A simple meal for days when everything feels heavy
There are days when I don’t want to think about food.
I don’t want to plan, optimize, or improve anything.
I just want something warm.
Simple.
Comforting.
On days like this, I make what we call tejbegríz in Hungary — a soft, creamy semolina porridge that feels like being taken care of.
It’s not fancy.
It’s not trendy.
But it’s grounding in a way few foods are.
Why this bowl matters to me
This is the kind of meal I make when:
- my mind feels tired
- my nervous system needs calming
- I don’t want another decision
It’s gentle.
Predictable.
And it asks nothing from me.
Sometimes that’s exactly what helps.
What you’ll need
- 1 liter milk (any kind that feels right for you)
- 6–7 tablespoons semolina
- a pinch of salt
- optional: a few drops of vanilla extract
(Semolina is widely available in many countries — often labeled simply as “semolina” or “fine semolina.” If you can’t find it, similar wheat porridges can work too.)
How I make it
I’ve learned that adding the semolina to cold milk makes a big difference — it helps prevent lumps and keeps everything smooth.
- I add the semolina to the cold milk and stir it in gently.
- I add a pinch of salt.
- While stirring continuously, I slowly heat the mixture.
- Once it comes to a boil, I keep cooking it for another 1–2 minutes, still stirring, until it reaches a soft, creamy consistency.
- When it’s ready, I sweeten it to taste — sometimes with sugar, sometimes with a sweetener, depending on what feels right.
This amount is usually enough for about 4 servings.
No rushing.
No perfection.
Just staying present while it thickens.
A little childhood touch
When we were kids, we almost always added something on top.
Sometimes it was a light sprinkle of cocoa powder.
Other times cinnamon sugar — simple, warm, familiar.
Even now, adding one of these feels like a small moment of comfort from the past.
Nothing fancy.
Just something that makes it feel a little more like home.
A gentle reminder
Not every meal has to be optimal.
Not every choice has to be intentional.
Some days, comfort is care.
And if this bowl gives you a few quiet minutes of warmth —
that’s already enough.
Some days don’t need solutions — they just need comfort.