Savory Eggy Oats

on March 13, 2010
in All Posts

I usually make my oatmeal sweet, using banana or canned pumpkin as the base.

 

But sometimes it’s fun to go savory!

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When making savory oats, I often cook in cottage cheese or Cheddar cheese, but today I tried making a less cheesy-base by cooking in steamed spinach and smashed kidney beans.

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And topping my oatmeal with an over-easy egg.  I love it when the yolk breaks!

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My Savory Eggy Oats contained:

 

  • 1/2 cup oatmeal
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup almond milk
  • 1/4 cup rinsed and smashed kidney beans
  • Handful of torn spinach
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Toppings: an over-easy egg

 

I bet these oats have tons of staying power as well!  Gotta love all that protein. 

 

My plans for today include relaxation and preparation for the Olympic Triathlon.  The weather is quite nice, too, so maybe I’ll go on a long walk.

 

How you do you make oatmeal?  Or do you hate oatmeal?

{ 78 comments }

 

  • Lo-Jo aka Lauren March 13, 2010, 9:12 am

    I just “confessed” to this in my blog yesterday. Honestly, I TRY to like oatmeal but it just doesn’t work!

  • jen trinque March 13, 2010, 9:14 am

    I love, love, love oatmeal. Today I had it with pumpkin, raisins, walnuts, and flax seeds. Sometimes I have it with banana, sometimes with apple, sometimes with almonds, sometimes with peanut butter, and on and on. I still haven’t tried it savory, though!

  • Ellen Collis March 13, 2010, 9:17 am

    LOVE my oatmeal. Recently I’ve been getting Quaker Oats Weight Control Banana Bread. It only has 1g of sugar, but is there a healthier kind I should be getting instead? I forgot what you said you eat. I’ve never thought of going so savory with oatmeal—what a great way to get your veggies in early! Today I had some with a small handful of dry roasted mixed nuts and a sprinkle of cinnamon. It was DELISH!

    http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/

    • Caitlin March 13, 2010, 9:24 am

      i just get regular plan oatmeal and flavor it myself. i bet the brand your buying has artificial sugars in it?

      • Ellen Collis March 13, 2010, 9:29 am

        Yes, eek, I just looked at the ingredients! I’m going to get plain from now on and jazz it up with my own toppings like you!

        • Caitlin March 13, 2010, 9:32 am

          usually ANYTHING that is “diet” or “weight control” has tons of artificial sugars in it. i would rather just eat real sugar. 🙂

        • Ellen Collis March 13, 2010, 9:38 am

          I’m pretty sure I knew that, but I just needed someone to REMIND me 🙂 The packaged stuff always seems easier, but I know it’s not healthier!

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg March 13, 2010, 9:25 am

    I love savory oats with soy sauce, avocado, and mushrooms for lunch! Delicious!

    • jackie March 13, 2010, 11:00 am

      that actually sounds really good!! i will have to try it!

  • Alicia March 13, 2010, 9:25 am

    I made savory oats this AM too: cooked 2/3 cups oats with salt, pepper, garlic powder and red pepper flakes. Towards the end, I added some egg whites to it. Took the oats, topped it with pepper jack cheese, then nuked it to melt the cheese for about a minute. Topped it with one sunny side egg, mixed and enjoyed! I love the runny yolk too!

  • Matt March 13, 2010, 9:29 am

    I need to try that!

  • Heather March 13, 2010, 9:29 am

    I love both sweet and savory oatmeal. My husband and I just made savory oatmeal again after a few month hiatus and realized it needs to be made more often.

    I like sweeter oatmeal for breakfast and savory for dinner…

  • Evan Thomas March 13, 2010, 9:30 am

    I do 1/2 steel cuts and 1/2 oatbran with 5 times the water as grains and microwave for 3 minutes with a pinch of sea salt. It’s perfect every time!

  • Marissa March 13, 2010, 9:30 am

    I tried oatmeal for the first time 3 years ago. Now I love it! My favorite is oatmeal + Frank’s. Yum!!

