Step by Step: Steel Cut Oatmeal
Let’s start with breakfast. You have probably seen steel cut oats here and there, maybe you’ve read about them on your favorite food site or seen them on a shelf in your local grocery store. Whatever the case, this steel cut oat health trend is the real deal. Steel cut oatmeal makes a healthy and hearty breakfast, touting more nutrition and taste than your average packet of instant oatmeal. And even though they take much longer to make, the resulting bowl of creamy hearty oatmeal is worth every minute.
I confess I’m usually not one to sit down and make a big breakfast, let alone something that takes 30-40 minutes to make. But, a bowl of steel cut oatmeal complete with brown sugar, cinnamon and blueberries has turned me into a breakfast convert. Something about the creamy wholesome texture and the freedom to top it with whatever I’m in the mood for, not to mention the added nutrition sold me out to loving breakfast. If it weren’t for my brother and sister in law, I personally probably wouldn’t have had the patience to give it a try.
But if you plan ahead, you can make this lengthier breakfast recipe work in your daily routine. For example: make a big batch of steel cut oatmeal on Sunday and measure out individual portions for the week.
What makes steel cut oats better than the other stuff?
By definition, steel cut oats are the groats (insides of whole grain oats) chopped into 2 or 3 pieces per groat. Compared to regular oats known as rolled oats, they have typically undergone less processing and therefore have retained more of their nutrition and texture. Rolled oats have been steamed and toasted and resteamed before they hit your pot to be cooked once again whereas steel cut oats have only been cut and still have a layer of bran.
The Recipe
The original recipe ( from Alton Brown of the Food Network) called for using whole milk and buttermilk but after making the entire recipe with just 2 percent – I assure you the final product is still very tasty. So here’s my brother’s version of the recipe, step by step. To see the full text recipe, click here.
Melt butter in saucepan and stir in steel cut oats. Let cook until oats are toasted, giving off a nutty scent, about 3 minutes.
Pour in hot boiling water.
Let bubble, cover and cook for 30 minutes on medium heat.
Uncover, stir and add milk.
Stir until you reach a creamy consistency.
Ah, that’s what it should look like. Yum!
Now add some toppings to your own individual bowls! Our topping choices included blueberries, brown sugar, cinnamon, pancake syrup and raisins. I topped mine with brown sugar, cinnamon and blueberries which turned out to be perfect. But…
…here’s a bowl with the works!
Take the time to make this hearty breakfast. It’s good for you AND tasty!
Ingredients
1 1/2 Tbs. butter
1 C. steel cut oats
3 C. boiling water
1 C. 2-percent milk
Topping Ideas:
cinnamon
brown sugar
blueberries
raisins
pancake syrup
Directions
Melt butter in medium saucepan. Stir in steel cut oats. Cook until oats give off a nutty toasty appearance and scent, about 3 minutes. Add hot water to hot oats. Cover and let cook for 30 minutes. Do not stir. When done, open the cover and stir in milk. Stir until the mixture reaches a creamy consistency. Serve with desired toppings such as blueberries, raisins, brown sugar, cinnamon or pancake syrup.
More Oatmeal Recipes:
Maple Oatmeal
Swiss Oats (Cold Oatmeal)
Deluxe Crockpot Oatmeal
Ultimate High Fiber Oatmeal
Oatmeal with Dates
For even more hearty breakfast recipes, check out the Breakfast Recipe Section on Recipe4Living!
Tags: breakfast recipes, healthy breakfast, steel cut oatmeal, steel cut oats, step by step recipe
I really like steel cut, i do them using the overnight method where you pour boiling water and just let sit. Reheat in the morning and enjoy!
Posted by katerina at May 28th, 2009, 2:14 pmI must give these steel cut oats a try! looks like it is worth making
Posted by Jessie at May 28th, 2009, 5:09 pmYou can also make these in a Thermos or well insulated container. Very convenient and delicious!
Posted by Hugging the Coast at May 28th, 2009, 9:25 pmI love steel cut oatmeal, we use the Mccain’s brand, (the only brand we have!) and the texture is so nice. Great recipe, cheers!
Posted by Heidi / Savory Tv at May 29th, 2009, 4:15 pmI have read about steel cut oatmeal, but I have never bought any. What brand and where would I buy this? Grocery store, health food store, etc. Thanks.
Posted by Shirley Hyatt at May 31st, 2009, 5:44 pmOK. I went shopping today and found the steel cut oatmeal. Will give them a try.
Posted by Shirley Hyatt at June 1st, 2009, 5:58 pmI like to make granola using old fashioned oats. Can the steel cut oats adapt to that baking method?
Posted by Mary Quinn at June 2nd, 2009, 7:24 amThanks for the pictures W recipe
Posted by RC at October 21st, 2009, 8:55 amHrmm…I guess I’m too impatient. I generally cook them for 10 minutes with a decent boil then add brown sugar or honey. Ends up being much more chewy than regular oatmeal, but, that’s why I buy steel cut, I don’t like the paste of regular oatmeal.
I’ll definitely give this a try though!
Posted by nomel at January 8th, 2010, 11:39 pmJust had my first bowl, I’m a convert.
Posted by Joan Barrette at March 5th, 2010, 8:43 amThanks mate. I will publish this in my cookin site in Bulgaria.
Posted by recepta at May 22nd, 2010, 8:26 amYour step by step recipes make it really easy for us amateurs to cook these delicious dishes. Thanks and keep them coming.
Posted by enamel dutch oven at May 27th, 2010, 4:24 pmThere is nothing like a good bowl of oat meal in the morning. I have it almost the way you describe. Ruth
Posted by Ruth at September 20th, 2010, 3:38 pmI love steel cut oatmeal, we use the Mccain’s brand, (the only brand we have!) and the texture is so nice. Great recipe, cheers!
Posted by cooki at October 29th, 2010, 7:49 am