I recently met with a friend for coffee, who told me that in October this year she is travelling to Thailand, Dubai, and somewhere else that my ever increasing jealousy causes me to forget. She feels the need to tone it all up and get her bikini body ready (she is stunning, and has no such need), but wasn't sure what to eat in order to achieve her goal. Her main issue was breakfast- what did I eat for breakfast, being a healthy recipe fanatic? Porridge. Unfortunately she isn't keen on porridge. Or nut butters. Which are two of my diet staples. Okay, well, cereal with fruit was an option, and various things on toast. But what about those days these things just don't cut it? And you want something new to add a dollop of Nutella to?? Well, we established a love of berries and bananas, and a willingness to try baked oatmeal. So Elle, this one's for you.
Now, if you aren't a porridge fan never fear; this recipe is somewhere in between a regular baked oatmeal (think somewhere between the density of thick porridge, and a cookie dough due to the crispy top), and a baked soufflé. What does this is the egg white. It creates a lighter, more airy texture- but I promise you, it doesn't taste like egg at all. If you want a more densely textured version of this baked oatmeal then leave the egg white out.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup porridge oats (not the instant ones; proper oats)
- 1/4 cup plant based milk (such as unsweetened almond, soya, oat etc. or skimmed/ semi skimmed cows milk)
- 1tsp vanilla essence
- 1/2tsp runny honey (you can double this if you like it a little sweeter)
- Dash of cinnamon
- 1 medium banana (super ripe; I'm talking yellow skin and brown freckles people!)
- 2 large strawberries
- 1 handful blueberries
- 1/4tsp baking powder
- 1/4tsp bicarbonate soda
Method
- Preheat the oven to 190*c
- Cut your banana in half, and mash one half until creamy (but with some chunks) in a dish. To this add the milk, the vanilla, and the honey. Beat together.
- In a separate bowl combine the oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and bicarb. Stir together.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ones, and throw in the handful of blueberries. Chop one of the strawberries into chunks and add this into the mixture too. Fold the berries into the oatmeal, and then pour into an ovenproof dish.
- Slice the remaining 1/2 banana and the remaining strawberry into slices. Use these, and a few more blueberries, to decorate the top of your baked oatmeal, before placing the dish into the oven for 20 minutes.
- Once the 20 minutes are up remove from the oven, and allow the baked oatmeal to cool for 3-5 minutes. When this time has passed you can enjoy your breakfast - without burning your mouth!
Labels: baked oatmeal, balanced diet, banana, berries, breakfast, Food, healthy breakfast, oatmeal, vegetarian, vegetarian recipe, weight loss recipe
