The humble oat has been a staple of our diets for hundreds of years. And there is a reason for that - these unassuming little grains have the right to stake their claim as one of Earth’s superfoods. Oats are a whole grain that is rich in fibre and protein. This means they are extremely helpful in maintaining our gut health, lowering cholesterol and providing great slow release energy for our physical activities.
OATS FOR BREAKFAST LUNCH AND DINNER!
One of the greatest things about oats is that they are affordable, available everywhere and easy to prepare.
Eating oats for breakfast will provide you with a longer lasting satisfied feeling, compared to a sugary breakfast cereal. Try this overnight oat recipe which saves you time in the morning.
Oats can easily be packed for lunch in a microwavable pot, with yoghurt, water, oat milk and your choice of fruit, nuts and spices. We love these selection of recipes, from The Banana Diaries
As a snack, you are probably already familiar with oats in flapjacks, cookies and energy bars. Take care with shop bought bars which are often very high in sugars and highly processed. Why not try this recipe from Lazy Cat Kitchen.
And what about dinner? Believe it or not, oats can be spruced up and become the star of your dinner table - if you know how!
OAT CAKES - THE STAR OF YOUR NEXT DINNER PARTY
Oat cakes are famously eaten across Scotland as a snack, and a late night supper with butter and cheese. But there are many ways to elevate these humble cakes to become the star of your next dinner party.
125gm porridge oats
⅛ tsp bicarbonate of soda
Pinch of fine sea salt
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
75ml boiling water
Preferred toppings
Pre-heat oven to 180C (fan)
Pour oats into your food processor and blend until you have a flour like consistency
Add all other ingredients to the food processor and pulse until combined into a soft ball of dough
Put the ball of dough between two sheets of reusable baking paper and roll to 3mm thickness
Sprinkle over your preferred toppings and roll gently once more
Cut the dough into shapes, place onto a baking tray and bake for 15 - 20 mins (or until the cakes begin to brown).
To make these oat cakes more special, we like to roll dried herbs, mixed seeds, sea salt and cracked black pepper into the top of them before baking.
We think oat cakes are best matched with a creamy topping such as our amazing beetroot and horseradish spread, or a homemade vegan cheese like our soya ricotta. On top of the soft topping it is always good to add a bit of crunch. We recommend some roasted nuts, or some quick pickled crunchy veg such as fennel, radish or carrots. Finally, you need the garnish. The first taste is always with the eyes. Add some micro greens such as sprouts or edible flowers to make your cakes look stunning.
We hope you can enjoy creating new toppings and savoury delights to serve with these Oat Cakes. We would love to hear about your creations, so please #moaalmretreat or link to @moaalmretreat so we can see your dinner oat cake party pieces! If you would prefer to join our three course dinner party, then we have mountain retreats, combined with yoga and activities winter and summer.