Steel Cut Oats Recipe

Steel cut oats are whole grain oats that are known to maintain greater nutrition than rolled or instant oats. The oat grains are cut into two or three pieces by steel blades, which give them their name. As they are not processed as much as rolled oats, they are known to be slightly more nutritious than rolled oats. They are also a favored lot because when cooked, they attain a chewy texture that a lot of people enjoy. Steel cut oats take longer to cook because they are hard, and there are several ways of preparing these. Here, we discuss some interesting recipes that you can prepare and enjoy as a healthy breakfast.

Preparing Steel Cut Oats

There are various ways in which steel cut oats can be prepared. They can be soaked overnight and prepared in the morning in order to quicken the cooking process. Else, if cooked without soaking, they may take about 35 - 40 minutes to cook. Apart from these methods, they can be cooked in a slow cooker or crockpot for about 6 - 8 hours. Steel cut oats may be baked but will have to be cooked before they are popped in the oven. Given here are all these basic methods of preparation, along with ways in which you can make the meal further interesting. Take a look.

Basic Recipe
This is a basic recipe that takes about 40 minutes to cook with minimal preparation time. It makes around four servings.

Ingredients

Procedure

Steel Cut Oats, 1 cup Water, 2 cups Low-Fat Milk, 2 cups Unsalted Butter, 1 teaspoon (optional) Salt, 1/4 teaspoon Maple Syrup/Agave Syrup/Honey/Brown Sugar, to taste Dried Fruit (raisins, apricots, cranberries, dates - optional) Nuts (chopped almonds, pecans, walnuts - optional) Fresh fruit (of your choice - optional)

In large saucepan, on a high flame, mix the water and the milk and allow it to boil. Add in the oats while stirring constantly. Reduce the flame and cover the saucepan, allowing the oats to simmer for about fifteen minutes. Stir the oats every once in a while to prevent them from sticking to the base of the pan. Now add in the butter, salt, and the honey/maple syrup. Again, cover the pot and allow it to simmer for another fifteen minutes. Ensure you are stirring the oats every once in the while. Allow the oats to cook until they attain a thick, creamy texture. They are now ready to eat. Top with dried fruits, fresh fruits, or mix them in. These may be enjoyed cold or steaming hot.

Recipe Requiring Overnight Preparation
Overnight preparation for this recipe involves soaking the steel cut oats overnight so that they can cook quickly in the morning. Those of you who do not have the time to spare for the 40-minute preparation may follow this recipe for a quick breakfast. This recipe makes around six servings.

Ingredients

Procedure

Water, 3 cups Milk (Whole/Skimmed), 3 cups Steel Cut Oats, 1 1/2 cups Cranberries/Raisins, 1/4 cup, dried Almonds/Walnuts/Pecans, 1/4 cup, chopped Pure Maple Syrup/Honey

Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan, and add the oats to allow them to boil for a minute. Turn off the heat. Cover the saucepan and allow the steel cut oats to soak overnight. In the morning, on a high flame, bring the oats to a boil. Reduce the heat, and add in the milk. Allow the oats to simmer for about ten minutes. The oats will attain a creamy texture. They are now ready to eat. Put them in a bowl and top with nuts and dried fruits of your choice. You may also add pure maple syrup or honey for sweetness.

Crockpot Recipe
You may use this method of preparing steel cut oats if you wish to prepare it in large batches and freeze to enjoy through the week. In effect, all the aforementioned methods can also be used for this purpose. However, using this method to make a small batch may not be feasible. This recipe makes around 8 servings.

Ingredients	Procedure
Water, 8 cups Steel Cut Oats, 2 cups Vanilla Extract, 1 teaspoon Brown Sugar, 1/2 cup Cinnamon Powder, 1 teaspoon Raisins, 1 cup Apples, 2 nos. peeled and diced	Spray your crockpot with some cooking spray in order to prevent the oats from sticking to it. Pour in the water and add the steel cut oats. Also include the vanilla, brown sugar, raisins, cinnamon powder, and apples. Put the cooker on a slow setting, and allow it to cook for eight hours. The oats will be ready to enjoy when they have become chewy and creamy. Add toppings of your choice and enjoy.

Apart from the ingredients you can add to thes recipes mentioned here, there are many others that can be included. This includes fresh berries, fruits such as sliced apples, pears, peaches, and bananas, nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and pecans, dried fruits such as dates, apricots, cranberries, raisins, flavors such as cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, and any other essences you may wish to add. You may add flavored or unflavored whole, skimmed, or soy milk to make the oats creamier too. If not milk, you can add yogurt topped with some granola to make a yummy breakfast of steel cut oats!

How creative you wish to get with these recipes is up to you. The additions to these recipes not only enhance the nutrition, they also make it more appetizing. If you want to get someone to enjoy a bowl of steel cut oats try out these additions, present it well, and watch them gobble it down with pleasure! Try out these recipes and see how you feel. You are likely to feel more energetic and healthy. Enjoy!