Porridge Recipes and Other Oat RecipesAdvertisementsOats are such a wonderful nutritional resource. If you are trying to adopt a greener lifestyle (and especially if you are anywhere near to where oats grow) then oats could become a significant part of your diet. If you are not already using oats in a big way, try some of these recipes. Click here to know your oats! (great reads on oats and related topics) See below for recipes for Staffordshire oatcakes and flapjacks. First, a little about the virtues of oats. Porridge and other oat recipes: Why oats?Oats are renowned for their health benefits. They help maintain a healthy heart and they help with stamina and energy. They are also good for your nervous system and help promote a sound night's sleep. They are also low in gluten, which makes them ideal for anyone who has trouble digesting high-gluten foods such as wheat flour bread. The nutritional benefits of oatsThe nutritional benefits are clear: oats - especially whole grain organic oats, are rich in vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin B and E, iron and magnesium. Magnesium and vitamin B are both particularly important for strong nerves (perhaps why those Scots explorers were so intrepid).
If you want more details on the nutritional value of oats and the different forms in which they can be bought see Oat flour and oat groats - oats any way you like!. Porridge and Other Oat Recipes:
Traditional Scots PorridgeTreat yourself to some porridge made the traditional, Scottish way!Porridge has a bit of a poor reputation in some quarters. People think of it as slushy, tasteless goo that's only fit for spoon-feeding children too young to know any better! Bold claims, I know. Porridge and Other Oat Recipes:
So how do you make this legendary dish?Just in the traditional Scots' way using nothing more than oats, water, salt and (most essential!) cream.Oats are milled in several ways. The commonest way is to roll the grain to produce rolled oats or oat flakes. The oats you usually find in supermarkets have also been refined and cut so that they cook very quickly. Some have even been pre-cooked to reduce cooking time - trouble is this also reduces their nutritional value.Some of the best oats to be found are pin-head oats. The whole oats are just cut into tiny pieces - (a bit like bulgar wheat). When you make porridge with these oats the texture is dense and the flavour is incomparable. You can buy them in most health food stores and some supermarkets. If you can find organic pinhead oats, all the better. You don't have to use pin-head oats of course. Porridge made with rolled oats is fine, particularly if you buy good quality organic oats. It's probably best to avoid the more pappy processed oats, except in emergencies. The nutritional value is relatively poor, the texture and appearance is of papier-mache and the taste is practically zilch! Porridge and Other Oat Recipes:
Porridge made with pin-head oats.Ideally, you need a double boiler. The idea is to cook the porridge slowly, retaining the unique texture and nutty taste of the grain. A double-boiler enables you to cook slowly but thoroughly. A non-stick pan reduces the time needed slightly but you may prefer to avoid them as they are otherwise less environmentally friendly. Method
Makes enough for 3-4 people. Absolutely delicious! Of course some Sassenachs and the like will want to add honey, maple syrup, - or even sugar! Let them - you can enjoy your porridge in this traditional style, secure in the knowledge that you are doing it right! If you really want to eat it in the traditional way, keep the cold milk or cream (or milk and cream mixture) separate and take a spoonful of hot porridge and dip it into the cold milk each time. That way you get a wonderful contrast between the two. For the full Scots' heritage experience you should also eat it from a birch-wood bowl while standing up! Whether you are a Sassenach or a full-blooded Scot, you should find that the above recipe gives you an extremely nutritious, tasty and sustaining start to the day.
Other ways to prepare porridge
Porridge and Other Oat Recipes - picture: Porridge made with muesli using a bain-marie You can, of course, enjoy porridge in a number of ways. Many people in England like to make it from rolled oats with milk mixed in at the beginning. Or you can make it with half and half milk and water. Lots of people enjoy a spoonful of honey, syrup or jam on their porridge. One way to enjoy porridge is to make it with muesli Porridge and Other Oat Recipes: Muesli PorridgeThis is nice in winter. The method for making it is much the same as for the porridge oat recipe above. Experiment with the amount of water or milk added until you get the consistency how you like it. 2 - 3 cups of water to the cup of muesli is probably a good place to start. Mix it well to prevent the fruit sticking to the bottom of the pan. A whisk is helpful for this. Use a double-boiler if you have one. A bain-marie works well too. There are lots of other oat recipes worth trying. Oats can also be added to some dishes easily. For example, rolled oats can be added into pancake mixes for a more nutritious dessert.
Staffordshire OatcakesPorridge and Other Oat Recipes: Here's a basic recipe for oatcakes. These are traditional fare in North Staffordshire in the UK and are eaten with savoury foods for breakfast, or as a snack any time. They look like a fat pancake and they are absolutely delicious. Many families had their own closely guarded recipe, so there are a good number of different ways to make them. For the full Staffordshire experience, eat them with bacon, cheese, sausage and eggs in any combination. They have a reputation as a good hangover cure! (Yes, they are high fat prepared this way, so you might want to be sure that your overall fat intake is balanced.) You can also eat them with jam, syrup or honey. Ingredients 8oz fine oatmeal or oat flour You can make your own oatmeal by putting rolled oats into a food processor and whizzing on a high speed setting. Method Mix the salt, flour and oatmeal.
Turn the oatcake after 2 or 3 minutes when the top side looks dry and the underneath is golden brown. Cook for another 2 - 3 minutes until the whole oatcake is golden brown. Eat them as soon as possible. They can be kept in a tin for later but usually they won't be around for that long! Porridge and Other Oat Recipes: FlapjacksThere are loads of different oat recipes for flapjacks. Here's a very yummable version made with dried apricots. Of course this may be too heavy on fats and sugar if you are on a restricted diet. For most people, foods like this can be eaten in moderation as part of a healthy, balanced diet - especially if you are getting plenty of exercise! Ingredients: 100g butter, Method 1: Set oven to 180c / gas 4
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Author Edyth Young Cottrell is a research nutritionist from Loma Linda University. Her book includes how to make entrees, breads, desserts, vegetables, and more with natural unprocessed foods. There's also a section on the numerous things you can do with soy beans to make mayonnaise, creams and all sorts of low-fat, low-cholesterol nutritious foods.
How changing your diet can save your life! This book is packed with nutritional advice as well as easy, delicious recipes.
A low cost way to learn more about oat cuisine.
All you need to know about using cereals to help you slim. Includes 200 delicious fibre-rich recipes.
