"Overnight Oats"

LittleCulturedPearl

After reading through a few discussions about the nutritional value of certain grains, i.e., chia seed, I have discovered that many people enjoy something you've all called "Overnight Oats." I was first introduced to this through my boyfriend the first time I had breakfast at his place. He had a recipe posted on his fridge with the ingredients to a somewhat slimy concoction, yet was delicious and worked like superfood when I ate it before working out.
I'm interested in knowing what you put in your version of "Overnight Oats", as I am looking for some modifications to keep it exciting.

Here is his recipe:

1 cup nonfat milk
1/3 cup nonfat yogurt
1/4 cup steel cut oats
1 tbsp ground flax seed
1 tbsp ground chia seed
10 raw almonds or pecan halves
1 tbsp dried cranberries, raisins or,1/4 pineapple chunks or other fresh fruit
1 tbsp peanut or almond butter, or chocolate hazelnut spread
1/4 maple syrup (I omitted this after I realized how much sugar it contains!)

Leave overnight and eat in the morning.

Now, what's your recipe?

JessicaBR13

1 cup plain greek yogurt
1/4 rolled oats
1Tbs chia seeds
1 Tbs maple syrup
1 cup fresh berries
1Tbs almond butter

Eve1972

I just bought a bag of steel cut oats, do they actually get soft over night with no cooking??

Francl27

I just had some this morning.. 6oz plain greek yogurt, 1/4 cup steel cut oats, 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, with some chocolate chips, almonds, shredded coconut and a bit of sugar.

I wish I could say I love it though, it's ok. I just make them because it does keep me full for hours.

MinnieInMaine

I just bought a bag of steel cut oats, do they actually get soft over night with no cooking??

They do, but not as much as with cooking. I've tried the overnight with steel cut and didn't personally care for the consistency. For me, cooking them in the crock pot/slow cooker is the way to go (stove top is fine but takes too much time and tending and I really don't like cooking things in the microwave). Try cooking them different ways and see which you prefer.

LittleCulturedPearl

I just bought a bag of steel cut oats, do they actually get soft over night with no cooking??

Yes, they also expand!

LittleCulturedPearl

I just bought a bag of steel cut oats, do they actually get soft over night with no cooking??

They do, but not as much as with cooking. I've tried the overnight with steel cut and didn't personally care for the consistency. For me, cooking them in the crock pot/slow cooker is the way to go (stove top is fine but takes too much time and tending and I really don't like cooking things in the microwave). Try cooking them different ways and see which you prefer.

The overnight oats are different in that they are served cold, yet possess the consistency of cooked oatmeal, which tends to congeal if chilled.

helenrosemay

I just made my first Overnight oats and the flavour and texture is just amazing. I soaked the oats overnight in Almond milk, then in the morning added mashed banana left for an hour, then heated up (couldn't eat it cold) and added blueberries. I will be making them like this from now on!!!!!!!!!!

LittleCulturedPearl

But meusli isn't usually left to sit overnight. I know about muesli, I like it very much too, but I'm interested in what people put in theirs, too.

BernadetteChurch

Think it's actually a variation of Bircher Muesli. I mix my oats with fruit yoghurt, a grated apple and some freshly squeezed orange juice for a bit of zing.

benol1

Muesli, in this country, consists not of steel cut oats but rolled oats.

I've just bought my first bag of steel cut oats and I look forward to the experience.

BernadetteChurch

What exactly are steel cut oats? I'd assumed they were the American name for rolled oats, but that doesn't sound right now.

I use jumbo rolled oats, by the way. Can't stand the porridge oats that are just basically oat dust!

PRMinx

I wanted to try this, too. What's the difference between rolled and steel cut oats?

BernadetteChurch

I wanted to try this, too. What's the difference between rolled and steel cut oats?

According to Wikipedia, steel cut is the oat kernel cut into slices and rolled are steamed and rolled to make more of a flake. Steel cut is the least processed.

rumplesnat

I JUST made (and fell head over heels in love with) steel cut oats this morning...in the crock pot!

1 cup steel cut oats
4 cups water
1/4 tsp salt
1 peeled, diced apple
dash of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves

4 servings

Put on high at 5:15am before working out, house smelled awesome and it was ready to eat at 8:15am!

So freaking good! I sprinkled a bit of Splenda on it (use real sugar or whatever sweetener you prefer) and I am really thinking I'll have another bowl for lunch!!

Our pear tree is bursting with fruit, so later this week, I'll likely make another batch with pears instead of apples.

sarahkatara

big bump!

PRMinx

I wanted to try this, too. What's the difference between rolled and steel cut oats?

According to Wikipedia, steel cut is the oat kernel cut into slices and rolled are steamed and rolled to make more of a flake. Steel cut is the least processed.

Thanks!

pammcw

1 c rolled oats
3/4 c so delicious coconut milk (45 calories per cup)
Dash of salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Stevia
Sliced peaches or blueberries
Walnuts

Yum!

aliceclutz90

I make a protein shake with mine (got a variety of flavours to keep it interesting) and pour it over the oats and leave it to soak in the fridge overnight with berries.

benol1

Hi BernadetteChurch,

What exactly are steel cut oats? I'd assumed they were the American name for rolled oats, but that doesn't sound right now.

