Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats

Food
Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats
Intro
Oats: They’re not just for breakfast anymore. The humble oat brings to mind the comfort of porridge, morning muesli, health-conscious granola… and the not-so-healthy but oh-so-chewy and delicious oatmeal raisin cookie. But it doesn’t end there. Read on for a few classic ways to use the common cereal grain, along with some sweet, savoury and surprising recipes from around the world.

By Annie B. Shapero

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Food
Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats.
bread
Scottish Oat Bread – Oats are a notoriously resilient crop. They do well in a variety of climates, especially cool ones, which probably explains why they eat so much muesli and porridge in Northern Europe. Ground oat flour can also be used in breads, which is especially popular in Scotland. Oat bread is as easy as making any bread loaf, and has a great density to it, which makes it ideal for toasting – it will hold up to slicing and support all of your favourite toppings.

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Food
Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats.
oat milk
Homemade Oat Milk – Move over soy, almond and rice: oat milk is currently enjoying the spotlight when it comes to dairy alternatives. Its naturally creamy texture and high protein content make oat milk one of the most versatile, desirable milk substitutes out there, and the slightly nutty flavour also works well in coffee drinks and baking. On top of that, it’s easy to make. Simply blend water and oats, strain, strain again, chill and serve.

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Food
Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats.
cookies
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies – Nothing says ‘after-school snack’ quite like milk and cookies. For adults, this chewy, crispy combination equals comfort and nostalgia. The fact that these cookies are made with oats is a great way to convince yourself that they somehow fall into the healthy category. Oats are in fact, packed with protein, but most recipes are made with butter, sugar and even chocolate, so keep that in mind. For a healthier take on oatmeal cookies, try substituting butter for coconut oil, and eggs for applesauce, and sweeten with honey or maple syrup. Raisins are naturally sweet, which means you can usually use less sugar than called for.

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Food
Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats.
Musli
Bircher Müsli (Overnight Oats) – There’s regular Müsli (a raw mix of oats, nuts and fruits served in milk or milk substitutes, like breakfast cereal) and then there’s Bircher Müsli: this oat-based breakfast treat was invented around 1900 by a Swiss physician named Maximilian Bircher-Benner, who was looking for a wholesome and easy-to-eat meal for his patients. Also called ‘overnight oats’, Bircher Müsli is traditionally made by mixing dry oats, fresh or dried fruit, nuts and seeds, covering them in milk, honey and fruit juice, and leaving it all to soak overnight.

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Food
Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats.
Granola
Classic Granola – You’ve got a world of options when it comes to classic granola. It can be as sinful or health-conscious as you desire, packed with dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, seeds and sugar, or simply grains, seeds and nuts with a minimal amount of honey for balance. The key is to create crunchy little clusters that you can sprinkle on yogurt, ice cream, parfaits, or just snack on by handful. Recipes require just enough liquid to bind your ingredients. Then, spread the mixture on a pan lined with parchment paper and bake until crunchy. Once cooled, break apart your granola into large or small pieces and enjoy!

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Food
Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats.
Soup
Oatmeal And Vegetable Soup – Believe it or not, the quintessential Tuscan bean and vegetable soup can also be made with oats. Use them in the same way you would barley or farro, for extra texture and a nutty flavour. Another way to add oats to a hearty soup or stew is this Icelandic recipe using slow-roasted lamb and root vegetables. Add rice or oats at the end to turn this soup into a satisfying meal.

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Food
Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats.
Kheer
Kheer – A beloved and comforting Indian dessert goes by a number of different names, most often kheer or payasam. It’s a sort of rice or grain pudding softened with milk, seasoned with sugar, saffron and cardamom, and topped with nuts or dried fruit. It’s most commonly prepared with basmati rice, but you can substitute any number of cereal grains, including oats. Traditionally, it soaks or slow-cooks overnight for a rich flavour and super creamy texture. Feel free to add additional spices like cinnamon or even orange zest for extra zing.

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Food
Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats.
Champurrado
Champurrado(ats) – Just in time for the chilly holiday season, this thick and creamy chocolatey drink is a variation on the Mexican atol de elote, a corn flour or masa-based warm beverage seasoned with vanilla, cinnamon and ground anise seed. To make it, begin by simmering milk and Mexican cacao (in paste, bar or powder form) along with the seasonings you have chosen. Then whisk water with oats, in place of masa or corn flour, until it smooths out. Combine and slowly heat while stirring until you get a thick and creamy consistency. Serve it alone or alongside churros for breakfast, after dinner, or just to warm up on a cold winter night.

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Food
Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats.
Oat risotto
Oat Risotto – Just about any recipe that calls for rice, barley or farro can be executed with steel cut oats, which have a firmer texture and stay chewier longer, or al dente if you will. Risotto is a wonderful, warming dish that you can make in myriad flavour combinations. When substituting oats, treat them as you would raw rice: Begin by sautéeing your main ingredients. Stir in the oats for a few minutes, and then slowly add broth until you achieve a rich and creamy consistency. This recipe calls for fresh peas and pecorino (sheep) cheese, but you can just as easily make a meat- or seafood-based version.

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Food
Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats.
Shrimp
Shrimp and Grits – Another way to take advantage of the creamy and versatile oat is to use them in place of grits. Cleverly referred to as ‘groats’, prepare them simple and savoury with butter and cheese and serve alongside eggs, or use as the base for shrimp and grits, a classic dish from the southern US. In this recipe, steel cut oats are slow-cooked until creamy (about 20 minutes), and then swirled with butter and parmesan cheese. Cook shrimp separately in a skillet with garlic, lemon juice and olive oil. Portion out your cheesy oats and top with shrimp and a little parsley for a pop of colour and freshness.

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Food
Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats.
no bake bars
No-Bake Peanut Butter Oat Balls – For those who grew up in healthy households where junk food was verboten, the peanut butter oat ball was likely to make an appearance as a cookie stand-in. The recipes are innumerable and have evolved through the decades to include wheat germ, protein powder and various nut flours, but the classic begins and ends with peanut butter and oats. Add coconut, chocolate chips, honey or flaxseed. Anything goes, as long as you’re able to mix the ingredients and form into bite-sized balls. Chill in the fridge until compact, and enjoy!

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Food
Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats.
Savoury oats
Bacon Cheddar Savoury Oats – Recreate the warmth and comfort of a baked potato with savoury oats in place of the spuds. In this recipe, quick oats simmer away in bacon grease to really soak up the smoky flavour. Stir in some onions and cheese, and top with more chopped green onion or chives. A fried egg or two is encouraged, especially if you serve this for breakfast.

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Food
Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats.
Smoothie
Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Smoothie – Get your pumpkin pie and drink it, too! Pumpkin spice season gets longer every year. From lattes to marinades, the quintessential autumn spice blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves seems to be showing up everywhere. This easy and protein-packed smoothie includes oatmeal and yogurt for a quick breakfast on the go or an anytime pick-me-up.

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Rock The Oat: 13 Delicious Ways With Oats

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