INSTANT POT STEEL CUT OATS (Sweet or Savoury)

Steel Cut Oats topped with blueberries, raspberries, golden berries, hemp hearts, bee pollen, chocolate strawberry grain-free granola, and salted caramel peanut butter. These oats were cooked for 5 minutes for a slightly chewy consistency.

Until recently, I rarely made steel cut oats.  Don’t get me wrong — I have always loved how chewy, nutty and hearty they are, but I just didn’t love standing over the stove babysitting them for half an hour.  Now that I have an Instant Pot, steel cut oats have become a breakfast staple at my house. They’re easy, virtually hands-off, and clean up is a cinch. I can set the timer to have them ready to go in the morning, or make a big batch as part of my meal prep.

Steel cut oats are incredibly versatile and nutritious.  They are a great source of vitamins and minerals including thiamine, iron, and zinc, as well as disease-fighting antioxidants.  Each serving (1/4 cup dry oats) contains 7 grams of plant-based protein and 5 grams of fibre. The powerful soluble fibre in oats known as beta-glucan can help to reduce blood cholesterol, improve blood sugar control, promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut, and increase feelings of satiety.

Below I have provided my base recipe which is simple and easy to make. Just add toppings and enjoy, or “doctor up” your oats to suit your fancy. Try matcha, grated zucchini & cinnamon, almond butter, cacao powder and chocolate chips, peanut butter & chia jam, or savoury oats with a fried or poached egg — the options are endless!

When making steel cut oats in the Instant Pot, it’s not necessary to soak them overnight.  However, you certainly can pre-soak them if preferred for better digestion.  It also makes the oats super creamy!

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 1 cup gluten-free steel cut oats

• 2 cups unsweetened almond or nut-free milk (see note below*)

• 1 cup canned organic coconut milk (full-fat or light)

• 1/4 cup Nuzest Clean Lean Smooth Vanilla or Just Natural (for savoury) protein powder (optional)

• 2 to 4 Tbsp Lakanto Golden sugar-free monk fruit sweetener, raw honey (nonvegan), or pure maple syrup (optional, use more if prefer sweeter oats and omit for savoury)

• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract (optional)

• 1/4 tsp pink Himalayan or sea salt

• optional sweet toppings: berries, hemp hearts, yogurt or ricotta, granola, diced protein bar, coconut chips, bee pollen, Giddy Yo cacao bar or chocolate-covered golden berries, raw honey (non-vegan), peanut or nut butter, or toppings of choice

• optional savoury toppings: poached or fried eggs, avocado, grated Parmesan, Rich Greens microgreens, sriracha, Eaton Hemp toasted hemp seeds or hemp hearts, or toppings of choice

Note:  I like to use my Almond Cow to make homemade plant-based milk.  If the oats have been pre-soaked, reduce almond milk from 2 cups to 1 1/2 cups.

Savoury Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats topped with avocado, grated Parmesan, Rich Greens pea shoots & red radish microgreens, sriracha, Eaton Hemp toasted hemp seeds, and a fried egg.

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats topped with frozen blueberries & golden berries, diced GoMacro protein bar, trail mix, Lakanto sugar-free chocolate chips, bee pollen, and salted caramel peanut butter.

Directions:

1. Grease the Instant Pot with cooking oil (I like to use coconut oil or spray avocado oil).

2. Put oats, almond milk, coconut milk, protein powder, sweetener (if using), vanilla (if using), and salt in the Instant Pot and whisk to combine.

3. Secure the lid and set to pressure cook on high for 5 to 10 minutes, followed by a natural pressure release (see note below*).

4. Remove lid carefully, stir, and allow to cool slightly to thicken.  Serve with your choice of toppings.

*Notes: Adjust cooking time to desired consistency. Pre-soaked oats will be creamy after 5 minutes, although I prefer them after 9. Oats that haven’t been pre-soaked will be chewy after 5 minutes and soft and creamy after 10 minutes.

Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat on the stove over medium heat, adding additional almond or coconut milk as needed.

Vanilla Blueberry Steel Cut Oats topped with diced protein bar, Rawcology grain-free granola, blueberries, Giddy Yo chocolate-covered golden berries, and salted caramel peanut butter. These oats were pre-soaked and cooked for 5 minutes for a super creamy consistency.

Almond Butter Steel Cut Chia Oats made as above with Nuzest Clean Lean Just Natural protein and the addition of 1/4 cup almond butter and 2 Tbsp chia seeds. Topped with diced banana, avocado, berries, Eaton Hemp hemp hearts, and more almond butter.