Two years ago, when I timorously announced to the blogworld that I enjoy eating something I dubbed “savory oatmeal,” I never expected the idea to become very popular. I figured people would think I was nuts! But here we are, in 2010, and it suddenly seems everyone’s tried savory oatmeal! Along with it, I’m also eating…
Oat Bran grits!
It’s just oatbran mixed with a little vegan butter and salt, which makes it like grits. You could even add nutritional yeast, almond milk, spinach, or even corn and tempeh bacon! Who says oat bran has to be for breakfast? (On a tangential note, has anyone seen My Cousin Vinny? I always think of that movie when I hear mention of the word “grits.”) To go with my pseudo grits, I cooked a quick, use-up-the-fridge stir fry:
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“Easy Peachy” Ginger Curry
(It makes about 6 cups, which I portion into 3 servings. I measured the ingredients so I’d be able to write the recipe for y’all, but it really won’t matter much if you just throw in what you have on hand, not paying close attention to exact measurements.)
- 500g cauliflower (see above note about exact measurements)
- 120g snow peas
- 120g cherry tomatoes
- 80g onion
- 100g red pepper
- 16g fresh ginger
- 1 and 1/4 cups water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 100g zucchini
- 230g canned peaches, drained
- 55g spinach
- 3-4 tbsp teriyaki or soy sauce (I used Premier Japan ginger-tamari sauce. I also add some sesame oil, because I love it!)
- optional: sweetener, powdered ginger, a pinch of curry powder, and more salt to taste
- optional: olive oil for stir-frying (I’m sure you could use broth or water if you’d prefer a fat-free stir-fry.)
Combine first 8 ingredients in a big pot (with the oil, if using), cover, and cook on high for 8 minutes. Add the zucchini and peaches, re-cover, and cook another 5 minutes. Add the spinach and cook (covered) another 3 minutes. Drain, then add the sauce (and optional sweetener, salt, and powdered ginger).
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Jennifer - jcd says
I like the making babies video idea. Maybe blended grains too. Or running tips. Or chocolate FAQs. I don’t know… whatever you want to do!
Your breakfast looks great too. Just oat bran, margarine (melted?), and salt? Heated up? Looks really yummy, and something I could get down after a hard workout in the morning. (I could barely eat fudge babies this morning… my appaetite completely disappeared after my workout.)
chocolatecoveredkatie says
JCD,
Hehe actually it was dinner :).
chocolatecoveredkatie says
Oh, and I know I’m odd, but I like it room temp, so I pre-melted the vegan butter in a tiny dish with the “melt without a microwave trick” so the oat bran didn’t have to be hot.
Leslie says
That curry dish sounds (and looks!) right up my alley. I think I’ll try it! Maybe with a little brown sugar and hot sauce added :).
Madeline says
Hi Katie! I have yet to try the savory oats … I’ll get right on it :). Can’t wait for CCTV!
Kelsey says
i like my curry cold too!! i will sometimes make extra curried veg from my stirfry and refrigerate them to have later on. before i started blogging i always envied ur stirfries cuz u made sure to put generous amouts of veggies in.. the difference now is i can show the world too that veggies are THE BEST!
ohhh my cousin vinny is a def fav of mine. i can totally see why “grits” would remind u of that.
if u made CCV tv i would be OVERLY GRATEFUL! i think the time has come.. what a perfect idea <3
VeggieGirl says
Video, please!! 🙂
vanillavivante says
I think you should do a vid answering readers’ questions! I’m sure you get a lot 🙂
love the idea of sweet canned peaches in a stir-fry — like a new version of pineapple/veggie stir-fries 🙂
Lauren (Clean Eats in the Dirty South) says
I like the sound of a running video. Or just something involving lots of chocolate 😉
Keri - I Eat Trees says
CCTV sounds like fun! Make something that involves baking so you have to have one premade sitting in a cold oven. That’s my favorite thing about cooking shows, “Oh, look! I already have one done sitting in this oven!” 😀
abby says
cctv! yes please! anything’s fine by me, as long as we get to see your lovely face 🙂
Valerie says
I have loved savory oatmeal ever since I first saw it on your blog! I always add nutritional yeast. My kids, sadly, haven’t come around yet.
Ilana says
Oh gosh I’ve never tried savory oats but like you said, everyone and their mom is all up in that biznatch these days and I really think I should givc it a shot (I’m a follower and all that).
I’d vote for a video, not because it’s hard to make fudge babies, but because I want to see you in person!! I love videos by my fave bloggers, just adds a whole new dimension to their personality you just can’t get through reading. I know, only a few months before you come to New York, but I wanna see you sooner!! … now I sound like a stalker.
Mo says
I can’ t get over how weird savory oats sounds. I’m okay with using oats as a binder in savory things, but for some reason it sounds so strange and mayybee I’ll try it but I can’t guarantee it. 😉
Hahaha I always think of My Cousin Vinny when I hear the word grits. Always. I knew what grits were before and all, but that movie is now and forever my main association to grits.
Run Sarah says
Would love a CCV recipe video! Have to try your stir fry – it sounds delicious!
Evelyn says
I’m lovin’ your savory oats! For some reason I relate oats to porridge so I like my oats savory as well.
Heather @ Side of Sneakers says
Love the idea of the peach curry- it sounds fantastic!!
Marina says
Mhm, this looks yummy!
I don’t know if I have enough courage to try this with peaches though :)) but definitely sounds interesting!
Jo says
BABY MAKING VIDEO!! Gosh that sounds dodgy! It literally will be food porn!
