A Nourishing Bowl of Savory Oatmeal
This dish is packed with protein and quick and easy to make (for the days (or nights) you don’t have the energy to cook).
I wrote about my love for savory oats a while back but since then I’ve hit my early 40’s and have been told by both doctors and everyone on the internet that I should be eating lots of protein. So, in an effort to hit that 30 grams per meal, I came up with what is my upgraded, protein-rich, and new favorite edition of savory oatmeal.
The main difference between this and my old-school way of preparing savory oats is the addition of chicken bone broth, which basically gives it chicken congee vibes. This has become one of my favorite things to make when I’m craving something that’s warm, cozy, and nourishing, but way more satisfying than a bowl of soup.
This is another dish where you can choose your own adventure! Usually I mix in nutritional yeast and top it with a poached egg (hot tip: add a splash of vinegar water from the poaching liquid for an extra tangy bite). Sometimes I’ll mix in some za’atar spice or garnish with some sliced scallions. Other times I’ll throw some caramelized mushrooms on top. This would also be great with real cheese like a sharp cheddar or Parm, and even with a bit of heat from your favorite hot sauce. Or top it off with a drizzle of some nice olive oil or toasted sesame oil. For an extra bonus, top with microgreens (I often sprinkle on some broccoli, arugula, or kale microgreens). These little guys are packed with even more nutrition than their regular-sized fam.
Whatever you decide to throw into the mix, your base is already loaded with good-for-you nutrition. I usually use about half a cup of quick oats, which has 4 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein, plus tons of vitamins and minerals. One cup of chicken bone broth has 9 grams of protein. Top it with an egg (6 grams of protein) and you’re already at 20 grams of protein (if protein is your thing). Two tablespoons of nutritional yeast has 5 grams of protein and you can always throw in some hemp seeds and flax seeds for additional protein and fiber. Lately, my go-to topper is a drizzle of this amazing Gochugaru Chili Oil from Algae Cooking Club. It adds just a touch of warm, savory spice and the tiniest bit of heat. I’ve also been loving their original oil for high-heat cooking.
The warm spices in the Gochugaru Chili Oil give so many dishes that little something extra.
Savory Oatmeal with Algae Cooking Club Gochugaru Chili Oil
This makes enough for one large serving.
Ingredients
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats - note: I usually make this in the microwave for speed, but you can also cook this slowly on the stove and use steel cut, or any oats of your liking. Sometimes I even use cream of buckwheat.
1 cup chicken bone broth - you can use regular chicken broth, but it contains less protein than bone broth. Or, sub with vegetable or mushroom broth—whatever you’d like!
Salt to taste - I start with a good pinch of Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt and then like to sprinkle in some good quality sea salt.
1-2 tablespoons Nutritional yeast - you can totally sub for regular cheese here or omit all together.
Anything else you’d like to mix in or top with - poached egg, caramelized mushrooms, za’atar spice, everything bagel seasoning, sliced scallions, nice olive oil or toasted sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, hot sauce, chili crisp, microgreens…the world is your oyster.
How to make it
Combine oats, salt, and chicken bone broth in a bowl and microwave for 1-2 minutes or cook slowly on stovetop according to the directions on whatever oats/base you’re using
Mix in and top with whatever you choose (see above).
Enjoy!
