Oatmeal, the classic morning staple. Loved by young and old, and there's no wonder why, oats make a hearty and filling meal. They give your body the energy and nutrients it needs without weighing you down. Here's my guide on How to Make Oatmeal, along with three flavour-packed, creamy and delicious oatmeal recipes.
How to Make Oatmeal
I love oats, and I eat them all the time! It's the one thing I buy in large amounts, and often. Whether it's a classic oatmeal recipe or a batch of overnight oats, they make a regular appearance at my breakfast table. Heck, when I know I'm going to have a busy week, I even make oatmeal breakfast cookies or muffins.
One of the things I love about oatmeal is that it's quick and easy to prepare. You can customize it with any topping, and it keeps you full with lots of energy throughout the morning or even for the day. I strongly believe that oatmeal is good for any time of the day⏤Mocha and chocolate chip oats or Chocolate peanut butter oats are definitely dessert-worthy!
"GOODBYE to instant oatmeal packs forever!!!"
Making oatmeal is easy and delicious; you'll be saying goodbye to instant oatmeal packs forever! Plus, once you ditch the packets, you'll be enjoying a nourishing bowl of goodness just the way you want it to taste.
What oats should you use?
There are three different types of oats used for oatmeal; the difference is all in the processing. The closer the oatmeal is to the grout state, the closer it is to being a whole-grain. The processing of the grain affects the taste, texture, and cooking times.
- Steel-Cut Oats: These oats are the closest to the original oat grout; they're chewy and take the longest to cook.
- Old Fashion Oats: The in-between oats. Less processed than the quick oats but more than the steel-cut oats. The cooking time for these oats is less than the steel-cut, and the texture is mushier. Old fashion oats are the most used oats in most oatmeal recipes.
- Instant Oats: They cook quickly and are the mushiest of the three. I prefer to use these for oat flour or baby food, and I avoid cooking with them. They're not that much quicker than the old fashion, and they have less texture.
Oatmeal Ingredients
I’m all about delicious oatmeal that you’ll actually be looking forward to the next day. While oatmeal can be made with just oats and water, who truly wants to eat that? So, here are a few more ingredient options made from basic pantry staples. The best part is that they won't take much time or effort to add.
- Rolled oats: Also known as Old fashion oats. These oats will retain their shape yet become deliciously creamy in the mix. They also continue to absorb liquid as they sit.
- Milk: You can use any kind of milk or even yogurt in your oatmeal. It adds more flavour than water, and choosing a dairy-free option will add creaminess without adding a lot of extra calories.
- Fats: I like adding a little butter for overall flavour; it adds a very nice subtle flavour and richness to the oatmeal.
- Sweeteners: Maple syrup and honey are natural, antioxidant-packed sweeteners that add just the right amount of sweetness and flavour. They're my first choice, but any sweetener, such as sugar and stevia, can also be used.
- Salt: This ingredient may sound like an odd ingredient for oats, but it balances and intensifies the flavours; trust me, you don't want to leave it out.
- Flavour boosters: I love adding spices and extracts to my base recipe, but either can be left out or increased depending on your taste.
Three topping ideas
Today I’m sharing my top three ways of making oatmeal: My go-to base recipe and three variations, which I’ll describe below.
Berry Fresh: A classic oatmeal combination of fresh berries, vanilla, cinnamon, and yogurt. Simple, delicious and easy.
Blueberry & Banana: Shredded apples, chia seeds, honey, fresh blueberries, banana and hemp seeds. Naturally sweet and delicious.
Apricot with Tahini Caramel: Just two-words TAHINI CARAMEL.... let that sink for a just minute.
This surprising topping isn't just for oatmeal; you can top it on toast, nourish bowls and cinnamon buns; there's no end to the many uses of tahini caramel. Oh yeah, there's also dried apricots, pomegranates, ground pistachios, sesame seeds and honey topped on this variation.
Tips on how to make oatmeal
- Let the oats stand: Letting the oats cool slightly allows them to continue thickening and intensifying the flavours.
- Taste test: As your cooking the oats, give them a quick taste test and add a little extra flavouring if needed.
- Cook it to your liking. Pay attention to the oat to liquid ratio, which is usually printed on the oats package. For reference, it’s always ½ cup oats to 1 cup of liquid. If you use less liquid, it may not fully cook all the oats.
- Don’t forget the salt. It has a way of making the oats less bland and really enhances the flavour. It’s hard to explain, but a pinch of salt brings out the oats' sweetness and nuttiness.
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How to Make Oatmeal
Ingredients
Classic Oatmeal:
- ½ cup rolled oats
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 pinch salt
Berry Fresh:
- ½ cup fresh seasonal berries
- 2 tablespoon greek yogurt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon ground
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Blueberry & Banana:
- ¼ cup fresh blueberry plus extra for topping
- ¼ cup shredded apple or ½ regular apple
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon ground
- ½ teaspoon cardamom ground
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ banana sliced
- 1 teaspoon hemp seeds optional
Apricots & Tahini Caramel:
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon ground
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom ground
- 1 teaspoon butter optional
- 4 dried apricots diced
- 2 tbsps tahini caramel*
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds black and white
- ¼ cup pomegranates
- 1 teaspoon honey
*Tahini Caramel:
- ¼ cup tahini
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 2-3 tablespoon milk
- 1 pinch of cinnamon
Instructions
Base Oatmeal Recipe:
- Add the oats, water, salt, and spices (if using)to a small pot, bring to a rapid simmer and stir continuously as it heats up to avoid sticking to the bottom. Once the oats are simmering, reduce heat to a medium-low. Stir occasionally. Cook the oats for 5-8 minutes. Once it's thickened, remove the pot from the heat; the oatmeal will continue to thicken up a bit as it sits. Stir in honey until incorporated and transfer to a bowl.
- Add any desired toppings of choice.
Topping:
Blueberry & Banana
- Prepare the oatmeal base recipe with the inclusion of cinnamon and shredded apples to the oats.
- Once the oats are soft and beginning to expand, add the blueberries. Allow the blueberries to heat up, then gently press to release the juices to create a swirl effect: don't over mix or the whole pot will become blueish-purple. Transfer to a bowl.
- Top your bowl of oats with banana, fresh blueberries, hemp seeds and honey.
- Enjoy!
Berry Fresh:
- Prepare your oatmeal base recipe with the inclusion of cinnamon. Once you remove the oats from the heat, stir in the vanilla and transfer to a bowl.
- Top the oats with fresh berries, a dollop of Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of your favourite granola.
Apricots & Tahini Caramel:
- Tahini Caramel: Measure the tahini in a measuring cup. Add the honey, milk and cinnamon. Stir. If the tahini you bought is too thick, add 1 tablespoon at a time and mix well and set aside. You're looking for a caramel texture.
- Heat butter and toast the oats on medium-high heat⏤for about 3 minutes: remove from heat for 2 minutes, then add the water (if you don't remove from heat, you'll cause a rapid boil that will scorch the oats and pot.) This step is optional if you're omitting the butter just move on to the Oatmeal Base Recipe.
- Continue the oatmeal base recipe with the inclusion of cinnamon and cardamom.
- Top with dried apricots, pomegranates, tahini caramel, honey and pistachios.
Notes
- Topping ideas are suggestive: Dried apricot can be swapped with dates, banana, & figs—pistachios for almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts. Feel free to change things up!
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