Cooking oatmeal with just a bit of salt and water can often taste bland, although that is hands down the best way to eat it. The moment you start pumping in butter, brown sugar, and heavy cream, the only thatll be singing is your taste buds. Now because Im always on the hunt for the most flavorful dishes, Ive been experimenting with how to make oatmeal really tasty without all the extra ingredients. My first test went really well when I make this Blueberry and Almond Oatmeal Bowl Recipe with Almond Milk, Fresh Fruit and Seeds. Sure there is some natural sugar in blueberries and almond milk, but it is plenty to get the flavor juices working. Sticking with that same method of cooking where I add all of the flavor throughout the cooking process, I decided to make this Coconut Almond Steel Cut Oats with Papaya and Pepitas.
Since dairy can lead to acid reflux as well, almond milk is always a fantastic alternative. I found a great toasted coconut-almond milk blend that I used to cook the oats in. Regardless if regular cows milk gives you acid reflux or not, cooking oats in any milk will result in extremely flavorful and creamy oats. Honestly its the only way I cook oatmeal nowadays. Along with cooking the oats in that coconut-almond combo, I added in a bit of vanilla and a wee bit of honey. At the very least, if you want some sweetness in your oats, stick with something natural such as honey, molasses, or agave. Bobs Red Mill Steel Cut Oats are literally the best: theyve even won an award for the best oatmeal. They are nutrient packed, loaded with fiber, and are so tender after being cooked you wont be able to stop eating them. Note that steel cut oats always take a bit longer than regular rolled oats, because you need them to open up. Steel cut oats have less fat, less calories, less carbs, less processing, and more protein than regular rolled oats. The benefits are ridiculously abundant and make for the perfect start to your day.
One of the things Ive been obsessed with lately is accessorizing oatmeal. Much like my blueberry-almond oatmeal, I loaded it up with fruit and seeds, and the same went for this Coconut Almond Steel Cut Oats with Papaya and Pepitas. I figured dates would help add a little natural sweetness to this dish, so I cooked them up in some coconut oil. Along with the dates I added in some papaya, dragon fruit, toasted coconut, and salted roasted pepitas. This step in the process is always optional just because of availability of fresh fruit, so be sure to find whats available or whats on sale. Happy oatmeal cooking everyone!
Hello, Im Billy Parisi, but to some Im known as Chef Billy Parisi. I do a little bit of this and a little bit of that, but for the most part Im aFood & Content Creator, Sometimes TV Host, Digital and Social Strategist, Influencer, Picture Taker, Coffee Drinker, Daddy, Husband, College Sports Enthusiast, Fashionisto, Film & MusicLover!
Ive been in the kitchen since I started washing dishes in a restaurant at the age of 13, and during that time I knew immediately that I wanted to be a chef. I graduated from Arizonas Scottsdale Culinary Institute and the University of Missouri, and have logged several years as line cook, souschef, and executive in some of the Midwests finest restaurants. I currently live in the city of Chicago with my wife Lindsay and daughter Olivia and cook up new inventions, mash-ups, fusions, and twists on old classics. Im incredibly spontaneous and outgoing, and run two small businesses, BPMVC and my latest venture, 5 Loaves 2 Fish!
