Amazing Caramel Apple Oatmeal!
Soaking grains is as important a traditional food skill as fermentation. Foods like grains, beans, seeds and legumes all need soaked to make them more digestable. This is because of the phytic acid which acts as an "anti-nutrient" both blocking your body's ability to absorb the goodness in whatever you're eating but also pulling nutrients out of your body on its way through. Soaking removes the phytic acid and allows you to safely enjoy all of these foods with maximum nutrition.
This recipe is a great way to do oatmeal that is as nutritious as it is flavorful!
Start by soaking steel cut oats overnight. I did 1 cup of oats in 4 cups of purified water in a glass bowl covered with a towel.
In the morning, drain and give a quick rinse. This removes the phytic acid as well as a little of the starch to make for an amazing texture.
Chop up an apple to whatever size you like. I enjoy tiny pieces so I get a few in every bite. This was a gala but play around with what you have and enjoy!
Melt some good butter in your pot and add your apples with a pinch of salt. Sauteeing them first adds layers of flavor and getting them to caramelize just a little bit changes the entire dish.
Next, season them up! I used a good sprinkle of cinnamon with a pinch of nutmeg, cloves and ginger plus a splash of vanilla. Once it started cooking down, I also added about a tablespoon of real maple syrup. Maple is a really beautiful complementary flavor and my go-to sweetener.
Once apples cook down and get a little caramelization, add in the drained oats. This extra roasting is not necessary but does add a little extra depth of flavor that I love.
Cover with filtered water or milk and simmer down to cook. Soaked oats don't take long, which is great! By this point it smells so good that waiting is torture.
And voila! Clearly need some work on my photography skills and to remember a picture of it finished with a little cream, but it was delicious and I was hungry! So make your own and send us a picture of it finished!
Caramel Apple Oatmeal
1 cup steel cut oats
4 cups water
1 apple, diced
2 TBSP butter
Pinch of salt
Your choice of seasoning: cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, vanilla or your favorite apple pie spice blend.
Optional sweetener: maple syrup, honey, raw sugar or other sweetener you enjoy
Finish with: milk, cream, yogurt, nuts, or seeds
Soak oats in water overnight or at least 4 hours in filtered water with a pinch of salt. Drain and rinse.
Dice up apples, saute in butter over medium high until they start to caramelize. Add seasonings and sweeteners of your choice, cook for a minute and then add oats and cook, stirring frequently, for a couple of additional minutes.
Cover with water or milk, bring to a boil, then turn heat down to medium low. Simmer to desired level of doneness and consistency.
Serve with your favorite additions and toppings and enjoy!