Chai Believe in Miracles
Oatmeal, as all of us know, is great for a lot of reasons: it's very cheap, very filling, and (according to the package) is lowering my cholestorol as I type this. It's also extremely boring -- without any additions, oatmeal is just a blank canvas waiting for an artist. Or gruel, AKA prison food.
Usually I don't get too crazy with my toppings -- rasins and brown sugar work fine for me, maybe a drizzle of maple syrup if I'm feeling woodsy. A sprinkle of cinnamon or fresh fruit if I've got it are also fine.
But ever since going to Oatmeals, a tiny and brilliant restaurant in New York City where they serve nothing but oatmeal (hence the name), I've wanted to branch out a little.
At Oatmeals, I ordered their "Indian-inspired" bowl with coconut milk, crystallized ginger, cardamom, almonds and raisins. It was extremely delicious, but also super sweet. The crystalized ginger packed a powerful punch, but it just felt too sugary combined with the raisins and the naturally sweet coconut milk.
So upon arriving home, I decided to recreate that delicious breakfast -- with a few twists. I like to cook the raisins with the oatmeal in the microwave so they get soft and fluffy while still retaining texture (side note: try the jumbo mixed variety from Trader Joe's, they're amazing) and I use a mixture of half soy milk and half water to give the oats a deeper flavor.
As far the spice levels go, I think this is pretty balanced – but feel free to add or subtract to your liking. Watch out though, because too much cardamom will make this very bitter. In that same vein, cardamom is a spice you might not have in your cabinet but should definitely purchase. It's a great addition to almost all desserts and adds instant depth of flavor in everything from chocolate to steamed milk. Powdered ginger you should 100 percent have because it goes in almost everything and is a nice quick fix when you don't feel like chopping up ginger (or don't have any fresh on hand).
With these additions, blah oatmeal turns into something spicy and interesting -- good enough to eat multiple days a week for sure.
Ingredients:
1/2 c. dry rolled oats
1/2 c. water
1/2 c. soy or almond milk
scant 1/4 c. jumbo mixed raisins
3 tbs. slivered almonds
1 tbs. chia seeds
scant 1/4 tsp. cardamom
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
Honey to taste
Directions:
1. Combine the oats, raisins, water and milk in a microwave-safe bowl. Mix well to combine.
2. Cook on high for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, or until oats have absorbed the liquid. Stir in chia seeds and spices.
3. Scatter almonds evenly across the top and drizzle with honey or agave if desired. Serve immediately.
