With winter here and the cold winds (or snow!) gusting, some days all I want to do is curl up with a mug full of coffee and a good book. In fact, that is exactly what I’ve been doing this past week. My stereo shakes with the sounds of Christmas tunes and my oven stays warm from the countless batches of home-baked bread, granola, and roasted nuts.
Warm bowls of oatmeal start off my morning to fuel the rest of my day. The typical raisins with cinnamon toppings have made an appearance along with sliced bananas, toasted almonds, and coconut shavings. When in the mood for something more filling and savory, however, I turn to savory oatmeal. Savory oatmeal can transform creamy oatmeal into spicy, nutty dish with the help of certain vegetables and spices. It reminds me of southern-style grits without the grittiness.
~Savory Oatmeal has a variety of possibilities. Don't be shy in making your own creations!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup water (or broth)
- 1/4 cup cubed and roasted butternut squash or sweet potatoes
- 1/4 cup chopped spinach
- 1 teaspoon rosemary (or other spice of choice)
- 1 fried egg (optional)
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Boil water (or broth) with oats in a small saucepan, stirring occasionally until thick and creamy.
- Stir in chopped spinach while in saucepan.
- Take off heat and add squash, spices, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Top with fried egg, if desired, and serve warm.
Health Benefits of Oats:
Oats contain loads of vitamins and minerals to keep you full and energized throughout the day. They can lower cholesterol, burn fat, reduce risk of type 2 diabetes, regulate bowel movements, reduce blood pressure, reduce risks of cancer because of oat’s phytochemical, and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Thought-provoking, mind-prodding question of the day:
Have you tried savory oatmeal before? What are your favorite toppings and add-ins?
Yes! For about 25 years now, I have gone back and forth between eating oats for all three meals AND dessert. Breakfast, always for me anyway, needs protein, so I add in bacon, parmesan cheese, pieces of chicken. Whatever is available, really, also cooking the oats in broth for savory or juice for sweet. For brkfst, i love orange jucie and dried cranberries. No sugar needed. For dessert I love to slice a banana and drop in 2-3 Dove dark chocolates.
I’ve recently tried savory oats… soaked them for 36 hours on the counter with a bit of apple cider vinegar… then I caramelized a few onions… added the oats and some curry powder and salt. Very tasty indeed.
I did try savory oatmeal once–very similar to your recipe here. But I have to be honest, I’m just too used to oats being less savory. Mine always has fruit, cinnamon and nut butter. And I missed it too much the time I went savory, so I’ve never tried it again. It does LOOK good!
YAY! I sometimes enjoy having savory oats for breakfast and my whole family looks at me as if I’m from another planet. Glad to see I’m not alone! 🙂
I love savoury oats! Sometimes I add garam masala or some curry mix, along with pureed pumpkin or sweet potato. I also have poached egg with my oatmeal sometimes. This is so good, I love it!
A friend turned me on to savoury oatmeal a few years ago. I had no idea it was becoming a foodie thing, but it stick with me anyway because as much as I love my sweets, I generally dislike sweet things for breakfast. I tend to eat mine with pan-fried crispy tofu, scallions, toasted sesame oil, tamari sauce, and Sriratcha. Lately, though, I’ve been eating it with a poached egg and grated white cheddar. I always use steel-cut oats. I’ll also eat savoury oatmeal for any meal of the day!
I boil the oats in a Bangladeshi watery daal (soup of lentils) and I add in boiled vegetables like gourd.I love to have my oatmeal with an Bangladeshi egg omelette (beaten egg fried with tomatoes, onions and chillis). I am craving for it right now.