German · Authentic-ish German
Griessbrei
227 kcal a serving, against 318 for the traditional version. That is 91 kcal off, or 29%, with 10.8g of protein. Serves 4. 25 minutes.
What the traditional version is
The original is made with whole milk boiled up with plenty of sugar, semolina stirred in, and a finish of butter or a splash of cream on top. There's often a fruit compote, but let's not pretend the pudding itself is light: it's a delivery system for fat and sugar.
What changed, and what each change costs
Whole milk swapped for semi-skimmed milk
I swap out whole milk for semi-skimmed, saving you a fair chunk of fat but still keeping enough body in the pudding that it doesn't turn watery.
What it costs you. The pudding is a fraction less creamy. No-one is writing home to their grandma about how lush the mouthfeel is, but you can live with it.
60g sugar down to 30g sugar
Everyone loves the old sugar hit, but it doesn't do you any favours unless you are six and made of rubber. Cutting the sugar in half leaves enough sweetness to be pleasant, especially with a fruit topping.
What it costs you. It's not as sweet. No getting round that. You'll notice it, but so will your pancreas. If you absolutely must, add fruit compote as insurance.
No double cream or butter
Cream on top is there for richness, not structure. It goes straight on the lips, then sticks around for weeks. Out it goes.
What it costs you. You lose that luscious finish and the sense of eating pudding at a particularly permissive grandmother's house. Call it just less remorseful rather than as fun and you'll be about right.
The numbers
| Per serving | Traditional | Lightened |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 318 | 227 |
| Protein | 10.7g | 10.8g |
| Fat | 11.9g | 5.2g |
| Saturated fat | 7g | 3.2g |
| Carbohydrate | 42.2g | 34.5g |
| Protein per 100 kcal | 3.4g | 4.8g |
Every figure is computed from the recipe's own weighed ingredient list against public food composition databases. The appendix in Authentic-ish German prints the exact database row used for each ingredient, so any number here can be checked.
Allergens. milk, gluten.
The method is in the book
You can't pretend this is as good as the original, because it isn't. It's a thinner, less sweet semolina pudding that's much easier on the arteries and just about comforting enough to qualify as actual pudding. If you're desperate for nostalgia or just a warm hug in a bowl, it'll do the job. If you want the real deal, you know where to find it.
The quantities and the method for this dish are in Authentic-ish German, along with 54 more. It is not out yet. The swap kit is free in the meantime.