How to Cook Delicious Steel Cut Oatmeal

Oats are a healthy, low-fat source of protein.

While entirely different in appearance and texture, steel cut oats come from the exact same plant as the more common rolled oats. Steel cut oats are less processed than other varieties, meaning they are cut in a steel mill and move on to packaging, unlike rolled oats which are cut, rolled flat, steamed and then packaged. The hard exterior of steel cut oats requires a longer cooking time, but the final result is well worth the effort.

Things You'll Need

• 2 saucepans
• 3 cups water
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 1 cup steel cut oats
• Wooden spoon
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon

Instructions

1. Pour 3 cups of water in a small saucepan. Put it on the stove at high heat and bring it to a boil.

2. Add 1 tbsp. unsalted butter to another saucepan while the water heats up. Put the second saucepan on the stove at medium heat to melt the butter.

3. Pour 1 cup of steel cut oats in the saucepan with the butter. Stir the oats with a wooden spoon until they're slightly toasted, about two minutes.

4. Add the boiling water to the oats. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook the oats until soft, about 25 minutes.

5. Combine 1/2 cup whole milk and 1/4 cup buttermilk. Add the milk to the oats and cook for an additional 10 minutes, stirring regularly.

6. Transfer the cooked oatmeal to a serving bowl. Mix in an additional 1/4 cup of buttermilk and top to taste with brown sugar and cinnamon.

Tips & Warnings

• Replace the brown sugar and cinnamon with your choice of fresh berries.

References

• Food Network; Steel Cut Oatmeal; Alton Brown
• "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian"; Mark Bittman; 2007