Strawberries and Cream Oatmeal
Looking for a way to freshen up your oatmeal routine for the spring? Look no further than Strawberries and Cream Oatmeal. This oatmeal is taken up a few notches with fresh strawberries, lemon zest, and vegan yogurt.
I eat a lot of oatmeal in the winter. It’s one of the best ways to start the day, in my opinion. It’s incredibly filling and satisfying. And it can be made in under 5 minutes…30 minutes if you go for steel cut oats. Once spring hits, I’m not quite ready to give up my morning oatmeal, but I feel like I definitely need to freshen up the dish for spring. This lead to the creation of my Strawberries and Cream oatmeal!
OATMEAL
I feel the power of oatmeal is often underestimated. Oatmeal is AMAZING! Amongst many benefits, oatmeal helps promote healthy bacteria in the digestive tract. It can help manage your weight, improve your cholesterol levels, and is chock full of vitamins and minerals. Plus it’s super cheap!
There are different options for oatmeal available, so you can choose which one works best for you.
To name a few:
- QUICK OATS: the fastest version of oats that you simply add hot water to. Although this is the fastest method, they are a bit soggier and softer than other options. They also do not offer nearly as many health benefits as steel cut oats. But in a pinch I am definitely not above using this option!
- OLD FASHIONED OATS AKA ROLLED OATS: I would consider these the next step up from quick oats. They take about 10 minutes to cook. But have a much more desirable texture than quick oats and offer a bit more nutrients.
- STEEL CUT OATS: These babies take the most amount of time to prepare. However, if you have the time they are definitely worth it! They are higher in nutrients than the previously mentioned oats, they will keep you full for longer, AND their texture is much better. Steel cut oats take about 25-30 minutes to prepare. Fortunately, you can prepare them in larger batches, store them in your fridge, and quickly reheat them. So if you have the time, SAY YES TO STEEL CUT OATS!
CINNAMON YOGURT
As mentioned in other posts, vegan yogurt has been really hitting the spot for me lately. It’s refreshing and offers health benefits such as healthy bacteria that promotes good gut health. But of course I love to take my yogurt up a few notches and add a couple more ingredients to it for good measure. In this case I added lemon juice and zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
STRAWBERRIES
For the recipe I went with strawberries. But sky is the limit with adding any fruit of your choosing.
Strawberries and Cream Oatmeal
Ingredients
- cup Strawberries
- 1/2 cup Steel Cut Oats Steel Cut Oats are best, but other options can be substituted
- pinch of salt
- 2 cups water Can use more or less water depending on desired consistency. Use part water and part oat milk for creamier texture.
- zest of half a lemon
Vegan Cinnamon Yogurt
- 1/4 cup Vegan Yogurt
- 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla
- juice of half a lemon
Instructions
STEEL CUT OATMEAL
- Add water (or oat milk), steel cut oatmeal, and pinch of salt to sauce pan
- Bring to a boil and then reduce to medium-low heat to simmer for 20-30 minutes, depending on desired texture. Stir occasionally to ensure oats do not stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Pour into a bowl and top with lemon zest.
- You can add extra flavor to your oats by adding cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract.
VEGAN CINNAMON YOGURT
- Combine all ingredients for the cinnamon yogurt
- Stir until evenly combined
STRAWBERRIES
- Wash and slice strawberries
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
- Place oatmeal in a bowl and top with lemon zest
- Top oatmeal with yogurt and strawberries
