Recipe by, Ola Abdel Monem - Food Blogger, Founder of Dr. Ola’s Kitchen and Cooking Doctors

The first Recipe that we have today is “Belila” or you can call it Wheat porridge or wheat cereal! It’s a very popular breakfast in Egypt, or even Dinner (In Egypt we don’t consider dinner as a main meal, instead, lunch is our main meal), It’s made of Wheat grains (or Wheatberries) soaked in sweetened milk and sprinkled with some roasted nuts and raisin. It’s very nutritive, and its chewiness makes it delicious for kids and adults. This recipe is a traditional recipe in our family, my Grandmother used to prepare it for us, then my mother, then me for my kids!

The only difference is that I make it in a very easy way! In my Grandmother’s original recipe, we had to soak the Wheat grains in water overnight then cook for nearly 20 minutes, but since my kids spontaneously ask for it, and I’m always in a hurry, I had to do it the easy way without soaking it in water for a long time and it does taste exactly the same, the only difference that it takes a longer cooking time (45-50 minutes).

For me Belila brings out all the childhood memories when we all used to have it for breakfast on weekends, or as dinner in front of our favorite movie in cold winter nights or have it as “sohor” (The very early breakfast before fasting starts) in the holy fasting month of Ramadan or even have it in some religious events (Ashoura) as pudding instead of porridge.

It’s done by simply washing Wheat grains (berries) & cooking them in water for nearly 50 minutes, then adding full cream milk to them & sugar according to taste and lastly sprinkling some nuts or butter or cream! nothing can be better & easier for a whole meal breakfast!

Here is the very easy recipe that I hope you would all try and give me your feedback.