Kaachi is one of those things that takes me right back to the golden days of my childhood: weekend mornings, all 6 of us most likely doing 6 different things in our tiny little home, probably pretty loud, always some music, Farsi writing lessons, Saturday morning cartoons... it was the best part of the week.
And growing up, kaachi was always a treat.
The recipe we make at home is an old family recipe from my parents’ hometown of Ardebil in Azerbaijan, Iran. It’s a rich golden color---thanks to the antioxidant-rich turmeric of course!---and the cinnamon (also antioxidant-rich and good for fighting inflammation) and sugar just do exactly what you want them to do for a hot breakfast. It’s so warming and so delicious.
Fun kaachi fact: kaachi is a simple porridge that is traditionally cooked for mothers who have just given birth in order to help replenish their energy. How could you not love that?
The base is essentially made from flour and butter, which would make sense why it’d help with energy levels since the flour (and some added sugar) provides a burst of energy right off the bat while the butter provides the sustained energy that will last longer through the day. And you know what? Whenever I eat kaachi for breakfast I'm satisfied for a much larger chunk of my day than when I eat any other breakfast. I have the butter to thank for that! Thanks friend!
I'll always remember my parents cooking up a batch in the mornings when we got that specific kaachi craving. Actually, even this past June when I went back home to California for a visit, my Persian mama made some kaachi and it was as spectacular as ever. It’s the ultimate comfort food for me, and now when I crave it I cook it for myself and for my husband who is always happy to finish off the batch.
I really do hope you try it out one weekend morning when you want a warm and filling breakfast and I hope it makes your belly feel all happy and nourished like mine after I gobble down a big bowl, or two. Noushejaan (nourishment for your soul)!
If you enjoyed this recipe, try some of my other favorite breakfast recipes! For pancakes, try my easy banana protein pancakes that everyone in the family will love, my perfect sour cream pancakes, and my rich brown sugar banana pancakes. For excellent breakfast smoothies, try my healthy chocolate smoothie (basically a healthy shake), my cantaloupe slush smoothie, and my tropical anti-inflammatory smoothie.
Recipe
Golden Breakfast Porridge with Cinnamon & Sugar (Kaachi)
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter 1 stick
- 1 heaping cup of all-purpose flour
- 6 full cups of water
- 1 ½ tablespoon turmeric or until color of mixture starts to change to a golden yellow-orange
- 4 tablespoon sugar, plus extra to sprinkle on top of each bowl
- cinnamon to taste for sprinkling on top of each bowl
Fereshteh says
Last time I had kaachi was a good 20 years ago. But I think it had saffron in it!! In fact the warm flavor and aroma of saffron is the thing I remember the best from it. I was a kid though, I might be wrong 🙂
honestandtasty says
Hi Fereshteh! Yes, you're right! Some families make kaachi with saffron and some with turmeric. This recipe is my family's old recipe and we just happen to use turmeric. I am sure saffron would be delicious in this!
Tarsoo says
I'm sure this porridge is very yummy but it looks terribly unhealthy. Look how much (artificial) butter, sugar and gluten it contains! It's a one way trip to obesity, fat gain high blood sugar. Let me tell you guys that what happens after eating this: due to high sugar your body will pump insulin into your blood so you will feel low energy. The carbs will burn fast so you will have to eat again in two hours. High amount of fat will make you feel fatigue and thirsty for hours!
honestandtasty says
Hi Tarsoo! Thank you for your comment! I am very glad you brought up the health component as it allows me to further explain my opinion on it on my blog.
I pride myself in living a very healthy lifestyle---mind, body, and soul. The way I view health is undoubtedly, and imho unfortunately, not the modern majority's and mainstream public's view on health. I'm afraid civilization is moving into extremely dangerous territory in the way we view ingredients. I talk a little more about this is in my 'About' page if you ever feel like taking a peak at it. Maybe I will write an opinion post soon on this topic.
Also, as explained in the post, this is a treat for a meal that many Persians historically have made and eaten to boost energy, not the contrary. Just like the occasional pancakes or donuts, this is a treat breakfast, of course. However, I believe this is a much more natural and healthy breakfast just compared to those others even. It's full of wonderful antioxidants! And carbs, protein, and butter are all necessary for normal biological functions; let's not forget the importance of fat when it comes to our brains of course 🙂
And you are correct---when sugar enters the bloodstream, insulin is released from the pancreas to help shuttle sugar back out of the blood and into your cells. This is a beautiful and natural biological process that I am very grateful for. As for gluten, there is no scientific evidence of it doing any harm to people who have no known issue with it. Needless to say, people with Celiac Disease (autoimmunity against gluten) cannot digest gluten and wheat is not an option for them.