  • Freya @ Brit Chick Runs March 13, 2010, 9:32 am

    I always do mine with a banana and a cup of milk, topped with cereal types, grape nuts, peanut butter, a cookie on occasions….
    I LOVE OATMEAL!!
    Stirring in cheese and veg works well if it’s for dinner too 😀

  • Madeline - Greens and Jeans March 13, 2010, 9:36 am

    Recently I’ve been using a 1/4 c quick oats and 1/4 c hot cereal in my oatmeal mix. The hot cereal adds a little crunch! I will put pretty much anything in it, but a banana and cinnamon is almost always involved.

  • Juli March 13, 2010, 9:38 am

    I am all about the oatmeal– steel cut is my favorite except it takes longer to cook than most others- so I usually overnight oat it in the fridge. I’m all about putting protein powder and nut butter in my oatmeal (weird?)- that way I have my carbs, fat, and protein in one on the go way.

    Right now I’m all about the green monsters in the am- maybe because it’s getting warmer now in dc.

  • Amy B (Second City Randomness) March 13, 2010, 9:39 am

    ha ha… I just talked about this yesterday, too! I’m a big fan of doing “special dessert” oatmeal every once in while when it’s been a long week- complete with chocolate chips! But usually I just stick to some kind of nut butter,flax, and a little kashi for crunch. 🙂

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is March 13, 2010, 9:40 am

    I love oatmeal, but I’m still too scared to try savory oats!

  • Jes March 13, 2010, 9:52 am

    I like mine with pumpkin!!!

  • Susan - Nurse on the Run March 13, 2010, 10:25 am

    I haaaaate oatmeal! The texture really gets me, and I don’t like the taste all that much. I know that’s blasphemy in the healthy living blog world, but it’s true…can’t stand it!

  • Jenny March 13, 2010, 10:27 am

    Ive never had savory oats- I feel brave enough to try the egg, I’m not so sure about the kidney beans;)

    hope that brother/sister bickering ends soon!

  • Diana (Mymarblerye) March 13, 2010, 10:33 am

    good luck on everything caitlyn! BTW I always love my oats plain with dollops of pb/ab…side note i’m on vacation right now and drinking beer like it’s no tomorrow. thought of you. 🙂

  • Penny March 13, 2010, 10:37 am

    I have been wanting to try savory oatmeal ever since I first saw it on the blogosphere. I have been thinking about a mix that would suit me.
    I must admit to being a little scared of trying it. 🙂 It kinda goes against the norm. 🙂

  • Kelly @ Healthy Living With Kelly March 13, 2010, 10:48 am

    I love oatmeal but I am kind of plain. I like a little brown sugar and typically that’s it.

  • Cassie @ A Very Busy Mind March 13, 2010, 10:58 am

    LOVE oatmeal, but I almost always do some sort of nut butter + fruit + cereal/granola topping combo. Those savory oats look absolutely delicious, though! Especially since scrambled eggs with spinach, tomatoes, and peppers used to be one of my fav breakfasts.

    I’m thinking your creation would even be a good lunch or dinner!

  • Amber K @ sparkpeople March 13, 2010, 11:05 am

    I love the taste of oatmeal mixed with fruit and sometimes peanut butter. But the oats aren’t always nice to my intestines! So I can’t eat it too often. But yum!

    Savory doesn’t look too appealing to me although I do eat quinoa in a savory fashion. I haven’t tried quinoa in the sweet fashion you have in your breakfast recipes. But maybe I’ll have to swap the two and see what I like!

  • Elizabeth (The Dallas Celiac) March 13, 2010, 11:16 am

    I don’t eat oats often but when I do, I make it with soymilk, cottage cheese, tons of cinnamon and maple syrup.

  • Stephanie March 13, 2010, 11:17 am

    Yum! That oatmeal looks fantastic! I keep thinking about making savory oats with an egg, but I could never figure out what else to add. I will definitely have to try this.

  • Erika March 13, 2010, 11:22 am

    I am in complete and utter love with oatmeal 🙂 I could eat it every day and not get bored of it 🙂 I my newest favorite way to eat oatmeal is with a little cinnamon and a dab of brown sugar with an egg white puff on top – yum…of course my ol standby favorite is taking a little apple cooked in with the oats then topping with sliced banana, nonfat milk, cinnamon and a touch of sugar for sweet – holy YUM!!! Have never tried savory oats, but may just have to give it a go 🙂

    Have a great time tomorrow 🙂 Will be rooting for ya from Washington state 😉

  • Paige @ Running Around Normal March 13, 2010, 11:26 am

    I’ve always kept saying “I need to try savory oats!” However, I just really don’t think I ever will! I love the sweet ones too much, and don’t want to ruin it. I stick with rice and quinoa to make savory 😉
    It does look good, though!

