Recipes from around the World to Make Oatmeal Taste Great—the World Cup of Oats!

oatmeal recipes
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The World Cup is one of the most exciting times for sports. Oats, on the other hand, can lack all kinds of excitement. Thankfully the world has a lot to offer for soccer fans and those of you trying to figure out how to make oatmeal taste good.

Let’s face it: oatmeal can get pretty boring. And if you don’t know how to flavor oatmeal, breakfast can become a real chore. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

By doing a little work and testing out some new recipes, you will learn there are a variety of things to add to oatmeal to make it a fresh, enjoyable part of your daily routine—while complementing the morning soccer matches!

What to put in oatmeal goes so much further than prepared, flavored quick oats, honey, and berries. The stuff has range! Today, we’re going to take a look at some tasty pairings from around the world that are going to make oatmeal taste good—sorry, better—than what you may normally be accustomed to.

It’s the world cup of oats!

A Healthy and Tasty Japanese Take on Morning Oats

Here’s a nutrient-packed bowl that can make oatmeal taste good and make you feel better if you’ve woken up under the weather. This savory and healthy take on oatmeal comes from The Worktop.

Best of all, you can have it piping hot on the table and ready to go in about 10 minutes, leaving plenty of time to take care of all your morning tasks.

Savory Gluten-Free Oatmeal

Prep time: 2 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 12 minutes
Servings: 1 large bowl

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups bone broth
  • 3/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 handful shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced
  • 1 handful spinach, washed
  • 1 or 2 eggs
  • 2 scallions, thinly sliced
  • Japanese mixed chili pepper powder

Instructions:

1. Bring the broth to a boil in a small sauce pan over high heat. Add the oats and lower the heat. Let it simmer for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. While the oats are cooking, add a teaspoon of oil to a small frying pan and cook the shiitake mushrooms until they are soft. Set them aside.
3. Add the spinach to the oatmeal and stir the leaves until they wilt. Using a wooden spoon, make a slight crevice in the middle of the oatmeal. Crack an egg (or two) in the crevice. Cover the saucepan and simmer for another five to seven minutes, depending on how well cooked you like your egg.
4. Transfer the oatmeal to a bowl, topped with the shiitake mushrooms, scallions, and a dash of Japanese mixed chili pepper powder.

Like Savory Foods? Then You May Like This Tasty Twist on Oatmeal

Who says fruit, honey, and nuts are the only additives to toss in oatmeal? This Chinese congee-inspired recipe from The Omnivores Cookbook goes full-meal mode for oatmeal with egg and chicken.

In fact, it even includes spinach and can serve as a great way to utilize leftovers from last night! Lastly, if you really love oats, you can take it for lunch!

Savory-Style Full-Meal Oatmeal

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2 or 3

Ingredients:

  • 2 to 3 cups chicken stock
  • 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup shredded chicken (Use leftovers!)
  • 2 cups spinach
  • Salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Toppings to Taste

  • 1 egg (soft-boiled, poached, or fried)
  • Green peas
  • A few chopped cherry tomatoes
  • Chopped green onion
  • Sesame or chili oil

Instructions:

1. In a small sauce pan, add the chicken stock and bring to a boil.
2. Add the rolled oats, shredded chicken, and spinach. Cook until the oats are cooked through, or for at least five minutes. Stir occasionally.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Add whatever toppings you prefer and serve hot.
5. It will store for up to two days in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave uncovered until hot, stirring once in between.

Prefer Spice? Try This Satisfying Indian Oatmeal Recipe

Some things you add to oatmeal can transform it into an easy dinnertime meal. Indian-fusion expert Sanjeev Kapoor has done just that by coming up with a delicious take on an Indian staple—masala.

This common spice can add a unique taste to your oats and offer a quick, spicy dinner in under 30 minutes!

