If you are looking for a hearty and healthy breakfast, and you don't mind eating things with a sticky/gummy texture, I highly recommend starting your day off with steel cut oatmeal. "But Salmonista," you say, "I don't have 30 minutes to stand over the stove in the morning, stirring a bubbling pot of porridge." Never fear - your solution is here!
(Full disclosure: this recipe is based on my memory of a Cook's Illustrated article. I take no credit for its discovery.)
Overnight Steel-Cut Oats
- 1 cup steel cut oats (these are different than rolled oats! Make sure you buy the right kind)
- 3 cups water
- A little salt
Just before you're ready to go to bed, combine all the ingredients in a medium saucepan and heat until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat and stir. Cover the pot with a lid and let sit overnight while you drift off to dreamland on an imaginary pillow of fluffy oats.
The next morning
Add 1 cup of liquid of your choice (water, milk, almond milk) to the pot and heat on a little above medium for about 8 minutes, stirring often, until the mixture looks like the consistency of tasty oatmeal.
Add toppings and enjoy!
I find that one batch makes about 4 or 5 Salmonista-sized servings. Your portion size may vary. It keeps great in the fridge. You can whip this up on Monday and eat it for breakfast all week! When you heat up a bowlful in the microwave, I recommend adding a little bit of liquid so it doesn't get too dry.
Topping ideas:
- Dried fruit
- Chopped nuts
- Peanut butter
- Chocolate chips
- Brown sugar
- Maple syrup
And there you have it!
