Sneha: A sense of normalcy has been returning as it feels like we’re finally getting out of the throes of the pandemic (fingers crossed!) – pair that with the warm summer weather and the ability to meet outdoors and we are slowly going back to those busy weekends full of beach days or picnics, outdoor day drinking or hikes. And while all of that is magical and fun – we usually find ourselves on Monday mornings craving a healthy but still filling meal. Enter these oats! 

To be truthful, I was never a big fan of oatmeal, I always found is gooey and mushy and not very flavorful. And the Quaker flavored oatmeal that DID taste good was insanely high in sugar content. Then my mom made me oats once naturally sweetened with dates and I was a convert – things I had done wrong: 

1. I had always eaten quick cooking oats … steel cut are a game changer
2. I used to make oatmeal in the microwave … stove top is the way to go! 

While there isn’t anything groundbreaking about the recipe itself, the art is in the preparation and one key secret ingredient … ALMOND FLOUR! My mom uses it to thicken up the oatmeal and increase protein content and it gives a great nuttiness and texture removing the aforementioned mushiness I referred to. My addition to her recipe was the chai spice because I love it in everything and anything. Try it today and I promise you’ll be an oatmeal convert! 

 

Tips & Tricks

• Soaking the dates in some warm water for 5 minutes lets the dates soften and release its sugars 
• I like to make a bottle of almond flour using my spice grinder and keeping it in the fridge, it stays fresh for 2-3 months and will ease up some of the prep time! 

Recipe Information

• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Cook time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 1 entrée servings 

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup steel cut oats
• 1 cup milk of choice
• 5-6 pitted dates chopped 
• 2 tbsp almond flour
• 1-2 tsp chai spice (see our recipe here)
• Handful of golden raisins
• Garnish of choice: granola, cut banana, frozen blueberries etc.

Directions

1. In a few tbsp of warm water in a saucepan soak dates and raisins for 5-7 minutes
2. Heat up saucepan with dates/raisins and bring to boil, add milk and turn to medium
3. As milk boils, add oatmeal and chai spice 
4. Stir well and continue to stir on medium heat for ~5 minutes
5. Add almond flour and continue to stir till mixture thickens for another ~20 minutes
6. Pour into a bowl and serve hot with garnish of choice