Oatmeal doesn't necessarily have to be sweet, nor does it have to be a breakfast meal. Oats are easy, affordable, and work well for any time of the day. You're Welcome!
Summary
If you're anything like us, you probably have a bag of oats lying in the back of your pantry. As much as we love oatmeal for breakfast or baked goods chock full of oats, there are only so many times in a week you can handle them before they start to become, shall we say, one-dimensional?
Cooked with broth instead of water, and topped with earthy mushrooms, this is a cheap and easy way to make use of a pantry staple. Savory oats work beautifully for any meal of the day.
You can feed them to smaller children which means less time spent in the kitchen making separate meals for picky toddlers, more time spent on the couch, cuz lets be honest, life is exhausting enough right now. No need to complicate things further. Plus, they are way more exciting than oatmeal.
Ingredients
1 cup steel-cut oats
2 1/2 cups bone, veggie or chicken broth
1 cup sliced mushrooms ( shiitake or oyster would be great, but any will do fine)
2-3 cloves of garlic
1 tbs butter
1/2 cup grated cauliflower or cauliflower rice (optional)
2 scallions ( for garnish)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1 egg per person (poached or fried works best)
salt and pepper to taste
* During these times, it is okay to get creative and use whatever veggies you have on hand. We are by no means saying you must go to the grocery store and buy these specific items.
Recipe
1: Start by cooking your oats in the broth in a medium-sized pot. Follow instructions on the package. Add cauliflower halfway through the cooking process.
2: When your oats are nearly done, add butter to a separate medium-sized pan, and saute mushrooms with thyme, garlic and black pepper; typically about 3-5 min.
**Wait until the end to salt mushrooms, or they will release too much liquid and make your oats mushy.
3: As mushrooms are cooling, chop your scallions for garnishing.
4: Fry or poach your egg. One per person is recommended for this dish.
5: When your oats are done, add your Parmesan cheese to the pot of oats, and turn off the heat.
6: Assemble oats in a bowl, top with mushrooms, egg, scallions, and salt and pepper to taste.
Pro Tip: When poaching egg, add a tiny bit of white vinegar to your simmering water. Poach for 2-3 min. Remove with a slotted spoon.
The Leftovers
The leftover oats will hold in the fridge for a few days, sans egg. This dish can be repeated, or you can use the oats as a base and top with whatever fresh veggies you have on hand.
Savory oats are easy to put together, healthy, filling and absolutely delicious. They will leave you feeling full for hours -- not like gross full; like pleasant full. Ya know? So enjoy them any time of day, and don't forget to get creative.