Spiced Supper Oats

Prep time: up to 5 minutes
Cook time: 16 to 20 minutes
Total time: 16 to 25 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 or 2 green chilies, finely chopped
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp ghee or oil
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 medium tomato, finely chopped
  • Salt to taste
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • 2 tbsp fresh coriander leaves (for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Heat the oil in a non-stick pan, adding cumin seeds. Cook until the color changes.
2. Add the onion and green chilies and mix well. Sauté the mixture until the onion is golden.
3. Add the chopped tomato and salt, lower the heat to a simmer and cook covered for two to three minutes.
4. Add the turmeric powder and red chili powder, mixing well.
5. Add the rolled oats and four cups of water. Then cook for four to five minutes. Next, add one tablespoon of coriander leaves and mix well.
6. Serve hot, and garnish with the leftover coriander leaves.

Bring Beirut to Breakfast with This Take on Lebanese Oatmeal Stew

Shoofan wlahmeh is an oatmeal stew native to the Mediterranean region that can serve as a savory breakfast. In this recipe from Taste of Beirut, it’s been given a hint of sweetness and an American twist.

This recipe may take a little longer than the previous offerings, and you’ll have to monitor the flavor and consistency as you go.

Total time: about 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Mediterranean Spice Medley Oatmeal Stew

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb ground lamb or beef (or a lamb bone or two)
  • 2 onions, quartered
  • 2 (or more) carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 celery sprig
  • 1 tsp parsley
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp allspice
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4 cups water or meat or chicken stock
  • 1 1/2 cups oatmeal flakes (or steel-cut oats), depending on preference

Instructions:

1. Brown meat in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Sprinkle with the spices. Add the onion, carrots, water, cinnamon, bay leaf, carrot, and celery sprig, and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cover the pot for a few minutes.
2. Remove the lid, simmer a while longer and taste the broth, adjusting the seasoning until it is flavorful. When the ideal flavor has been reached, strain the pot into a bowl and remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaf.
3. Return the broth and meat to the pot and simmer. Add oatmeal and replace the pot lid to cook the oats, and adjust seasoning and serve. The food should have a thick consistency.

TIP: Make sure the amount of broth is sufficient for the oatmeal flakes to cook. Add more water if needed.

Keeping it Simple: A Tastier Oats Recipe from Germany

I’m just as guilty as the next person when it comes to getting lazy with my oats. A minute in the microwave and a couple handfuls of frozen berries, however, really doesn’t do either ingredient much justice.

But by taking a hint from some Bavarians, you can shake up the fruit-and-oat combo into a real breakfast—or maybe dessert—treat. The Tasty Kitchen seems to have lived up to its name!

Bavarian Breakfast Blast

Prep time: 8 hours
Cook time: 35 minutes
Servings: 2

Ingredients:

  • 2/3 cups steel-cut oats
  • 1/3 cups water
  • 1 apple
  • 1 pear
  • 1 banana
  • 2/3 cups plain yogurt
  • 1/2 cups hazelnuts, chopped
  • 1 tbsp honey (optional for topping)

Instructions:

1. Soak oats in water overnight.
2. In the morning, chop all the fruit into tiny pieces, and add them and the yogurt to the soaked oats.
3. Roast the nuts in a small oil-free saucepan over high heat until fragrant (about five minutes). Let the nuts cool before adding them to your oatmeal.
4. Chill the dish in the refrigerator for another 30 minutes before serving. Top with some honey and enjoy!

Cozy Up for a Cheat Meal with This Oatmeal Homage to Canada

This recipe was drawn up by Chef Samantha Stephens of New York City’s OatMeals, an all-oatmeal café. Called “The Canadian,” this calorically dense yet savory-flavored bowl of oats will surely provide some comfort and a little getaway for your taste buds.

The batch will take about 45 minutes to cook, but when it’s ready, it will surely be worth it.