In the meantime (until I get a post up to further explain my stance), I'll refer you to this post where I talk a little on this matter. I hope I was helpful in explaining myself a bit---I got a case of serious jetlag at the moment, so more for later 😉
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, Tarsoo. It has inspired me to write more on what health means to me because there's a lot a lot a lot that I would like so say on this topic.
Oh yes, one more thing before I forget! I'm not exactly sure where you got the idea that I used artificial butter for this recipe, but I will say that nothing of the sort is allowed in my household, and much less my body 🙂 I believe in butter!
Daniel says
Pensei que gente chata e desinformada querendo dar opinião na receita dos outros só existia no Brasil, meu país, mas vejo que não.
Ren H says
??? There are no artificial ingredients in the recipe. If it’s not your thing, don’t make it - let people enjoy things, we don’t come to this site for you to preach.
dina says
i love porridge. it is comforting. i've never heard of kaachi, but i'd like to try it. i understand what tarsoo is saying--i was surprised to see it is made with flour. it's ok to splurge once in a while. and i do believe that this dish helped women recuperate after childbirth. it's probably good for the sick too. sometimes fat is good!
honestandtasty says
Hello Dina! Thanks for the comment! What kinds of porridge do you love? I'd love to try different kinds :).
Don't worry about never having heard of kaachi because actually, many Persians have never heard of it since it's so regional! So porridge is made by mixing a type of powdered cereal or flour with liquid such as milk or water. And in this case, that flour happens to be wheat flour. 🙂
And how smart you are to realize how good this is for people with a variety of health problems such as weakness, low blood sugar/pressure, inflammation of sorts, etc. I have rheumatoid arthritis and I view kaachi as medicine because it gives me the strength my body needs sometimes. Also, kaachi is filled with antioxidants, which of course are free radical quenchers--- and that's a blessing for me, in regard to my autoimmune disease. And thank you Dina because I couldn't have said it better myself, "Sometimes fat is good!" Indeed! 😀
ami@naivecookcooks says
Never heard of this before but its making my mouth water!
honestandtasty says
Hi Ami! It was making my mouth water too when I posted it just past midnight! Not a good thing when you've eaten your meals and all brushed up, ready for bed. 😉
Let me know how you like it if you try it one day!
Kia says
I used to love this as a child as well. But I agree with Tarsoo, it is not very healthy. As I was reading this, I was thinking of a way to make it healthier, such as using grass-fed butter, almond flour and coconut palm sugar or maple syrup instead as healthier alternatives.
honestandtasty says
Hello Kia---thanks for the comment. Of course, eating an excess of anything is unhealthy. Kaachi is a special treat, at least it is in my household! And if you live a fairly active and healthy lifestyle, kaachi fits in just right.
As I explained to Tarsoo, I'll have to write up a post on my views of what health means because I don't follow mainstream opinion. Oh yes, I'm fully aware! 😉
Your alternative ingredients sound awesome and I bet would make delicious porridges. I love making rice flour porridge (ferni) and sweeten it with date syrup. Yum!
As for kaachi, it is a wheat porridge made with real butter and real ingredients and has been passed down through generations of honest cooking that cater to health, happiness, and wellness. I just love the idea that I'm carrying that tradition and lifestyle from my ancestors' kitchens into my own. 🙂
Sibs Numero Uno says
I LOVE this! I completely agree with you in the thought that we have gone so far beyond what "healthy" means that we've actually forgotten REAL, natural, substantive, "salt of the earth" ingredients are better than the alternatives SOLD to us--in moderation, of course!
To think that people were made to believe margarine was a healthier alternative to butter is laughable & sad! And, that's just ONE example of the backward thinking we bought into.
Just look at the immeasurable number of unhealthy masses we've incurred, all while running away from the NATURAL ingredients of our ancestors. We're not getting healthier buying into these fads, we're getting fatter and sicker. Yet the populace keep buying into a thought process that benefits certain industries trying to sell alternatives. How many times a year do various studies come out contradicting each other on the topic of health & diet alternatives? They're all flawed. Here's a newsflash: Want to live a "healthy lifestyle?" Eat fresh, natural ingredients and stay active! BAMM! And I won't even charge you for it! Common sense caveat: it goes without saying that one has to keep in mind one's own individual health issues such as allergies, diabetic concerns, and other individualistic health parameters, but I'm speaking generally, of course.
