Did you know that eating oats has many health benefits? These include lower blood sugar levels, weight loss, and a reduced risk of heart disease. Oats are one of the healthiest grains on Earth. However, not many people like eating this food because it may not offer a diverse way of preparing it. Here are a few ideas for making more varied bowls of daily oats.
How to Toast Oats
People have a strong preference for steel-cut oats. They have a chewy, nourishing texture that they prefer over the mush of rolled or instant oats any day. No matter the type of oats used, toasting them before adding any cooking liquid enhances their nutty and sweet flavor. Because they only need a couple of minutes to prepare, toasting them is a great option.
Simply melt a small portion of butter over medium heat in a saucepan, and once the foam settles down, stir in the oats. Stir to coat the oats in the butter, and then toast them, frequently stirring the pan for about five minutes or until fragrant and have a darker shade. Prevent burning by adjusting the temperature.
Adding Milk to the Recipe
Due to their starchy nature, oats are inherently quite creamy. Adding whole milk to the cooking liquid makes them even creamier. This method also contributes to a delectable, decadent richness with the consistency of rice pudding. A ratio of one part milk to three parts water is optimal. However, you can try it with only milk. Tea, broth, coffee, and even carrot juice, contribute to new flavor profiles. It’s a fun way to experiment.
Thicker or Thinner
For each portion of oats, you will need four parts of liquid for steel-cut oats and two parts for rolled oats. Once the liquid has reached a boil in the saucepan, reduce the heat to a moderate simmer and partially cover the pan. Cook them for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until tender and desired consistency. Rolled oats will cook for five to seven minutes. Keep in mind that you can always add more liquid to thin the oats or boil them for longer if you prefer them to be thicker.
The Sky Is the Limit!
Comparing oats to other soft, spoonable cooked grains like polenta or congee immediately reveals their savory potential and inspires various topping ideas beyond sugar and cinnamon. Consider soy sauce, scallions, boiled, fried, or poached eggs. You can also try spicy sauce or fresh chiles, cheese, kimchi, tomato sauce, roasted eggplant, tahini, and more. The sky is the limit!