Level-Up Your Oatmeal
This article was written by staff writer Kahlea Williams. Read about Kahlea here.
Oatmeal may seem like a simple thing, but I was recently compelled to write a recipe of my own when I realized that many of my close friends and family members actually don’t know how to make or eat oatmeal. Yes, you read that right. I argue there is in fact a “how” to eating oatmeal. Imagine, going your whole life, eating breakfast after breakfast, plate after plate, of eggs, pancakes, bacon, and the like, and thinking oatmeal is just some boring lumpy health food; something you're supposed to eat but never desire. What a tragedy! Does this sound like you? Yes? Well, set those eggs aside because there’s a new breakfast staple in town. Prepare to fall in love with your new favorite breakfast, “Leveled-Up Oatmeal!” As a delicious, nutrient-rich canvas for a whole host of flavors and textures, oatmeal is not only quick and easy but dynamic and versatile, a new adventure every day. Check out the recipe below!
Ingredients
1 cup whole rolled oats: be sure to get certified GF oats if needed!
1 cup coconut milk: I like this brand.
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Salt to taste
Toppings: varied; see the end of the recipe for ideas!
Preparation
While this is technically a recipe, in reality, I rarely measure my ingredients when cooking and no dish I cook ever looks quite the same. That being said, when it comes to oatmeal, I do tend to follow a loose recipe.
Start by adding your oats and a 1:1 mix of creamy coconut milk and water to a small pot on medium heat. Once it starts bubbling, add a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Don’t skip the salt, it really enhances all the flavors and elevates everything to another level!
Once the pot comes to a simmer, give it a stir and lower heat to medium-low. Cover at a low simmer for about 10 minutes.
Once the oats have fully absorbed the liquids, move the pot off the heat.
Now comes the fun part: toppings! See some topping combo examples below!
Nutella, chopped hazelnuts, cinnamon, and brown sugar.
Mashed raspberries (fresh or frozen), chopped dark chocolate, hemp seeds, honey.
Blueberries(fresh or frozen), sliced almonds, maple syrup, almond butter.
Peanut butter, sliced banana, honey, flax seeds.
Mini chocolate chips, fresh sliced strawberries, cashew butter.
Pumpkin purée, cinnamon, freshly grated ginger, cardamom, pecans, maple syrup.
If you’d like to get even more creative, check out some additional variations below:
If you replace the water with steeped black tea, you can transform the dish into a masala chai-inspired oatmeal bowl. You’re welcome.
If you’d like to bulk it up, you can stir in some plain or vanilla-flavored protein powder.
While this is an oatmeal recipe, other neutral grains/meals work and can support the same flavor/topping combinations listed above! These include cauliflower rice, cooked quinoa, leftover rice, millet, and mashed sweet potato.
Best Practices:
As always:
Try to source lightly-packaged or package-free ingredients when possible! This may be difficult with the coconut milk and vanilla extract, but you can often find fresh, unpackaged fruits, as well as nuts, seeds, and oats in bulk!
Try to bring your own reusable bags when you go shopping for these ingredients, and choose grocery store chains that are engaged in their community.
These ingredients have been chosen with several things in mind:
The foundation of this recipe is oats, which are not only a pantry staple, but are shelf-stable and can be bought in bulk!
This recipe offers a multitude of variations, so this can be an opportunity to take an assessment of what you already have on hand and get creative! Use these topping combos as jumping-off points, and feel free to mix and match! #UseItUp!
Did you enjoy this recipe? Let us know! If you really loved it, share it on social media and tag us (@groundedgrub), or, better yet, share it with your friends and family!