  • christel March 13, 2010, 11:40 am

    I LOVE oatmeal. Lately I’ve been doing the oatmeal breakfast cookie, but I also love some savory oats. I’ve yet to add pumpkin and I LOVE pumpkin. THink I’ll give it a try tomorow.
    Have a great time tomorrow!

  • Deva (Voracious Vorilee) March 13, 2010, 11:54 am

    I love making my oats with brown sugar, butter, and milk – but haven’t made them that way in a LONNNNG time. Lately I’ve been into banana oats with nut butter :-). I haven’t tried savory yet, and want to. I like the idea of the runny egg yolk, but I can’t eat undercooked/raw eggs – they make my mouth itch!

  • Julie March 13, 2010, 11:55 am

    I can only do savory oats for dinner, my morning oats must be sweet. Actually any breakfast I have has to be sweet. I always make my oats with banana and PB and raisins…sweet 🙂

  • kalli@fitandfortysomething March 13, 2010, 11:58 am

    i love your savory oats. i remember you posted another savory recipe where you put cheese in them and i still want to make that recipe!

  • Mary March 13, 2010, 12:02 pm

    I loooooooooooooove savory oats!! It’s my fav way to eat them… I like 1 TBS shrap shredded chadar mixed in to the oats with 1 TBS chia seeds.. Topped with an over easy egg and another TBS of cheese & hot sauce. YUM

  • abi March 13, 2010, 12:17 pm

    hey caitlin! would you consider doing a post on biking tips? e.g. pulling up on the pedal with your legs versus pushing down, that sort of technique? I can never maintain a nice cadence etc – any tips along those lines? thanks!!

  • Traci March 13, 2010, 12:20 pm

    Never tried svory oats, but sound delish. Myself? I usually keep it simple with some cinnamon, maybe some blueberries.

  • Carolyn March 13, 2010, 12:22 pm

    I say if I’m gonna do savory oats, I’ll go with grits! Mmmmmm!!

  • alli March 13, 2010, 12:27 pm

    mmmmm! that looks so goooood! although everything looks good right now! (i just did my longest run-18 miles! yikes! btw,i re-read your 18 mile post for extra motivation beforehand…..it totally helped!!!!)
    i always go sweet with oatmeal, i’m afraid if i make them savory i might not like them and have to start all over again! perhaps today is the day!

  • Kristin (Cook, Bake and Nibble) March 13, 2010, 12:35 pm

    I love sweet oats, especially ones filled with banana and cinnamon. I am also a fan of overnight oats mixed with organic vanilla yogurt. Oat bran is my favourite type of oats- it puffs up HUGE- so filling! I have yet to try savoury oats, however I like ANYTHING with eggs… so I’m sure I would like savoury breakfast oats!!

    xo
    K

  • Melissa (It's a Veggieful Life) March 13, 2010, 12:39 pm

    I’ve been using Mom’s Best Naturals Quick Oatmeal with almond, rice, or coconut milk. After it’s cooked, I add banana, pecans, a little brown sugar OR I do the cashew butter with some greek yogurt mash. Either way, I love it. Hubby hates oatmeal, don’t think he’d try it even with an egg on top. 🙂

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing March 13, 2010, 12:45 pm

    I still haven’t tried savory oats. Need to though!!!! I’m just so used to oats being sweet that I have to get past that mental block in my mind and go for it!
    LOVE runny yolks 🙂

  • Patti Bevans March 13, 2010, 1:02 pm

    I have never heard of savory oats. I eat oatmeal almost every day. My favorite is oatmeal waffles with pecans. Yummy! Or just a bowl of oats with apples, raisins and brown sugar. Not sure how I feel about veggies in my oatmeal!

  • Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] March 13, 2010, 1:05 pm

    You’re turning into Angela more and more every day : ) Hate oatmeal?!? Gosh no! I just finished a piping hot bowl of banana walnut cinnamon oats – yummm!

