With chilly climate right here, I’ve been searching for meals that heat my stomach and stick with my ribs.
A scorching bowl of oatmeal has lengthy been a go-to dish throughout the chilly, darkish days of winter.
However if you happen to’re like me, you’ve possible pigeon-holed oatmeal as a strictly candy meals you eat completely for breakfast.
For many of my life, I’ve solely eaten oatmeal within the morning, garnished with issues like brown sugar, maple syrup, chocolate chips, and fruit. From time to time, I’d throw in some nuts like pecans and walnuts. However largely oatmeal was an excuse to have dessert for breakfast. I may all the time inform myself, “Hey! It’s oatmeal! It’s good for you! Lumps of added sugar apart, it may assist with my die-ah-bee-tus!”
As I used to be consuming a bowl of oatmeal with blueberries for breakfast just a few weeks in the past, I bought to pondering: “Perhaps it’s time I bust oatmeal out of the meals jail I’ve put it in. Oatmeal is a grain identical to rice and wheat, and I eat different grains in each the a.m. (raisin bran) and the p.m. (pasta) and in each candy (rice pudding) and savory (fried rice) varieties. Why ought to oatmeal be topic to totally different constraints?
Why ought to it certainly?
Though many cultures (although not all!) have been conditioned to consider oatmeal as a candy breakfast meals, doesn’t imply you’ll be able to’t eat it as a savory dish for any meal of the day.
I just lately began experimenting with making savory oatmeal and consuming it each for breakfast and for lunch and dinner. Reader, let me inform you, savory oatmeal is bomb. I can’t consider I didn’t do that sooner.
Not solely does oatmeal style nice as part of a savory dish, however it’s extremely low cost, and its fiber content material will make it easier to really feel fuller for longer. Oatmeal is a good way to stretch your finances and nourish your physique.
Beneath, I share some tips you should utilize to create your personal savory oatmeal dishes, together with three easy recipes that my household and I’ve loved.
Your Savory Oatmeal Crib Sheet
Oatmeal is fairly bland by itself, so it should tackle the flavour of no matter you prepare dinner it with. Consider oatmeal as rice or pasta; it makes an important canvas for flavors. Using some or the entire following components will add scrumptious, savory umami to your oatmeal:
Broth. As an alternative of utilizing plain water, prepare dinner your oats in broth — vegetable broth, rooster/beef broth, and even bone broth. The broth will infuse the oats with savory goodness.
Aromatics. Just a little little bit of garlic, ginger, or onion can go a great distance in including depth and complexity to your savory oatmeal. Sauté these aromatics in a little bit of oil or butter earlier than including your oats to launch their flavors.
Protein. Amp up the belly-filling protein content material of your savory oatmeal by including cooked bacon bits, egg, rooster, or beef. These protein-packed toppings will maintain you feeling happy and energized all through the day.
Greens. Add a pop of coloration and diet to your savory oatmeal with recent greens like chopped peppers, sliced avocado, or sautéed mushrooms. Make the most of canned greens for a straightforward and low cost solution to up your oatmeal’s fiber and micronutrient content material.
Cheese and crunchy toppings. Sprinkle some grated Parmesan, crumbled feta, and even French-fried onions on high of your savory oatmeal for a burst of taste and texture. These toppings will add a pleasant crunch and richness to your dish.
Seasonings. Have enjoyable with seasonings. Black pepper and salt style nice on oatmeal. However I’ve additionally made some dishes with oregano, thyme, and Previous Bay. Man, I like Previous Bay. The addition I need to attempt subsequent is placing every little thing bagel seasoning on a savory breakfast bowl (oatmeal, eggs, bacon, cheese). The chances are limitless, so don’t be afraid to assume exterior the field.
Condiments. To take your savory oatmeal to the subsequent degree, take into account including a dollop of your favourite sauce. Might be BBQ sauce and even salsa. I like placing Frank’s scorching sauce on my savory oatmeal dishes. Kicks it up a notch. Bam!
My Go-to Savory Oatmeal Recipes
If you happen to’re searching for some savory oatmeal recipes to get began, under are three that I’ve loved.
Now pay attention, the pics of the oatmeal don’t look nice. However I’m not a meals photographer to start with, and oatmeal doesn’t {photograph} effectively typically, so don’t let seems deceive you! These savory oatmeal dishes are tasty.
Oatmeal and Egg Scramble
Oatmeal for breakfast is nice, however you don’t need to restrict your self to the cinnamon-and-spice prompt packets from the Quaker Oatmeal Man.
As an alternative of consuming your oatmeal and scrambled eggs individually, simply mix them in a single bowl for a savory oatmeal and egg scramble. Right here’s how one can make a single serving for a fast, straightforward, power-packed breakfast.
Components
1/2 cup of rolled or prompt oats2 eggs, scrambled2 strips of ready-to-serve bacon1/4 cup of cheddar cheese
1. Observe the directions for cooking your oatmeal within the microwave. Use water.
2. Whereas your oatmeal is microwaving, prepare dinner two scrambled eggs in a pan. Or, if you happen to don’t need to soiled a pan, you’ll be able to microwave them.
3. As soon as the oatmeal is finished, heat up your ready-to-serve bacon within the microwave.
4. Mix every little thing in a single bowl, crumbling the bacon into little items on high of the oatmeal. Prime with cheddar cheese. Add salt and pepper to style. I like placing Frank’s Sizzling Sauce on my oatmeal and egg scramble.
Beef and Mushroom Oatmeal Porridge
This can be a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs dinner that’s nice for a chilly evening. Right here’s how I made it for my household. It serves six. I had some leftovers for lunch the subsequent day.
Components
1 ½ cups of steel-cut oats5 cups beef bone broth1 cup water1 lb 85/15 floor beef1 medium onion8 oz of sliced mushroomsShredded parmesan cheeseGarlic powderBlack pepperSalt
1. Prep the veg: Cube white onion. Clear grime from sliced mushrooms as wanted. Put aside.
2. Pour beef broth and water right into a pot and produce to a boil. Stir in steel-cut oats and scale back warmth to medium-low. Simmer uncovered for 25 to half-hour, stirring sometimes, till liquid is absorbed and oats are tender.
3. Whereas your oats are simmering, brown your floor beef in a pan. Season with garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. After your beef is cooked, drain fats, take away from the pan, and put aside.
4. Add a tablespoon of oil to the pan. Toss in your diced white onion and sliced mushrooms and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Saute till every little thing is sweet and delicate.
5. When the oatmeal has completed cooking, dump your cooked floor beef, onion, and mushrooms into the pot and stir every little thing collectively.
6. Serve in a bowl. Prime with shredded parmesan cheese.
Rooster “Noodle” Oatmeal
That is my rooster noodle soup-inspired savory oatmeal. It’s actually good and actually filling. It’s additionally very easy to make.
Components
3 cups rolled oats4 cups rooster broth1 cup water3 cups pulled rotisserie rooster1 can of peas and carrotsThymeSalt and pepper
1. Deliver rooster broth and water combination to boil. Stir in oats and scale back warmth to medium. Add a splash of thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook dinner uncovered for about 5 minutes, stirring sometimes.
2. When oatmeal is cooked, decrease warmth to a simmer. Dump in pulled rotisserie rooster and the can of peas and carrots. Add a bit extra salt and pepper. Stir in elements and let every little thing heat up for 3 minutes.
3. Serve. Prime with cheddar cheese, if desired.
There you go. Free oatmeal from the candy breakfast field and check out it savory fashion morning, midday, and evening!