Bored of the same breakfast? Do you want to take oatmeal to the next level? Or maybe learn how to make oatmeal and what foods it goes well with? There are many ways to consume oats. You can use oats to prepare savory or sweet dishes. This article focuses on the sweet version of it, ideal for breakfast and as comfort food.
Basic Oatmeal
To make basic oatmeal you need oats and water. If you want thicker oatmeal, then use less water (just enough to cover the oats). For more liquid oatmeal, use more water. The quantities I typically use for 1 serving are 50 g oats and 300 ml water. Bring the oats and water to a boil, then let it simmer on medium-low heat. Stir frequently. The oatmeal is ready when the oats have absorbed most water.
Oatmeal Cupcakes
Delicious as breakfast, snack or dessert, oatmeal cupcakes are perfect for batch cooking. Store in the fridge and enjoy them to your liking. Click here to get the recipe for oatmeal cupcakes.
Oatmeal cupcakes also help with weight loss as they are so filling and satisfying. You don’t need a lot to curb cravings or hunger. As a bonus, you can make them ahead of time and have them as breakfast when you are busy.
Oatmeal for Busy People
If you’re busy or you’re not a fan of cooking, especially in the morning, then there’s a simpler way to make oatmeal. Soak the oats overnight in water (quantities are the same as with the basic oatmeal or to taste). Store in the fridge. Of course, you can soak the oats in milk or yogurt. Then add your favorite ingredients when ready to enjoy it. One more thing: you can cook basic oatmeal the night before and have that for breakfast. It tastes great.
Best Foods and Ingredients for Oatmeal
Now for the food combination part. The step you take to propel your oatmeal to another level, both in terms of taste and nutrition. There are a few food categories that go very well with oats:
Fruits (fresh or frozen)
- blueberries
- strawberries
- bananas
- apples
- pears
- cherries
- peaches
- apricots
- plums
- pineapple
- kiwi
- grapes
You can add the fruits while cooking the oatmeal to either defrost them or deactivate some enzymes that might make you bloated. Use pineapple and kiwi with caution in the presence of dairy. These are slightly acidic (especially pineapple).
Nuts
- walnuts
- almonds
- cashews
- pistachios
- peanuts
Feel free to use nut butter instead for a creamier texture.
Seeds
- chia
- sesame
- flax
- hemp
- pumpkin
- sunflower
Sprinkle on top or add while cooking. Chia seeds should be mixed with water first. You can read more on this in an answer I gave to the question Do you soak chia seeds before adding them to a smoothie?.
Dairy/Vegan dairy
- rice milk
- almond milk
- coconut milk
- oat milk
- cow’s milk
- yogurt
I prefer making my oatmeal with water and bananas or berries. If you are a fan of dairy, go ahead and use that instead of water or use part water, part dairy. From my experience, it takes longer to make oatmeal with milk but if you don’t make the basic oatmeal, you’ll never tell it takes longer :).
Extras
- dehydrated fruits (dates, apricots, raisins, cranberries)
- honey
- coconut flakes
- cinnamon
- egg whites (use them as you finish cooking the oatmeal to add smoothness and more protein to your breakfast)
- lemon juice
If you’ve never had oatmeal, I encourage you to have it at least once. Use the ingredients you enjoy to make your own comfort breakfast. One of my favorite combinations is oats, water, banana, honey, cinnamon. Share your favorite oatmeal combinations in the comments.