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) March 13, 2010, 1:09 pm

    I always go sweet with oats too, but savory is such a fun change of tastes! I love adding a bit of salsa, a fried egg on top and a small peice of wholegrain cornbread. Avocados and black beans make a fun addition too. 😀

  • Laura Georgina March 13, 2010, 1:34 pm

    I definitely need to try savory oats. Not only do they look interesting, but they’d REALLY freak out the officemates, who already think that my oatmeal with banana is weird!

  • Lisa March 13, 2010, 1:37 pm

    I love oats, but I’m just not ready to try savory. I love adding banana, other fruits, and pb. So good. I love cottage cheese, but I just can’t wrap my mind around what they would taste like together!

  • Amanda March 13, 2010, 1:42 pm

    How did they taste? I made savory oatmeal once and I didn’t much care for it, I thought the flavors would have gone better in grits.

    • Caitlin March 13, 2010, 5:37 pm

      good! i love savory oats every now and then.

  • Jacquelyn March 13, 2010, 1:43 pm

    I love oatmeal! I make it almost every day.
    My favourite oatmeal recipe goes like this:
    – 1/3 cup of oats
    -2/3 to 3/4 cup of water
    – 1 tbsp ground flax
    – 1 tsp brown sugar
    – 1/2 smashed banana
    – 2 tsp of nut butter (I like almond and hazelnut)
    – 1/2 tsp nutmeg
    – 1/2 tsp cinnamon
    – splash of vanilla Almond Breeze

    Basically, cook the oatmeal over the stove as you normally would. Smash a banana to the consistency you want, and add everything together! Delish!

  • kate March 13, 2010, 1:51 pm

    i usually stick to sweet oats but i love to spice it up with something savory once in a while. i get stick of bananas in it! have a great weekend 🙂

  • Jacquie March 13, 2010, 2:01 pm

    I love oatmeal, but I usually have it as a sweet thing rather than savory. I’ve never tried them savory and while it sounds interesting, the sweet recipes curb my sweet tooth in a healthy way. My favorite right now is either my “triple apple pie” oats with apple sauce, apple butter and spice mixed into the oats with caramelized apple and barney butter on top or my “blueberry banana bread” oats with 1/2 smashed, 1/2 chunked banana and spice mixed into the oats with blueberries and barney butter on top. YUM!

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) March 13, 2010, 2:38 pm

    i either stir in a banana or pumpkin…the whole savory thing kinda scares me! i just think about the texture with savory and it gives me the shivers (guess i’m just weird like that)! hope the relax/prep time is just what you need! you’re going to do so well!

  • Lola March 13, 2010, 2:56 pm

    Nowadays, I almost always go for savory. Here are my faves:
    -peas (love the way they pop in your mouth), cheese, hot sauce, seasoning, flax, topped with runny egg.
    -curry oats! add any veg, tomato paste, curry powder, you get the idea.
    -a BOMB way to eat oats is normal sweet (banana, raisins, cinn, nutmeg, walnuts, vanilla, etc) AND topped with a runny egg. TASTES LIKE FRENCH TOAST.

  • Run Sarah March 13, 2010, 2:59 pm

    That looks like an awesome, balanced breakfast. I am still nervous about trying savoury oats, though!

  • Lindsay (Waking Up Hungry) March 13, 2010, 3:02 pm

    I tend to prefer my breakfasts pretty basic and savory. Very rarely will I eat a very sweet breakfast. I stick to eggs a lot. Now I do love oatmeal too, so this combo looks amazing! I’ll be sure to try it out!

  • Monica @ Musings of the Granola Girl March 13, 2010, 3:51 pm

    i prefer overnight oats to oatmeal, i can’t seem to find a combo that i “love”

    those savory ones look delish, though!

  • Jessica March 13, 2010, 3:53 pm

    Yeaaaa, I may or may not have oatmeal EVERY morning when i’m at school….and I may or may not have had some today 🙂 But it’s always of the sweet variety!!!!

    Caitlin! I wanna try the savory style soooo badly but sometimes super “eggy”-tasting or cheesy things gross me out. Its the texture!!

    This looks amazing though. I just need to do the damn thang and make some!

