porridge, hot dish made by boiling grains or legumes in milk or water until thick and soft. It is often served at breakfast. Various items are typically added to porridge, making it extremely versatile. For a sweet dish, fruit and other sugary foods, including honey, may be added. For more savory fare, porridge can be served with meat and vegetables.
Perhaps the most well-known type of porridge is oatmeal. It is made from different types of oats, including rolled, steel-cut, or instant. Examples of corn-based porridges are grits, which originated in the American South, and polenta, an Italian dish that is similar to grits but less creamy. In Asia a rice porridge known as congee is very common.