Apple cinnamon steel cut oats make a simple hot breakfast cereal from just oats, water, chopped apple and ground cinnamon, with optional sea salt and no added sugar. Everything simmers together in a single covered 2 quart pot, so the apple softens while the oats cook.
Steel cut oats also go by the names pinhead oats, Irish oats and Scottish oats, and they come from the inner part of the oat kernel. Certified gluten-free steel cut oats are sold for anyone who needs them. The texture is adjustable: 10 minutes of simmering leaves the oats chewier, while going toward 20 minutes gives a more tender cereal.
Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats
Stovetop steel cut oats simmered with peeled, chopped apple and ground cinnamon for 10 to 20 minutes, with no added sugar. Makes about 4 to 6 servings.
Ingredients
Method
- If sticking is a concern, give a 2 quart pot a coat of nonstick spray. Add the water and the sea salt, if using, and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Stir in the steel cut oats, chopped apple and cinnamon, then cover the pot with a lid.
- Lower the heat so the oats bubble gently and cook for 10 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally so they do not catch on the bottom. At 10 minutes the oats are chewy; toward 20 they turn softer and creamier.
- Take the pot off the heat and let it stand, covered, for about 5 minutes; the oats thicken as they stand.
Notes
Makes about 4 to 6 servings.
Storage: refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for 3 to 4 days. The oats set firm when cold; reheat them on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of water or milk.
Granny Smith apples are a good choice for this recipe.
