How to cook oatmeal?
Morning oatmeal today is one of the main aspects of a healthy diet.For a person who leads an active lifestyle, goes in for sports and keeps track of calories, you can’t think of a more perfect dish. Such porridge is designed not only for children, but also for adults who do not like to spend time standing at the stove, as it is cooked very easily and simply.
Special features
Excellent assimilation of oatmeal in the body is due to a sufficient amount of fiber, which at the same time removes harmful toxins and slags from it. Eating oatmeal daily in the morning, a person prevents stomach problems, does not allow to increase the level of cholesterol in the blood, improves the functioning of the heart and blood vessels.
Oatmeal is considered a dietary product and is prescribed for use by doctors for various diseases. Therefore, we should not say that porridge gives extra weight, on the contrary, It promotes weight loss.
Oatmeal is an energy product, as it enriches the human body with a full set of nutrients, which gives strength and gives you good health for the whole day.
Varieties and types
The most common varieties and types of oatmeal today are:
- oatmeal "Extra";
- petal flakes, this variety is an amateur, as it has a rather specific taste;
- oatmeal, best known under the name "Hercules", by the way, it is from this type that porridge of the so-called quick preparation is prepared and packaged.
Cooking details
Today, there are several ways to make oatmeal. There are simple and complex, but they all have general rules that you need to know for proper preparation.
- The cooking speed depends on the size of the flakes: large ones cook longer than small ones. For the preparation of large, it takes 15-20 minutes, medium - 7-10 minutes, small - no more than 3-4 minutes time.
- If oatmeal is bought by weight, it is advisable to wash them from dust, spoiled grains and possible small food parasites. To avoid all these unnecessary actions, buy whole oatmeal already in ready-sorted packs, and not by weight.
- Cooking whole grain oatmeal will take longer, but they are much more useful than Herculean.
Oatmeal porridge in its pure form is not always hungry, so you can add various products to it:
- seasonal fruits - apples, pears, plums, peaches;
- seasonal berries - blueberries, raspberries;
- ready dried fruits - raisins, dried apricots, bananas, nuts of different varieties;
- various fruit preserves (more suitable for winter consumption);
- porridge can not be spoiled and dairy products, especially butter, which is always added after brewing.
Do not overcook porridge, if you want a delicious breakfast, watch the process and observe the time schedule. For cooking oatmeal it is recommended to use only non-stick dishes.
Oatmeal is a freshly prepared product and must be eaten immediately.
Oatmeal traditionally can be cooked in milk or water. The average cooking time for porridge takes no more than 15-20 minutes.
Easily and quickly cook porridge on the water at the specified recipe:
- put a pot of water (300 g) on a slow fire, add flakes (250 g);
- cook for 15-20 minutes, at this time do not forget to stir;
- after boiling add various ingredients (salt, sugar, honey) at the discretion of the chef;
- remove from heat and give later another 10 minutes under the lid.
To make porridge with milk, you will need:
- 1 cup of cereal;
- home or pasteurized milk - 2 glasses;
- butter - 50 g;
- a pinch of salt and 4 teaspoons of sugar.
Preparation Procedure:
- bring the milk to a boil, pour in flakes, salt, sugar, stir 15-20 minutes;
- remove from the stove, throw oil, let it brew for 10 minutes under the lid.
The presented recipe for cooking porridge on water and milk is known by the common name - “English porridge”.
Another fairly common recipe for making porridge on milk with water.
- The proportions are: take 100 g of oatmeal, one glass of water and 2 cups of milk.
- When the water with the flakes came to a boil, we boil the flakes, cook for 10 minutes over low heat, then pour the milk and cook for another 5 minutes.
- At the end we throw salt, sugar and mix. Once removed from the stove, you can add 25 g of oil.
Instant cooking has its own characteristics. It is not cooked, but just steamed with boiling water and will be ready for use in 3-4 minutes. Algorithm of preparation: take a deep plate, fall asleep flakes, as a rule, they already come with additional ingredients, brew with boiling water, insist a specified time and eat. This method of cooking is considered one of the fastest and most common.
But note that the ready-made oatmeal is partially devoid of useful substances, and the ingredients that have already been added to them are of unnatural origin. In this case, to increase the usefulness of instant oatmeal, buy flakes without additives.
Sugar, butter and other products can be added at home, it will be tastier.
We should also pay attention to the recipe for oatmeal for those who follow the strictest diet or are on it. Oatmeal for weight loss is not a tasty dish. Salt, sugar, butter are not added to the recipe of this porridge, even in the most minimal quantities. The calorie content of such oatmeal is 88 calories per 100 g (15 g of carbohydrates, 3 g of protein and 1.5-1.7 g of fat). Dietary oatmeal is cooked only on water. It can be cooked for 10 minutes.
The recipe is as follows: you need 200 g of water and 100 g of fine, crushed flakes. You can simply brew flakes on boiling water and leave to infuse for 15-20 minutes. The most suitable variety for the diet is whole oatmeal, but in this case it will take about one hour to make it. Diet recipe for making oatmeal is recommended for people suffering from diabetes.
If you want diet porridge, but there is no time for its long preparation, use "Hercules", but without additives, which takes only 20 minutes to cook. Of course, you will not spend a long time on such porridge, therefore it is recommended to periodically supplement the recipe with grated cinnamon or bitter chocolate, grated apples, dried fruits, but in small quantities and not every day. note that for weight loss is not suitable for quick brewing porridge.
In the slow cooker
There is nothing easier than to cook porridge in a slow cooker. Moreover, this kitchen appliance today can replace the full cooker and even the oven if the dishes are dietary in nature.
Pour milk (3 cups) or water (2 cups) into a bowl, fill in flakes (2.5 cups), sugar and salt - at the discretion of the chef. On the control panel, select "Porridge" or "Milk porridge", the cooking process is programmed for 15 minutes, it is advisable to stir the oatmeal periodically during cooking. In the process, you can add additional ingredients (honey, dried fruits, fruits, etc.).
After cooking, the dish must be thoroughly mixed and allowed to sweat for 3 minutes. To taste you can throw a little oil.
In the microwave
Oatmeal with milk or water is perfectly cooked in the microwave. If we cook in water, we take 250-300 g of flakes, 300 g of water, 2-3 teaspoons of sugar, set the timer for 5 minutes.
Cooking oatmeal on milk in the microwave is as follows. We take 400 g of flakes, 250 g of milk, 2-3 teaspoons of sugar. Timer set for 3 minutes. After that, stir insist 2 minutes, throw oil.
Brewing porridge in the microwave, use only special dishes, preferably deep. For an accelerated brewing process, use a special cap designed to cover the dish in the microwave.
See the following video for recipes for making delicious oatmeal.