strawberries and serve/enjoy right away before the cereal gets soft!!

Enjoy it as a healthy and quick breakfast dish, serve it as a dessert or dig into it as a mid-day snack any time!

With the addition of kids’ cereal (of course, choose low-sugar varieties), your kids will enjoy it too and you have a healthy option for them.

You can even let them make these the way they want!

Enjoy and Happy and Healthy Cooking!!!!!!!

You can use any favorite cereal of yours like granola etc.

Be adventurous and let your taste buds decide what you want in your parfait.

It is best served fresh as the cereal in the parfait can get soggy; if making ahead, sprinkle the cereal only on top.

Use any combination of fruits that you like; it could be mangoes, blueberries, raspberries etc.

For a different flavor, you can make compote with a mixture of fruits (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries) or just chop the fruits and layer in the parfait.

For a quicker version, you can use bottled fruit preserves instead of compote; just add a squeeze of lemon juice to cut down the sweetness a bit.

Sweetening the yogurt is totally optional.