Oatmeal… do you love it or hate it?
It’s one of those dishes that can be really boring and bland and mushy… like something Oliver Twist or Orphan Annie would be served.
OR, you can make it taste like absolute heaven!! I prefer option 2.
Why oatmeal?
In the morning, our digestive fire is still low, and so it’s good to eat a light, easy to digest breakfast to help fire up the metabolism. Eating something heavy in the morning is like adding a bunch of big logs to your bonfire before it’s really gotten going. It smothers it, and in our body, that creates ama, known as toxic buildup.
One of ayurveda’s common breakfast suggestions is stewed fruit, such as apples and pears. which when cooked provide a wonderful source of fiber that supports easy elimination as well as prebiotics that nourish the microbiome (don’t peel ‘em!). While this can be delicious, it doesn’t fill me up. I have a strong appetite and am pretty active so I need something that will tide me over till lunch.
So what I love to do is chop a whole piece of fruit, such as a pear, apple, or peach, and cook it with my oatmeal. Cooked fruit is easier to digest than raw, and more grounding and nourishing.
I also add a small handful of raisins, OR 1 chopped date. With these fruits, there’s no need for any added sweeteners.
Sometimes I feel like adding a handful of nuts or seeds, my favorites are pecans, which makes it more filling because of the protein in the nuts.
Add a pinch of sea salt, a hefty amount of cinnamon, and a good dollop of ghee (or coconut oil), and you’ve got a nourishing, warm, easy to digest, agni stoking, filling morning meal.
Here’s the recipe:
My favorite way to make oatmeal:
Roughly chop one apple, pear, or peach and add it to a small saucepan (no need to peel).
Add a small handful (about 1/4 cup) of raisins.
Add 1/2 cup organic rolled oats (not quick cooking).
Pour in one cup of water (or your favorite milk to make it even more filling).
Add a pinch of sea salt and a bigger pinch of cinnamon
Throw in a dollop (about 2 teaspoons) of ghee (can subsitute butter or coconut oil)
Stir it all together and bring to boil, then cover and reduce to simmer for 7 minutes.
After 7 minutes or when fruit is soft, turn off the heat and let it rest, covered, about 5-10 minutes.
Stir and enjoy!