But still, Peter laments, oats are "part abandoned, stuck out in the margins, with almost no agent at all." Poor, fussy-seeming oats—always second fiddle to breakfast cereal. They could use some dignifying—and some demystifying.
Look no further: With Peter's 4-step plan, you will give oatmeal the respect—and butter—it deserves, and oatmeal will give you a satisfying, dare-we-say-easy, 30-minute breakfast (for 10 of those, you can be in the shower):
1
Chill out on the measurements.
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2
Take the time to soak your oats.
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Soak the oats in the cold water (remembering the ratio above), along with a good pinch of salt, for 10 minutes. ("Go take your shower," Peter suggests.)
3
Treat it like risotto. Yes, risotto.
3
Treat it like risotto. Yes, risotto.
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"Treat it with a small nod to risotto and grain," advises Peter, so that you can monitor and control the consistency: Heat a small kettle or pot of water and leave it to simmer, "as you would stock for risotto," alongside the soaking oats, simmering over medium-heat.
As the oatmeal bubbles and thickens, add hot water from the kettle or pot, 1/4 cup at a time, directly into the pan. Let the oatmeal gel—if it's too thick, drizzle in a bit more of the boiling water. Your oatmeal should be ready in no more than 5 minutes. "You will see that it has unified, and thickened—choose the consistency you want, adding a little more water until you get there."
4
You've come this far: Finish with a bang (and a pat of butter).
As the oatmeal bubbles and thickens, add hot water from the kettle or pot, 1/4 cup at a time, directly into the pan. Let the oatmeal gel—if it's too thick, drizzle in a bit more of the boiling water. Your oatmeal should be ready in no more than 5 minutes. "You will see that it has unified, and thickened—choose the consistency you want, adding a little more water until you get there."
4
You've come this far: Finish with a bang (and a pat of butter).
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"When you have the oatmeal where you want it, turn the heat off and cover well. Add a good pat of cold butter and let it sit, covered, for 2 minutes."
Ladle the oatmeal into hot bowls—"silly to come this way and then use cold bowls," writes Peter. It's simple to heat them up: Simply pour over a bit of the hot water from the kettle you heated alongside the oats.
Add brown sugar first, so it has time to melt, then fold in a tablespoon of whipped cream (which, magically, lightens and enriches) and garnish with good, fresh granola and dried fruit.
Cinnamon bread, or monkey bread, toasted, buttered, and then broken into pieces can—and should—also be added at the last moment. Sweet croutons.
Share your best oatmeal tip in the comments below.
By Sarah Jampel
Courtesy Food52
Ladle the oatmeal into hot bowls—"silly to come this way and then use cold bowls," writes Peter. It's simple to heat them up: Simply pour over a bit of the hot water from the kettle you heated alongside the oats.
Add brown sugar first, so it has time to melt, then fold in a tablespoon of whipped cream (which, magically, lightens and enriches) and garnish with good, fresh granola and dried fruit.
Cinnamon bread, or monkey bread, toasted, buttered, and then broken into pieces can—and should—also be added at the last moment. Sweet croutons.
Share your best oatmeal tip in the comments below.
By Sarah Jampel
Courtesy Food52