I use jumbo rolled oats, by the way. Can't stand the porridge oats that are just basically oat dust!

Steel cut oats are not rolled oats - as I mentioned above. Rolled oats are flattened so that the grain has been pancaked. Oats that have been 'steel cut' have been cut or sliced across the grain so the oats are cut into pieces about the same size and shape as cous cous.
I tried my first bowl this morning and they have a different texture to porridge made with rolled oats. They're a bit chewier.
I've only been able to find them in a health food shop in Australia.
kind regards,

Ben

Lalagregg12

I don't use steel cut oats, I prefer the texture of the old fashioned oats.

1.5 C Old fashioned Oats
1.5 C Almond Milk
2 packets of sweetener
1/8 tsp Vanilla Extract
2 tbsp chia seeds

Mix ingredients and place in fridge for 30 minutes, separate into 2 containers and add any fruit you would like to top with sliced almonds. I enjoyed it with blueberries and raspberries! Put back in fridge and enjoy the next morning! I also add ground flax seed!

BernadetteChurch

Hi BernadetteChurch,

What exactly are steel cut oats? I'd assumed they were the American name for rolled oats, but that doesn't sound right now.

I use jumbo rolled oats, by the way. Can't stand the porridge oats that are just basically oat dust!

Steel cut oats are not rolled oats - as I mentioned above. Rolled oats are flattened so that the grain has been pancaked. Oats that have been 'steel cut' have been cut or sliced across the grain so the oats are cut into pieces about the same size and shape as cous cous.
I tried my first bowl this morning and they have a different texture to porridge made with rolled oats. They're a bit chewier.
I've only been able to find them in a health food shop in Australia.
kind regards,

Ben

Thanks Ben! But having read a bit about the differences yesterday I think I'm going to stick with rmy rolled oats!

kristieshannon

Wow, sounds delicious! I'm adding this stuff to my grocery list and will give a try.

MaritimeGirl1986

I eat 'overnight oatmeal' almost daily for breakfast. I found this site that has many different versions of 'overnight oatmeal'

http://www.theyummylife.com/Refrigerator_Oatmeal

melaniecheeks

I soak my oats overnight in fruit juice - usually no-added sugar cranberry which gives a lovely pink colour. I add a sprinkle of flax or chia seeds if I have them.

In the morning, grate in a whole apple, seeds, peel, everything. Add a good blob of yoghurt, and some mixed nuts.

jkdarby

I had to search for an image to compare rolled vs. steel cut oatmeal. I never knew there was a difference!

SuperCartman

So glad I found this thread I'm such a fussy eater in the mornings that I was worried about what I would eat before going to uni. Gosh darnit, I could easily blow my daily calories to this stuff :O Out of curiosity what are these chia seeds like? No supermarkets near me do them and the only way of getting them is ordering them online so I can't try them.

HurricaneLindsay

For a variation on overnight oats, I like:
peanut butter and raisins or choc chips for an "oatmeal cookie" type
cranberries and slivered almonds
frozen berries

I also love chia pudding:
3 T whole chia seeds
1 cup almond milk
stevia
1 cup frozen berries
http://www.choosingraw.com/basic-chia-seed-pudding/

KMMRN

I put one third cup steel cut oats in a mason jar with one cup of water, close the lid, and put in a slow cooker of water overnight on low. Beautiful, creamy oats in the morning. I usually add a second jar with chopped apple, cranberries, cinnamon and sweetener of choice. Such an easy, delicious breakfast to wake up to!

Superfantastic

I start with 1/2 c old fashioned oats, 1/2 c skim milk, 1 T chia seeds, and usually a splash of vanilla. Then I add flavor to that.

My favorite thing to add is blueberries and lemon zest. (When I'm juicing a lemon for something I'm cooking, I just go ahead and zest it first into three containers and add the rest of the stuff - breakfast is made for the next three days and I haven't wasted that lovely zest.) I also really like blackberries with a pinch of sugar.

My husband likes his with coconut milk in place of the skim and a sliced banana (plus strawberries, ideally). I also like them with applesauce and cinnamon, raisins and cinnamon, or pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice, with some graham cracker crumbs stirred in right before eating. Yogurt is also good in them, or coconut and pineapple. Chocolate chips and a pinch of brown sugar are also good, for a less virtuous breakfast.

OrganicNotes

I had no idea of the simplicity of Overnight Oats! After reading through a handful of comments, the Chocolate Chip + Shredded Coconut combination sounds too perfect. I have yet to whip up a batch of my own, but here are some flavors I really enjoy together..

Almond + Banana + Cinnamon

Blueberry + Vanilla

Coffee + Dark Chocolate Chips

Pumpkin + Nutmeg + White Chocolate

Apple + Nut Butters

Honey + Pecans

All I have to do now, is decide which flavors sounds good for tomorrow morning! Mmmm.