[The Oatmeal Project, Day 3: Sliced Fresh Bananas and Toasted Walnuts]
There are more than a few ways to cook steel cut oats, but we’re just getting started, so we’re going with the old-fashioned way of cooking them in a pot on the stove top. We’ve decided to stick with just cooking the oats in water, so that our bowl of oatmeal will be a fresh canvas for flavor variations everyday. At least for now. We’re pretty sure at some point later this month we’re going to break out the chicken stock.
We did a little research on other food, recipe and discussion sites, read the “Cooking Instructions” on the backs of some packages of steel cut oats, then experimented in the TasteSpotting Kitchen. After a week of doing nothing but cooking steel cut oats, we have have found that for stovetop cooking, these “ingredients” in this ratio works best for us because we prefer the a “bumpy texture” to our oats over something creamy and more porridge-like.
It takes about 20 minutes, and it’s active time because you have to watch the pot (don’t worry, it’s not meant to boil ;) ) and stir pretty frequently. It sounds tedious, and 20 minutes in the morning can be the difference between the light early commute and two angry hours on the freeway, but trust us. In the grand scheme of things you’ll be better off having started the day with a slow, deep breath.
And a bowl of oats.
How to Cook Perfect Steel Cut Oats on the Stovetop
Ingredients
1 part steel cut oats
3 parts water
pinch of salt for each part steel cut oats
Directions
Put oats, water and salt in a pot that will leave at least 2 or 3 inches of room at the top (so the oats don’t boil over. Bring to a boil over medium high-heat. Turn heat down to low, then simmer the oats for 20 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
Today, we topped our bowl with sliced fresh bananas and toasted walnuts.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
what a great idea! I hope that you have some great ideas about how to make oatmeal interesting. i have been eating oatmeal everydayyyyy for breakfast for the last 2 years. tomorrow i am planning on trying something new! i love my oats but i can’t think of any interesting new combinations, good luck i can’t wait to see what you come up with :)
Ah yes, it’s another 20 minutes in the a.m., but if you’re going the traditional route of cooking them stovetop on demand, before you’ve experimented with other methods, remember that steel cut oats keep in the fridge so beautifully. Make a huge batch so that you have leftovers. I promise they are not gummy and glue-like the way regular or quick oats can be. Steel Cuts are the Iron Men of the oat world. Although I’ve never actually read or seen Iron Men. I’m just ‘sayin. They are champions.
Or put those dry oats in the pan over medium heat until you smell them toasting. Then add the water and salt and finish cooking. Toasting gives them a little more depth of flavor.
This week I tried making stovetop-overnight steel-cut oatmeal. (Boil water, add oats, boil 1min; cover & leave out overnight; in the morning, bring back to boil & cook 5-10 min.) The 3/4 cup of steel-cut oats that I had from an earlier brief infatuation a year or more ago made enough oatmeal for most of a week. And yes, they do reheat nicely after being kept in the fridge. I was very happy with the results, enough so that I bought more and will do it again next week.
lovely recipe..thanks for sharing healthy tips !
BLT Wraps!
Crap. Wrong post.
In a begrudging attempt to eat less white rice, which I grew up on and love dearly, I started subbing in steel cut oats. I just make a big batch and keep it in the fridge, then take out what I need when I need it. I must admit, though still begrudgingly, that it’s not at all bad in savory dishes — in all kinds of soups, or mixed with kochujang/sesame oil/minced tuna or other protein. Kind of like bibimbap.
Everyone talks about adding things exterior to the oatmeal. I say start from within. Instead of water, try tea or flavored bottled water. The integral taste is sublime. For special days, it’s sparkling water. For the fall, try apple juice or cider. I don’t drink coffee but oatmeal mocha may be a treat.
Mary – those are wonderful ideas! I’m going to give a few of those suggestions a try!
I followed this but mixed in cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar mixed with blueberries, sliced strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries. It was time consuming but I have no complaints bc it is gratifying to know I took the time to consider the health not only of myself, but of my mother, father and aunt. I refridgetated it and it will be my breakfast after my morning run :). I wish health and happy days to you.
I did take a taste before putting it away and mmmhm, goodluck!
HI EVERY ONE, JUST GOT DONE LOOKING OVER EVERY ONES STATEMENTS AND IT WAS GREAT, THIS WILL BE MY FRIST TIMES TRYING STEEL CUT OATS, I AM DOING IT FOR MY HEALTH…AND I AM TRYING TO LOSS WEIGHT.I AM LOOKING FOR WARD TO TRYING THIS. WITH CINN, VANIL, APPLES, AND RASINES
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