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If you’re ever in doubt, try oatmeal recipes; you’ll definitely fall in love with them. Oatmeal is just another word for a big bowl of comfort, and it couldn’t be easier to make. Mix some water or milk with oats and you’ve got yourself a hearty meal for any time of the day.
What Are Oatmeal Recipes?
Oatmeal Recipes are made from oats that have been cooked in liquid to form a creamy porridge. Oats are gluten-free whole grains, commonly eaten for breakfast as oatmeal. They are even referred to as porridge.
Not to forget, oats are one of the healthiest breakfast picks. People eat their oats as a whole (oat groats), rolled, or even crushed. Some of the most popular oatmeal recipes are commonly topped with an array of sweeteners and ingredients that provide textural contrasts. Some of these include honey, nuts, fruit, and coconut oil.
Why Is Oatmeal Good For Weight Loss?
Oatmeal has numerous health advantages, including decreased blood sugar levels, weight loss and a lower risk of heart disease. Oats are also capable of reducing bad cholesterol levels.
In general, oats are a complex carbohydrate packed with beneficial fiber. Complex carbs take longer to digest than simple carbs, meaning they keep you full for longer.
The high fiber content of this whole grain can help lower cholesterol, manage blood sugar, keep the digestive tract healthy and even aid with weight loss. “Oats are also a great source of plant-based protein and iron.
Depending on what you add to it, oatmeal recipes may support weight loss. Still, no single oatmeal topping can promote weight loss on its own. Instead, focus on low-calorie swaps if you’re trying to lose weight, as eating fewer calories than you burn may lead to weight loss.
Here are some ideas for swapping oatmeal toppings to help with weight loss:
- Substitute a fruit that is lower in calories and carbs for one that’s higher in these nutrients, such as blueberries instead of bananas.
- Use fruit or spices like cinnamon in place of refined sweeteners like brown sugar.
- Add plain, sliced nuts or seeds in lieu of sweet, crunchy toppings like candied nuts or chocolate chips.
- Choose unsweetened varieties of plant-based milk, or skim or low-fat cow’s milk.
- Consider making savory oatmeal with non-starchy vegetables instead of high-calorie toppings.
In addition, be sure to add a protein source like Greek yogurt, egg whites or eggs, or nuts or nut butter. Protein helps you feel full and prevents overeating, which in turn may promote weight loss. Low-calorie toppings and protein-rich foods are good additions to oatmeal if you’re trying to lose weight.
There are three types of oats, rolled and instant oat. Start with the same first step. Oats come from whole groats, and then the outer hull is removed. The outer hull, also known as the shell, helps protect the seeds. This leaves the bran, germ and endosperm, which are the nutritious parts of the groat.
What Is the Healthiest Way To Eat Oatmeal
One of the world’s healthiest grains is oats. They include significant amounts of essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants and are gluten-free whole grains. Oats can be processed into different ways/products.
Plain oatmeal is very nutritious but tastes bland without toppings.
Although countless toppings are available, many oatmeals served in restaurants or sold in stores are high in sugar. To keep your sugar intake under control, you can simply make it at home.
Sweet toppings
To sweeten your oatmeal recipes without going overboard on refined sugar, try these additions:
- Fresh fruit: berries, bananas, apples, peaches, mango, or pears
- Spices: cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or nutmeg
- Natural sweeteners: a dash of maple syrup or honey
- Unsweetened or lightly sweetened chocolate: shaved dark chocolate (with a cocoa content of 70% or more)
- Nuts, seeds, and nut or seed butters, almonds, cashews, walnuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds, or chia seeds
- Milk of your choice: cow’s milk or unsweetened almond milk (to use as the cooking liquid)
- Toppings to mimic carrot cake: shredded carrots, cinnamon, vanilla extract, coconut flakes, and walnuts or pecans.
- Toppings to mimic pie: spices, vanilla extract, and puréed sweet potato, pumpkin, or butternut squash.
Savory toppings
- You can flavor oatmeal with savory toppings, such as:
- Chopped spinach or kale
- Sautéed mushrooms and garlic.
- Shredded cheese, such as cheddar or feta
- A fried or poached egg.
Some Oatmeal Recipes You Will Love
You can boost oatmeal’s flavor by adding your own topping, without the need for excess sugar. Try fruit and spices to make it sweet or veggies and cheese to make your oatmeal recipes savory.
