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Oats make a healthy breakfast cereal because of their great health benefits. Oats are a storehouse of fiber, proteins, omega3 fatty acids and folate, making them the ultimate health food. Weight watchers, diabetics and heart patients can ideally have oats for breakfast. But it is important to include oats in breakfast in different forms so that monotony does not set in.

oatsImage: finedininglovers.com

Here are 8 simple yet delicious ways of using oats to make a healthy and powerful breakfast:

1. Banana Oats Smoothie

Ingredients: Chilled bananas (chopped)-1 cup, Oats-1/2 cup, Curd (chilled)-1 cup, Honey-2 tbsp, ice cubes

Method: Mix all the ingredients in a blender till the mixture turns smooth and frothy. Pour into two glasses and serve.

2. Dalia, Oats and Apple Porridge

Ingredients: Dalia-1/4 cup, Oats-1/4 cup, Apple cubes-1 cup, Sugar-1/4 cup, Milk-1 cup, water

Method: In a pressure cooker, dry roast dalia for 2 minutes on medium flame till it gives off aroma. Follow up with oats, roasting for another minute. Add milk and a cup of water, stir and pressure cook for 2 whistles. Open the lid after the steam escapes, add sugar and apple and mix well. Serve warm.

3. Oats Dosa

Ingredients: Oats-100 grams, Sooji(semolina)-2 tbsp, Rice flour-2 tbsp, Salt to taste, Pepper powder-¼ tsp, Cumin seeds-1 tsp, Coriander leaves (chopped)-1 tbsp, Green chilli (chopped)-1, Water, Refined oil

Method: Dry roast the oats, cool and powder them. Mix all the ingredients (except refined oil) in a bowl, adding water to make reach the consistency of dosa batter. Keep it aside for 10-15 minutes. Heat 1 teaspoon of refined oil on a non stick pan, pour a ladle of dosa batter on it and spread. Cook on medium flame till it turns golden and crisp. Flip it once it is properly cooked. Serve with sambar and/or coconut chutney.

4. Oats Parantha

Ingredients: Wholewheat flour-1 cup, Oats (powdered) -1 cup, Salt to taste, Coriander powder-½ tsp, Cumin seeds powder-1 tsp, Carom seeds- ½ tsp, Chilli powder-1 tsp, Turmeric powder-½ tsp, Coriander leaves (chopped)-2 tbsp, Onions (chopped)-2 tbsp, Asafetida-a pinch, Water-for kneading the dough, Refined oil-for frying

Method: Mix wheat, oats powder in a bowl and add salt, all the dry masalas, coriander and onions, with a tablespoon of refined oil and knead parantha dough with water. Keep it in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes. Make small balls of the dough and roll them into paranthas. Cook them on both sides till crisp and golden brown, on a non stick pan using refined oil. Serve hot with curd or butter.

5. Oats Chila (Pancake)

Ingredients: Oats-1 cup (soaked in 400 ml water and drained), Chickpea flour/besan-1 cup, Onion (chopped)-1, Ginger garlic paste-¼ tsp, Asafetida-a pinch, Chilli powder-¼ tsp, Cumin seeds powder-¼ tsp, Coriander leaves (chopped)-1 tbsp, Salt to taste, Refined oil

Method: Make a smooth dosa batter by mixing besan with soaked oats, adding some water. Add salt, chilli powder, cumin seed powder, asafetida and ginger garlic paste followed by chopped onions and coriander leaves and keep stirring.

Heat some refined oil on a non stick pan, pour a ladle of the batter on it, and spread. Cook on medium flame till golden brown using refined oil. Flip the chila and cook the other side. Serve hot with tomato ketchup and/or mint chutney.

6. Oats Idli

Ingredients: Oats (dry roasted, cooled and powdered)-1½ cup, Sooji-¾ cup, Curd-1 cup, Carrot (grated)-1, Salt to taste, Eno salt-½ tsp, Water

For tempering: Mustard seeds-½ tsp, Urad dal – tsp, Asafetida a pinch, A few curry leaves (chopped), Coriander leaves (chopped)-1 tbsp, Green chilli (chopped)-1, Oil-2 tsp

Method: Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and urad dal, cooking till they sputter. Add asafetida, curry leaves, coriander leaves and chillies and sauté. Now follow up with carrot and cook for a minute. Mix in the sooji and roast till it gives aroma. Let the mixture cool down. Mix the idli batter by adding the oats powder to curd, and water if required to make an idli batter.

Add salt to taste and leave it for 15 minutes. Grease the idli moulds. Now add the eno salt to the batter and pour a tablespoon into each idli mould. Steam cook for 12-15 minutes. Serve hot with sambar and/or coconut chutney.

7. Oats Dry Fruit Cookies

Ingredients: Oats-1 cup, Wholewheat flour-2/3 cup, Butter-¾ cup, Milk-2-3 tbsp, Brown sugar-4 tbsp, Vanilla essence- a few drops, Baking powder 2 tsp, Chopped Raisins, Walnuts, Almonds-1 tbsp each

Method: Sieve together baking powder and wheat flour. Mix butter and brown sugar with a blender till the mixture is smooth and fluffy. Add milk and vanilla essence, and fold in the flour and baking powder mixture along with oats and dry fruits to make soft dough. Make small balls and flatten them into cookies (of 2 inch diameter). Bake them in pre-heated oven for 25-30 minutes at about 180 C. Cool and store in air tight jar.

8. Lemon Oats

Ingredients: Oats-1 cup, Lemon-1, Turmeric powder-a pinch, Salt to taste, Water-1 cup

For tempering: Sesame oil- 1-2 tbsp, urad dal- 1tsp, chana dal- 1 tsp, mustard- ¾ tsp, asafetida- a pinch. Curry leaves- a sprig, red chilli- 2-3

Method: Heat the oil in a pan and add all tempering ingredients, cooking on medium flame till mustard seeds splutter. Add water, turmeric powder and salt. Squeeze the lemon in it and bring to boil. Add the oats and stir. Cover and cook for 3-4 minutes on low flame. Serve hot.

You can try a new recipe every day and give your family a power packed healthy breakfast, loaded with the goodness and nutrition of healthy oats!!

What your secret recipe of a healthy breakfast?

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