An Ode to Oats

      Picture Courtesy: Veg Recipes of India

What can be better than a bowl of delicious oats to drive away the Monday blues? Oats are one of those versatile ingredients that can be used for a variety of recipes and lucky for us, their nutritional value is just as amazing as their taste. They are a great source of carbs and fiber, and they contain more protein and healthy fats than most grains. If that’s not enough, they’re also loaded with important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant plant compounds.

It’s safe to say that oats are one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can eat. But it’s important to know what kind of oats you’re eating with all those different varieties available out there. A packet of instant oats, which are heavily processed to make them easy-to-cook, have very little nutritional value. But don’t worry, we’ve made sure that you get your healthy fix with our mouth-watering oats recipes listed below, using the right type of oats for your diet. Read on to try out the recipes –
 
1. Oats Idli



Idli is a staple South Indian food item known for its healthy nature. We’re taking it to another level with our oats idli recipe. It makes for an excellent breakfast dish, and can be served with a variety of chutneys and sides. The goodness of steel-cut oats in this Indian breakfast recipe will ensure that you have nutritious start to the day! Steel-cut oats are the closest to their original grain form with minimal processing, making them extremely healthy. Follow the steps below to enjoy the healthy grain in a delicious way –

Ingredients

For Idli:

• 1 ½ cup Healthy Alternatives – Steel Cut Oats
• ¾ cup coarse semolina
• 1 cup curd
• 1 carrot (peeled and grated)
• Salt to taste
• ½ tsp. cooking soda

For Tadka:

• ½ tsp. mustard seeds
• 1 tsp. split black gram dal
• ¼ tsp Healthy Alternatives – Natural Asafetida (Hing)
• 2 green chilies (finely chopped)
• 1 sprig of curry leaves.
• 1 tbsp. coriander leaves (finely chopped)
• 2 tsp. Healthy Alternatives – Pure Olive Oil

Instructions

1. Dry roast the oats for 4 minutes and then grind it to a fine powder. Add some salt to taste to the ground roasted oats powder and mix it with curd. Add just enough water to make a thick dosa batter.
2. Grease the idli plates. Add the cooking soda to the idli batter and mix well. Pour a ladle full of batter in each greased depression of the idli plates. Steam the idlis for 13-15 minutes. Let it sit for some time after the batter is cooked through.
3. In a heavy bottomed vessel, heat the olive oil. Add mustard seeds and as they begin to splutter, add the black gram dal and let the dal turn red. Add chopped green chilies, curry leaves and asafetida (hing) and sauté for a few seconds.
4. Add the grated carrot and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the coarse semolina and sauté for 4 minutes again. Add the coriander leaves and turn off heat. Let it cool.
5. Garnish the steamed idlis with this tadka. Serve it warm with a chutney of your choice.

2. Strawberry Chocolate Overnight Oats


Is work-life taking away your me-time and stopping you from getting your daily essentials? No more rushing to work with an empty stomach and bitter take-away coffee. This overnight oats recipe will make sure your mornings are fresh and deliciously healthy. Rolled oats are first steamed to make them soft and pliable, and then rolled to flatten them. This additional processing means they cook faster, and for an overnight oats recipe they’re the perfect type. The recipe is super quick and super simple to make, and you can even have it on-the-go! Check it out below –

Ingredients

• ¼ cup Healthy Alternatives – Rolled Oats 
• 1/3 cup milk
• ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tsp. Healthy Alternatives – Organic Chia Seeds
• ½ tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. Healthy Alternatives – Organic Honey
• ½ tsp. vanilla
• ¼ cup strawberries (diced)
• 1 tbsp. mini chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a small glass jar with a lid. Mix well to combine.
2. Refrigerate the jars overnight to allow the oats to soften. Serve them cold in the morning.

3. Oats Sesame Laddus


Ever heard of healthy sweets? Well thanks to the uniqueness of oats, we can binge on our good ol’ laddus without any guilt. This fat-free sweet made of oats and jaggery is actually a health booster and a must-have every morning. Worried about the sugar content? Jaggery is actually loaded with antioxidants and minerals which will only improve your health for the better. It even acts as a detox for the liver, making it the perfect ingredient to mix your healthy, fibrous oats with. Try this simple recipe –

Ingredients

• 1 cup Healthy Alternatives – Rolled Oats
• 1 cup sesame
• 3 to 4 green cardamoms
• 1 ¼ to 1 ½ cup grated jaggery

Instructions

1. On medium heat, dry roast the oats and sesame separately until lightly golden. Let them cool. Grind the oats and sesame into a blender and set aside half a portion.
2. Take the other half of oats and sesame powder and mix it well with half a portion of jaggery. Do the same with the other half of powder and jaggery.
3. Roll the mixture into balls and store them into an airtight jar.

Breakfast has never been healthier and better! Get your dose of healthy oats at the Nature’s Basket  store now.

Think it’s okay to ditch the everyday breakfast routine? Read more on Why You Shouldn’t Skip Breakfast  and start living healthy!