Pulao
Wondering if this a part of the oatmeal recipes too? Oh yeah! This dish is an inexpensive lunch of rice, vegetables, and spices but hearty and sustaining. Simply swap out the rice in this dish with oats, and you’ll have a filling, robust meal that tastes great too.
DIRECTION: Blend the coconut, ginger, garlic, coconut, ½ an onion, and coriander in a blender to create a paste-like consistency. Put aside. In some olive oil, fry the onions. Add the cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom as well. Add the red chili powder once the onions have fully browned, and cook for an additional 30-45 seconds. Add the shallots and oats at this time. Water should be applied to it. Cook on low heat while keeping covered. It might take five minutes or so. To hasten the process, continue to sprinkle water often. Do not, however, add too much water, since this will destroy the pulao. Transfer it to a large mixing bowl once it’s finished cooking, then season with salt and the masala that has been mixed.
Oats Khichdi
This is one of the oatmeal recipes that is the most well-liked one-pot dish is khichdi, which is frequently relished when we want to nourish our bodies properly. Even though this dish is already regarded as nutritious, it is possible to make it even healthier. This oats khichdi includes dal and veggies, both of which are healthy.
DIRECTION: Heat the cumin seeds in oil in a pressure cooker while it’s heating up. Ginger and green chilies are then added and the onion is cooked until transparent, only a few more seconds. Tomatoes are then added after the red and turmeric chilli powders. Sauté them until they are soft. Combine the oats with the moong dal that has been washed and all the vegetables. For some time, sauté. Adjust the salt and then add water. Cook for 8 minutes in a pressure cooker. Open the lid after the pressure has subsided. With yogurt and coriander or green chilies chopped into the dish, serve hot.
Oats Roti
With this oats roti, you can replace the homemade atta roti with a healthy option. These rotis are already wonderful because they are filled with oats, onions, and coriander leaves. Your choice of dal or sabzi will go well with this nutritious roti.
DIRECTION: Oats roti preparation is easy. All you have to do is combine flour and water, knead the dough, let it rest, and then use it to make rotis. Simply mix equal portions of atta and oats flour to make oats roti, then knead dough as usual with water and a little salt.
Oats Curry
It takes just 20 minutes, you can make this masala gravy that is creamy and flavorful. You may make a delicious curry with oats, vegetables, seasoning, and yoghurt that you can eat for lunch with rotis. A hot tadka is also included with this oats curry.
DIRECTION: Boil oats until they are tender. Until then, finely cut any other vegetable you like, including onions, cucumbers, carrots, and tomatoes. Put the oats in a bowl once they are done. Mix thoroughly after adding the veggies and curd. Add seasonings like salt, pepper, and red chili powder. Add them collectively. Heat some oil in a small pan and then add the mustard seeds, curry leaves, urad dal, and one dry red chili. Pour this into the bowl of oats as soon as it begins to sputter. Combine, then take pleasure in!
Oats Manchurian
Oats give this traditional Indian Chinese stew a nutritious edge. The Manchurians in this hot gravy are made of vegetables and wholesome ingredients like oat flour. The fact that the Manchurians are baked rather than fried is another fantastic aspect of this oatmeal recipe.
DIRECTION: Add the seasonings to a bowl with the vegetables, oat flour, and a little amount of rice flour. Use this batter to form tiny bowls. (Keep in mind that the batter needs to be smooth and pliable enough for the balls to stay together during baking or roasting.) Place these balls on a baking sheet or an idli/appe pan, bake for 5 to 6 minutes, then rotate the pan until golden brown. Then, add all of the chopped vegetables to a pan with a little oil still warm, along with the ginger and garlic paste, and sauté for a while. Salt and pepper are then added, and after 2-3 minutes, everything is thoroughly cooked. Finally, stir in the baked Manchurian balls.
Here are some foods to pair with your oatmeal recipes to bolster its protein or fat content:
- Some spoonfuls of nut butter, nuts, or seeds.
- A scoop of protein powder.
- Beaten egg whites (mixed into oatmeal while cooking) or a fried egg on top.
- Shredded cheese.
- Greek yogurt.
Adding nutritious toppings to your oatmeal recipes can boost its flavor and contribute to its health benefits. Try adding fruit for sweetness, veggies or eggs for a savory twist, or sources of protein and fat to make it a balanced meal.
Simultaneously, it’s best to steer clear of high sugar toppings like brown sugar, white sugar, candied nuts, and sweetened fruits when making your oatmeal recipes.