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup steel-cut oats (You can shave off some time using rolled or instant oats.)
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 apple, sliced
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 2 tbsp sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 slice bacon, cooked and crumbled (use Canadian back bacon to go full-on Canuck!)
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp sea salt flakes

Instructions:

1. Using a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Stir in oats and lower the heat to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for 25 minutes, or until oats are the texture you like.
2. At the same time, peel, core, and chop the apple into small cubes. Melt the butter in a small pan over medium heat. Toss in the diced apple, brown sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice.
3. Sauté over low heat for five to 10 minutes, stirring until the apples are soft.
4. Place the oats in a bowl and pour the apple mixture, cheddar cheese, and crumbled bacon on top.
5. Drizzle with maple syrup and a pinch of sea salt.
Catch a Taste of the Caribbean with These Coconut-Mango-Infused Oats
So, maybe a trip to the Great White North isn’t your thing. I get that. You can take your breakfast tastes to the tropics by testing out these Caribbean-inspired oats.

Coconut milk and mango are healthy ingredients to add to oatmeal, and they can whisk you away to the beach in a matter of minutes! These may come in handy during a long, cold winter, or they could freshen up a scorching summer day.

This recipe is offered up by your old friend Betty Crocker.

Must-Have Caribbean Coconut-Mango Oats

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

  • 1 3/4 cups water
  • 14 oz coconut milk
  • 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp salt (optional)
  • 1 cup steel-cut oats
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 6 oz vanilla yogurt
  • 11/2 cups mango, peeled and chopped
  • 1 cup fresh raspberries

Instructions:

1. Combine water, coconut milk, a half-teaspoon of the cinnamon, and the salt, if desired, in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Add in the oats and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered for about 30 minutes, stirring until the oats have a slightly chewy consistency. Remove from heat; pour in honey and stir.
3. Transfer the oats to four bowls, and add two tablespoons of yogurt, one-third cup mango, and one-quarter cup of raspberries to each. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining quarter-teaspoon of cinnamon.

Crush Your Oats for This Chocolatey Mexican Delight

Sometimes, to make oatmeal taste good, you’ve got to blend it up with some chocolate, am I right? Chocolate whey protein powder and cocoa are two items you can add to oatmeal to make it slightly more decadent, while offering a huge time savings.

Just throw the oats and chocolate into a blender with coconut milk, adding some cinnamon for that spicy Mexican chocolate flavor. Mix it ‘til it’s a shake, and you’re good to go! Courtesy of Oh My Veggies.

“Can’t Be Late” Chocolate-Crushed Oats

Prep time: 8 hours (or 8 minutes)
Cook time: 2-5 minutes in a blender, until desired consistency is achieved
Servings: 1 shake or cup

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup coconut or almond milk
  • 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon (Try a pinch of cayenne pepper for an extra kick!)
  • Honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup to taste (optional)
  • 1 small banana, chopped and frozen overnight

Instructions:

1. In a small resealable container, mix the oats, milk, cocoa powder, cinnamon, cayenne pepper (if using), and preferred natural sweetener. Blend well, cover, and chill in the refrigerator overnight.
2. Pour the banana-oat mixture into a blender and pulse until completely smooth. Add more milk for a thinner shake.

TIP: If you don’t have time to prep the night before, skip refrigerating the mixture. Instead, place the oats in a blender first, grinding them into a fine powder. Add the remaining ingredients next and blend until smooth.

It’s True! Oats Don’t Have to Be Boring

If you’ve had enough of the same boring oats day after day, there are definitely a number of ways to make oatmeal taste good. Start with these tasty dishes from around the globe for inspiration. Then think of some of your favorite things to add to oatmeal, so you can enjoy the flavors you love.

Sources:
https://www.theworktop.com/breakfast-brunch-recipes/savory-oatmeal/
https://omnivorescookbook.com/savory-oatmeal-chicken-spinach/
https://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/Recipe/Masala-Oats.html
http://www.tasteofbeirut.com/oatmeal-stew-shoofan-wlahmeh/
http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/breakfastbrunch/german-oatmeal-bircher-muesli/
http://www.myrecipes.com/extracrispy/this-savory-oatmeal-recipe-is-your-escape-to-canada
https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/caribbean-steel-cut-oats-with-fruit-and-yogurt/86a82e10-1641-4c68-96a9-b1498ecabd06
https://ohmyveggies.com/chocolate-breakfast-shake/