Muesli

Muesli ['mju:z li] (originally Birchermüesli or Müesli ['myə̯s li] in Swiss German, Müsli ['my:s li] in standard German) is a popular breakfast dish (breakfast cereal) based on uncooked rolled oats and fruit. In Switzerland, it is also eaten as a light evening dish; there Birchermüesli complet is muesli with butterbrot and milk coffee.

There are two main variants of muesli, fresh and dry.

Dry muesli

The first type of muesli is a loose mixture of mainly rolled oats together with various pieces of dried fruit, nuts, and seeds. It commonly contains other rolled cereal grains such as wheat or rye flakes as well. Today, dry muesli is widely available in the form of pre-packaged mixes. Many people also enjoy mixing their own. There are many varieties, some of which also contain honey, spices, or chocolate. Dry muesli can be stored conveniently for many months. It is served quickly after mixing it with milk, yogurt, or fruit juice and (if available) pieces of fresh fruit.

Fresh muesli

The second type of muesli (the original kind) is a freshly prepared mixture that includes rolled oats that have been soaked in water or fruit juice, as well as finely grated or blended apple. Other ingredients commonly included are additional grated or chopped fresh fruit (e.g., bananas, berries, grapes, mango), dried fruit, milk products (e.g., yogurt, cream, condensed milk, fromage frais, quark, cottage cheese), lemon juice, ground nuts, seeds, spices (especially cinnamon), honey, and muesli mix. Fresh milk is not usually mixed with fresh muesli, since it coagulates easily in the presence of the acids in the apple.

History

Muesli was introduced around 1900 by Swiss doctor Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital^[1], 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 the Swiss Alps. Bircher-Benner himself referred to the dish simply as "d'Spys" (Swiss German for "the dish", in German "die Speise"). The term muesli is a diminutive of the Swiss German noun "Mues" (German: "Mus"), a cooking term for a semi-liquid made from raw or cooked fruit that lacks an exact English equivalent, but that is related to mush, paste, compote or the French purée. Muesli in its modern form became popular in western countries starting in the 1960s as part of increased interest in healthy vegetarian diets.

Original Bircher-Benner muesli recipe

A slightly modernized version of the original Bircher-Benner recipe^[2] is still a prototype for most fresh muesli today. For one serving, it consists approximately of:

1 tablespoon rolled oats, soaked in 2–3 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon cream
200 grams apple (about one large, preferably a sour variety), finely grated and mixed with the above directly before serving
optionally top with 1 tablespoon ground hazelnuts or almonds

The original recipe actually used sweetened condensed milk instead of cream, a compromise due to hygiene concerns regarding fresh milk products in 1900 (bovine tuberculosis, etc.), before pasteurization and refrigeration became commonly available. The original recipe also advised to soak the oats in water overnight; this long soaking time is unnecessary with modern rolled oats, which the manufacturers already soften through a steam treatment. [1][2].

Health benefits

All the main ingredients of muesli are considered important elements of a healthy diet:

A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of cancer and other age-related diseases, and a serving of muesli can contain one or two servings of fresh fruit.

Oat products have been shown to help lower high blood cholesterol concentration (hypercholesterolemia) and thereby reduce the risk of arteriosclerosis.

Products made from whole oat and wheat grains are rich in fibre and essential trace elements.

Some types of nuts (especially walnuts) are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are associated with many health benefits, including the development of the nervous system.

Milk products, often served with muesli, are a rich source of calcium and protein.

The low glycemic index of muesli without added sugar or honey helps with diabetes control.

References

^ J.A. Kurmann, et al.: Encyclopedia of Fermented Fresh Milk Products: an international inventory of fermented milk, cream, buttermilk, whey, and related products. Springer Verlang, 1992. Page 75: Bircher Muesli.
^ Ruedi Sperandio: 100 Jahre Birchermüesli – Wie ein Schweizer Brei zum weltweiten Hit wurde