When we think of oats, we often think of a cream and milk-filled recipe with added sugar and fruits.
I have had these oats on cafe menus in the past and although at first people can be sceptical, once they try them, they always love them!
They are very filling and super satisfying with the umami and aromatic flavours that shine through.
When using this recipe at home feel free to use it to clear old food from the fridge; you can easily add spinach, cheeses and other savoury items to be creative.
PHOTO: SAM SINCLAIR
Savoury oats with shitake mushrooms and egg
Serves 2
Oats:
1 cup rolled oats
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1 crushed freshly garlic clove
¼ tsp freshly crushed ginger
1 spring onion ends (white)
2 cups chicken stock
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp chilli oil
1 c shiitake mushrooms
2 Tbsp soy sauce
For garnish:
1 spring onion top (greens)
Small bunch of chives
Sesame seeds
1 poached, boiled or fried egg
Method
To start, thinly slice your mushrooms and mix in a bowl with the soy sauce. Place these on a flat tray with baking paper and roast in the oven for around 15 minutes at 190˚C or until nice and crispy. Set these aside.
Thinly slice your spring onion ends for the next step, and thinly slice the spring onion tops for your garnish.
In a medium saucepan, add your sesame oil and heat until you can see a little smoke off the oil. Add your garlic, ginger and spring onion ends and cook until lightly golden. Add your oats and keep toasting while continuously stirring these; you want them to become golden - you’ll be able to smell a nice, toasted fragrance coming from your pot now. This is a good time to add your stock and soy sauce. Continue to stir.
Stir until you have a nice creamy consistency - not too runny and not so cooked that it has gone dry. If you need to, you can add a little more stock or water to reach a nice creamy texture. Check now for seasoning. You may find you do not need any with the soy sauce already in the mix, but this is a preference.
To serve
In a medium bowl, lay a bed of your oats in the bowl, top with your roasted shiitake mushrooms, spring onion, sesame seeds, egg(s), chopped chives and chilli oil.
Remember to be creative and use this recipe to help with the shopping budget. These garnishes are just an idea of how I would eat mine, but they can be made with any kind of savoury filling.
