Steel-Cut Oats with Berries and Walnuts
Chewy steel-cut oats simmered in water and almond milk, then topped with blueberries, chopped walnuts and cinnamon. Four servings from one pot in 30 minutes.
Where This Goes Wrong
Stir with a flat-ended spoon and scrape the bottom of the pan every few minutes.
If you cook a double batch, add a splash of water to each portion before reheating; the oats keep thickening as they cool.
Toast the walnuts in a dry pan for 3 minutes if you want more crunch.
How to Make Steel-Cut Oats with Berries and Walnuts
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Bring the water, almond milk and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan.
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Stir in the oats, lower the heat so the surface barely bubbles and simmer for 25 minutes, stirring now and then, until the oats are tender but still chewy and the porridge is thick.
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Stir in the cinnamon and half of the blueberries and cook for 1 minute so they begin to burst.
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Spoon into four bowls and top with the remaining blueberries and the walnuts.
Why It Works
Steel-cut oats are whole oat groats chopped into pieces rather than rolled flat. Slow cooking is the point. They keep a chewy bite that rolled oats lose within minutes.
That is why this pot takes 25 minutes, and why it is worth the stirring. Simmer gently. Stir now and then, and the oats swell, the water turns creamy and the porridge thickens as it stands off the heat. A splash of almond milk at the start gives it body without any dairy. Never boil it hard, because the starch scorches on the bottom of the pan.
With no sugar in the pot, the sweetness comes from the fruit and the cinnamon. Blueberries cook down into the hot oats and stain them purple, and walnuts add crunch and fat, which makes the bowl more filling than oats alone. Make a double batch on Sunday if you like. It reheats well with a splash of water.
Leftovers, Reheating and Keeping
Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or a pan with a splash of water.
Good With
- A spoonful of plain Greek yogurt
- A boiled egg on the side
- Ground flaxseed stirred in at the end
Questions and Answers
How long does Steel-Cut Oats with Berries and Walnuts take to make?
About 30 minutes in total — 5 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.
What are the key tips for making Steel-Cut Oats with Berries and Walnuts?
Stir with a flat-ended spoon and scrape the bottom of the pan every few minutes. If you cook a double batch, add a splash of water to each portion before reheating; the oats keep thickening as they cool. Toast the walnuts in a dry pan for 3 minutes if you want more crunch.
What should I serve with Steel-Cut Oats with Berries and Walnuts?
A spoonful of plain Greek yogurt; A boiled egg on the side; Ground flaxseed stirred in at the end.
How should Steel-Cut Oats with Berries and Walnuts be stored?
Keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or a pan with a splash of water.
Is Steel-Cut Oats with Berries and Walnuts suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, diabetes-friendly and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Steel-Cut Oats with Berries and Walnuts?
About 262 kcal per serving, with 7 g protein, 36 g carbohydrate and 10 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Steel-Cut Oats with Berries and Walnuts Nutrition Facts
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.