I am willing to bet that every Latvian growing up has eaten, or at least has been served, copious amounts of semolina (cream of wheat) porridge (mannas or mannā putra). I am no exception. It was served either for breakfast or late in the evening, after a hot bath. I still remember sitting at a table in my grandparents’ house, wearing a nightie and a bowl of steaming porridge sprinkled with sugar in front of me.
I have to admit that I haven’t cooked semolina porridge for a while – oatmeal tends to be my go-to porridge. However, mannā feels more like childhood, a good nostalgia food.
Recipe I have added here will make slightly thinner and creamier porridge, enough for a large breakfast for one. If you like more bite to your porridge, use less milk – you can always add a bit more milk to thin it out, if necessary.
Porridge toppings can be quite varied – you can sprinkle it with sugar, cinnamon, add a spoonful of your favourite jam or marmalade, melt a spoonful of butter in it or cover the porridge with fresh berries.

Semolina Porridge (Mannas putra)
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup semolina
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Pour milk in a medium saucepan. Add sugar and salt. Heat the milk for a few minutes on a medium low heat.
- Add semolina to the saucepan. Cook the porridge for 5 minutes while stirring frequently so lumps don't form.
- Turn of the heat, cover the pan and let it stand for further 5 minutes.
- Transfer porridge to a bowl, add toppings and serve.
May 16, 2021
Walking down memory lane with this dish – Omi would make it once every now and then as a treat, and it’s always been a real favourite of mine. Really happy to be able to make it for myself so many years later
July 28, 2021
[…] in a sterilised jar, and this beautifully deep red jelly is done! I eat the jelly with pancakes, on porridge, and even as a spread in a cake. You can use the same method to make black currant, cranberry, […]
September 8, 2022
It was ace just it takes a bit longer than 5 mins