Steel Cut Oats

Steel Cut Oats (in-an-instant!)

Makes 2-3 servings

Steel cut oats are incredibly nutritious, and make the most satisfying cereal. But, they take some time to cook, and we need quicker fixes in the morning. The trick to making these oats quickly is to first grind the oats in a blender. The oats then cook up more like a porridge, similar to the “cream of wheat” I remember from childhood, and cook in a mere five minutes! Now, you can have your morning steel cut oats… in, well, almost an instant. Since children can sometimes be fussy about the texture of whole grains, you may find they love this oatmeal when they might be fussy about the whole steel cut oats.

3/4 cup ground steel cut oats (see note)
2 cups water (see note)
Pinch salt
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (to taste)
Few pinches freshly grated nutmeg (if desired)
4-6 tablespoon non-dairy milk for serving (plus more for serving if desired, see note)

In a saucepan, combine oats, water, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg over medium heat. Whisk almost continuously, while mixture starts to come to a low boil. Reduce heat to medium-low as it is thickening and starting to bubble. Once thickened, add non-dairy milk and stir in (use a large spoon at this stage as whisking will be difficult). Serve oatmeal immediately, topping with another drizzle of non-dairy milk (as oatmeal with thicken more as it sits), and adding chopped fresh fruit, nuts, dried fruit, and/or a sprinkle of unrefined sugar or drizzle of maple syrup if desired.

Notes:
1. Place steel cut oats in a blender and pulse/puree until you have a flour-like consistency. I usually do this in batches of about 2-3 cups, and store the extra ‘flour’ in a container for quick use in cookies and this porridge. After blending and you have a ‘flour’, measure out the 3/4 cup needed for this recipe.
2. Try substituting organic apple cider (juice, that is, not vinegar!) for the water – a naturally sweet and delicious switch-up!
3. If using a vanilla nondairy milk, it will add extra sweetness and a light vanilla flavor to this oatmeal. Feel free to sweeten more to taste with a sprinkling of unrefined sugar (coconut sugar is especially nice!), or a drizzle of pure maple syrup.

Per serving:

• Calories: 111
• Fat: 2.1 g
• Saturated Fat: .4 g
• Calories from Fat: 16.1
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Protein: 4.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 19 g
• Sugar: 1.1 g
• Fiber: 3.1 g
• Sodium: 144 mg
• Calcium: 61 mg
• Iron: 1.4 mg
• Vitamin C: 0.1 mg
• Beta Carotene: 1 mcg
• Vitamin E: 0.5 mg

Recipe from Let Them Eat Vegan by Dreena Burton of www.plantpoweredkitchen.com.