A few months ago, when I was looking for healthier, more filling breakfasts on-the-go to replace Toaster Strudel and granola bars, I came across the increasingly popular overnight oats. The concept is simple: mix uncooked oats with milk or yogurt and let them sit overnight, allowing the flavor and moisture of the wet ingredient to soak into the oats. The varieties are endless – topped with fruit, mixed with chia seeds, and photographed in trendy mason jars for foodstagram accounts. |
In the three months that I’ve known about and researched overnight oats, I haven’t tried them – until this week. At the start of the new year, my sister cleared the carbs out of her pantry and gave them to me, a stipulation of her latest diet plan. A canister and a half of steel cut oats were among the mountains of food she gifted me. It seemed this was as good a time as ever to try my hand at the overnight oats craze.
One note about my approach: most recipes call for rolled oats, which are quite different from the steel cut oats I use, so it may need to be modified if rolled oats are substituted. Other than that, my “perfect recipe” for steel cut overnight oats is simple. It boils down to this:
Equal parts oats and milk, with a splash of vanilla extract. Optional toppings.
One note about my approach: most recipes call for rolled oats, which are quite different from the steel cut oats I use, so it may need to be modified if rolled oats are substituted. Other than that, my “perfect recipe” for steel cut overnight oats is simple. It boils down to this:
Equal parts oats and milk, with a splash of vanilla extract. Optional toppings.
These vague instructions allow for any range of portion sizes. I recommend a smaller portion size (1/4-1/3 cup of oats) for the first time around. The taste is predictable, but the texture is chewier than I expected. I found that it took more effort for me to chew these oats in comparison to traditional granola or oatmeal. For this reason, I lean toward a smaller portion. Here’s my personal best bowl of overnight oats: 1/3 cup steel cut oats 1/3 cup unsweetened Vanilla almond milk 1-2 tsp vanilla extract 1/3-1/2 cup Vanilla Greek yogurt 2-3 tsp chia seeds 1 tbsp roasted slivered almonds Instructions: Mix oats, milk and vanilla extract in an airtight container. Cover and place in the refrigerator overnight (6-8 hours). Remove excess liquid by draining oats. Add yogurt, chia seeds, and almonds to the top and enjoy! |
It took me a few tries to get my oats to the right consistency without too much extra liquid. That said, some people (those who eat them warm) might like the excess milk.
Many of the specifics of overnight oats are based on personal preference, from milk variety to portion size to toppings. Here are some ways to deviate from this simple recipe:
- Add sliced strawberries
- Top with dried fruit
- Add chia seeds before the overnight process
- Soak in yogurt instead of milk
- Swap vanilla extract for a splash of superfood fruit juice (pomegranate, acai berry, etc.)
- Serve warm topped with sliced banana
I’m excited to try some of these combinations!