  • Caroline March 13, 2010, 4:02 pm

    I love plain old nut butter oatmeal. The only difference is that I love to cook the blueberries into the oats. This brings out their natural sweetness and adds a gorgeous color. Then I top with TWO spoons of AB for more creamy deliciousness and staying power.

    When I make savory oats, I cook with salt and pepper and I cook them in CHICKEN STOCK…I know you’re vegetarian, so maybe some kind of boullion or vegetable broth would mimic this effect. The stock adds so much richness and flavor.

  • John March 13, 2010, 4:08 pm

    I love my smoothies so I just add the oatmeal uncooked to them each morning.

  • Dynamics March 13, 2010, 4:59 pm

    I HATE oatmeal. I wish I liked it. You make me want to attempt oatmeal again. Your bowls always look delicious. I am a scrambled egg person. One egg, half cup egg whites, 1 oz cheese and from there I add whatever I am in the mood for. Yummy. Funny thing, I LOVE oatmeal cookies.

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) March 13, 2010, 5:53 pm

    I used to hate oatmeal, and now I LOVE it! Toppings are key!

  • Joanne March 13, 2010, 6:33 pm

    Oatmeal is my breakfast staple Mon – Fri. I always sweeten it with raisins, banana or pumpkin. I add 1 TBS natural peanut butter. It is always made with water – nothing creamy. Sometimes, I’ll chop some apple in it. I try to keep it as natural as possible. My favorite is steel cut oats. I love the texture.

  • Joanne March 13, 2010, 6:35 pm

    One more thing and most important: Best wishes in your event tomorrow. You are going to do great! Remember that you want to do this Tri. so badly and the anxiety isn’t going to accomplish anything. Think positive and do your best. All your blogger friends are going to be there with you mentally. Can’t wait to hear what a great time you had. 🙂

  • lauren @ Eater not a runner March 13, 2010, 6:44 pm

    Good luck tomorrow!! Can’t wait to hear all about it 🙂

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) March 13, 2010, 6:55 pm

    I love regular rolled oats with a diced apple, cinnamon and raw crunchy almond butter.

  • Brigid March 13, 2010, 7:35 pm

    Good luck on the Tri…..you’ll do great!

  • Laura March 13, 2010, 7:40 pm

    Good luck tomorrow! Sending you good vibes for a fantastic and fun race! I love oatmeal. Never tried savory…hmmm. I use 1/2 c. oats, 1 c. water, 1 tsp. brown sugar, and 1/2 c. frozen blueberries…sometimes a dash of vanilla extract.

  • M. March 13, 2010, 7:48 pm

    I like scottish oatmeal the best…I microwave frozen wild blueberries and when I pour it on oats ,the berries are warm and juicy and liquidy-tasts like blueberry PIE!And I add a huge spoonful of crunchy natural P.B. of course!

  • cassie @ www.losinginthecity.blogspot.com March 13, 2010, 8:36 pm

    i love my oatmeal with vanilla soy milk, chopped bananas and grated orange peel, it adds a bit of zest to my oatmeal… i hate oatmeal with water and no milk…

  • Jenna March 13, 2010, 9:35 pm

    interesting bowl of oats ya got there with spinach and an over easy egg!
    Jenna

  • Rachel March 13, 2010, 9:57 pm

    Hmmmm… I think I will take your word for it on the savory oats. But I DO love plain and sweet oatmeal.
    Good luck tomorrow. You are going to ROCK that tri!!!

  • Margaret March 13, 2010, 10:00 pm

    I LOVE oatmeal. Steel cut oats are my favorite, with half a banana, cinnamon and a smidge of peanut butter. The savory oats are intriguing, but I think I’d prefer the sweet ones. I should give the savory ones a try sometime though!

  • Susan March 14, 2010, 11:35 am

    Oooh, love the kidney bean idea! I bet baked beans would be good in oatmeal too. I’m an equal oatmeal lover, I’ll take it sweet or savoury. Few things are better than a runny egg yolk in hot creamy oatmeal though. Mmmmm 🙂

  • katerina March 14, 2010, 11:39 am

    Try thinly sliced green onions or chives. I think they totally make savoury oatmeal!

  • Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday March 14, 2010, 8:50 pm

    Oats topped with a poached egg. Perfect.

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