For a couple months now I’ve been on a crazy oatmeal kick. Every morning we wake up, put a pot of these steel cut oats on the stove, and top them with all the toppings! Because I’ve been enjoying them so much, I thought I would share them on Dining With De Lara. They take about 15 minutes make, are a hearty breakfast, store well if you make too much, and the possibilities of what to put on them are endless.
Haven’t heard of steel cut oats before? No problem! They are essentially the same as rolled oats, simply less processed. Steel cut oats are oat groats that have been cut into two or three pieces and are so small, they resemble “pinheads”. Rolled oats are also oat groats, but they have been steamed and rolled out for a faster cooking time. I steel cut oats aren’t your thing, or you can’t find them, you can replace them with regular rolled oats. Just keep a close eye on them while they cook, as they will most likely need less time to cook.
I love to pair these steel cut oats with fresh fruit, but now that it is winter my go-to has been frozen berries. Especially frozen blackberries. I also like to top mine with chia seeds (hemp hearts and flax seeds are favorites too), a drizzle of honey, and some almond milk. Yum!
Other amazing things to top your oats with could be:
- Your favorite milk (mine is almond milk)
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Chopped nuts
- Cinnamon and Nutmeg
- Seasonal fruit like apples or pomegrantes
- My Cinnamon and nutmeg baked apples
There is just something so comforting about curling up with a big pot of warm oatmeal and fruit in the morning, that really makes me happy. My toddler like to eat them with me and now that he can wield a spoon on his own, he has become quite the little expert at picking out all of the berries for himself. And I let him, because it’s the cutest.
- 1 cup dry, steel cut oats
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 3 cups water
- 1½ cup fresh or frozen blackberries
- Optional Toppings:
- chia seeds
- coconut chips
- fresh blackberries
- honey
- almond milk
- In a small sauce pan on the stove, combine all of the ingredients.
- Heat the mixture over a medium-low heat and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir frequently to ensure the bottom of the oats don't burn. Simmer for about 20 - 25 minutes or until most of the water as been absorbed and the mixture has become quite thick. The oats should be soft, and have a bite and texture similar to rice.
- Divide the steel cut oats into two bowls and top with the chia seeds, coconut chips, and fresh berries, or your favorite toppings!