My health conscious family lives very much along this sensible thought process, so the food/health industry can keep their latest trend, and manufactured alternatives for themselves. Until of course, the next study that tells them oops, they've been wrong....
honestandtasty says
Amen sista! Food shouldn't be a cause for stress. Let's just enjoy what it has to offer to us and be thankful. Worked out well enough since the beginning of time. I'm afraid we've gone off the deep end. But I'm hopeful people will soon enough realize what's healthy vs "healthy." *fingers and toes crossed*
francesca says
Obviously this isn't something you eat everyday, Tarsoo. It's an indulgence. Plus, porridge is classic, working class quick + easy heartiness. I love that distinct yellow color of turmeric !
honestandtasty says
Thanks Francesca! And I do love this classic dish! Oh boy, the turmeric makes all the difference in the world with this one too 🙂
marla says
this porridge looks wonderful! pinned 🙂
honestandtasty says
Thanks so much, Marla! I think it is pretty wonderful, myself! 🙂
Gaynell says
I think it's so funny how people think they have to lecture people on their blog posts...sigh. As if they have ownership of what's said...who knows. 😉 I think it sounds like a type of pudding, and my first thought was I wonder if I could mix it with oatmeal, lol. I (nor my family) have no problem with gluten, so that isn't even a thought. We also believe in using BUTTER! lol It's way better for you than imitation stuff. However, given all that, I'll probably never make it - it's a little out of my zone. Sounds like it's something you love for a treat and comfort, so cool. 😉 I'll take oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins anytime! lol although our main comfort breakfast is whole wheat waffles! Have a good one!
honestandtasty says
Hi Gaynell, thanks for stopping by! I love that you stick by butter's side as well. It's natural and healthy if used in moderation. But even moderation needs moderation, if you know what I mean 😉
Personally, I wouldn't mix this with oatmeal given that it's already a flour-based porridge, sort of similar to what you'd get if you were to grind oats and then make oatmeal from that. It may appear like a pudding but if you do decide to try it, you'll see that it's just a very simple and sweet breakfast porridge. It's not an "out there" sort of dish to be honest; no acquired taste business with this. The ingredients are as basic as it gets! Hope that helped but you won't hurt my feelings if it's still out of your zone, Gaynell. 🙂
dina says
i finally made this! i didn't use turmeric because i made it for someone else who is not as adventurous as me, so it didn't get that lovely golden color. but i added some to mine after i cooked it. i like it with sugar too. it is perfect for the cold weather we are having. i also like oatmeal, farina, polenta, grits. it has a consistency more of creamy mashed potatoes since the flour is a fine powder, but the taste is more like farina to me, which i love with butter. what is great about kaachi is that there is usually butter and flour on hand so it's something you can make with what you have in the house. i also used grass-fed butter, as someone suggested. i think dishes like this one have their place--when you're sick, when you're working hard, when you're stressed, when it's cold etc.
honestandtasty says
Yay! So glad you made it and enjoyed it, Dina! Yes, this is a really nice breakfast that warms you from within. And using quality ingredients is always the way to go for everything :). Great job, girl!
Danielle says
This is amazing, I'm from South Africa and my grandmother always made this for me but she over 90 so she could never remember the recipe. I've been searching for porridges made with flour for years and came across your recipe this morning. It tastes exactly the same. I have never been this happy to eat porridge. Amazing how recipe's travel. So grateful I came across your post.
honestandtasty says
Danielle! Your comment made me feel so happy to read. That is incredible that this is also a South African recipe. I'm so intrigued! So do you know if the South African recipe includes turmeric as well? And the cinnamon/sugar topping? I'm loving this! I'm so thankful that you came across my page and found an old family recipe of your own, a whole continent away from my old family recipe.
Danielle says
I went to my grandmother (95) after I made your recipe to taste it and she was so happy, she loved it. She remembered the recipe even. She said that in place of turmeric she used yolk of an egg but she wasn't sure how many she used. I tried making it with the yolk but I have to admit I find the turmeric gives it a different more pleasant taste.
My grandmother lives with my aunt and instructed her to make your recipe for her in the mornings for breakfast since she doesn't like eating porridge.
I immediately told all my cousins about it as well since we've all been searching for this recipe that reminds us so much of being in our grandmothers house and waking up to this delicious smell every morning. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
honestandtasty says
You're so so welcome for the recipe, Danielle! I'm so amazed and so happy you took the time to share this info with me. I got teary-eyed reading your comment because it totally warms my heart. Please tell your grandmother that I'm honored that she likes my recipe! Thank you for telling me all this, Danielle! It's such a pleasure for me to learn! xoxo