Anyway… moving swiftly on… in Scotland porridge is traditionally served with a pinch of salt. Despite being scottish I like my porridge sweet! So I haven’t tried any other savory variations as I was put off by salty porridge. Sorry I can’t refer to it as oats, it will always be porridge to me.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Jo,
Haha we should switch countries, I guess! I always put salt in my oats/porridge, even when making it sweet :).
Aimee says
I’d love to see Molly and Henry included :). But fudge babies sound like a good topic! Just don’t let the doggies have any hehe.
L @ Whole Wheat Or Bust! says
The answer to your question is so obvious, Katie. Its downright sinful that you haven’t thought of it yet….
The Chocolate Covered Katie TV must indeed BE MADE OF SOLID CHOCOLATE.
Jessica (PB & Jess) says
I haven’t tried savory oats yet…I just can’t bring myself to do it!! lol, one of these days 🙂
Maybe in an episode of CCTV, you can show us how you make your VitaMix ice cream!
sarah says
I have not tried savory oats, but they sound good.
McKella says
I’m still a little leery of the savory oats idea…not sure why, but maybe I’ll get brave and try them this week .That curry looks yummy 🙂
By the way, I made your agar pudding yesterday and I loved it! I used it to top a new recipe creation, which I’ll be blogging about shortly;) I let you know when it’s up so you can see!
Mama Pea says
Instructionals are nice, but I’m excited to hear you ramble about nothing! Maybe just talk about your path to veganism? I’d love it!
Little Bookworm says
The curry sounds really interesting. 🙂 CCTV suggestions…I like the idea of a recipe-making video of the fudge babies! Or maybe a Q&A video?
Anonymous says
I’d love to see a “nail art tutorial”
eatandrun says
Forget raw macaroons, I want to see pb babies :). They’re my favorites!
Inspired says
I second (or is it “third” now?) the request for a Vitamix ice cream making post. Mine always turns out more like slush or a smoothie.
vegirl says
Recipe videos! YES!
I’ve totally eaten oatmeal with a normal meal before- just plain. I’ve done the same thing with cream of rice and other hot cereals- they taste SO GOOD. Frankly, I never like much sweetness, except for fruit, with hot cereal. Never called it savory though (herbs always comes to mind when I think of savory). Hey, herbs in oatmeal! YUM
vegirl
vegirl says
I also wouldn’t mind hearing random rambling….
vegirl
Katie says
Silly girl….we would love for you to “ramble about nothing!” You would never bore us, and just being yourself is definitely the best option 🙂 If you need a little more structure, maybe answer some questions you get a lot (aside from that annoying “you’re-so-skinny-and-you’re-vegan-how-do-you-get-all-your-nutrients” BS you unfortunately get so often….boo to that!)
Lisa says
I, too, would like to see a vita-mix demonstration, simply because I don’t have one and am enthralled by them. I could stand at Costco for hours watching those demonstrations! 🙂
Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear says
You’re right.. almost everyone is eating savory oats, but they really are not my thing. Not even the sweet ones 🙂
spoonfulofsugarfree says
Do a recipe video! That would be so much fun to see!
While reading your post It thought that I had made myself savory oats before, but after thinking about it I realized that i haven’t! It’s so weird, I could have sworn that I put olive oil, salt, and pepper on a bowl before. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to make it tomorrow!
Kate says
I vote for a fudge baby post or a Vita-mix post. But really, as long as you’re in it, I know it’ll be great!
Marianne says
A baby making video? Tee hee 😉
I don’t think I’ve ever had grits. Unless grits are the same thing as polenta, because I’ve had that.
Megan @ The Oatmeal Diaries says
I just made a teriyaki stir fry kind of like yours and it was deeelish! Love the savory oatbran idea. I will be trying that asap!
Bianca- Vegan Crunk says
Oat Bran grits sound delicious! I love actual grits, but I love oat bran too. I should really start eating a more varied diet of grains. I also love savory oats … with nooch and hot sauce.
Tara says
I would like to see a pudding tutorial. Mine never turns out right for some reason.
Kristie says
Savoury oats are incredible. I need to make them for dinner SOON, it’s been too long.
Random ramble all you like, I can’t wait to see some CCTV!
Melissa @ For the Love of Health says
amazing looking eats! I have yet to try savory oats but I should!
sorry I have no ideas for you….I am sure you will do something great!
Jackie (Peaces of Earth) says
Sounds amazing! I never thought of putting peaches in curry!!
Kelsey @ CleanTeenKelsey says
Katie, you’re just kind of a genius. Seriously. I love the whole savory oats idea and especially oat bran grits. How creative you are!
Oh my goodness, I love the idea of CCTV. Please, please do it! A fudge baby video sounds pretty good, but I would actually love to see you make Whipped Cream in a Bowl or your raw cheesecake. Or maybe you could do a “What’s Inside My Pantry/Fridge” video? That’d be awesome, albeit a little intrusive. 😛
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Kelsey,
I LOVE the fridge idea! Haha but I’m not sure I’m brave enough to show the messy pantry; it’s stocked to the gills!
BroccoliHut says
I just had grits for dinner the other day with Cajun spiced tempeh…I bet it would have been just as good with oat bran!
danielle_veg says
Great idea with the oat bran grits… I have a jar full of oat bran, but I never make muffins! Good thing it lasts indefinitely!
ruby red says
On CCTV I’d love to see a glimpse of your pantry/fridge/freezer and your meal- and snack-making areas! Pictures by themselves of these things are semi-boring – the fun part is seeing the video and the personality of the person behind the kitchen introduction!!