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The Interesting Hot Cereal: How to Make Your Hot Grains More Fun

 

Oatmeal, porridge, and other hot grain concoctions are sometimes thought of as bland and boring.  You might only see them dowsed in sugar or hidden in bread.  But do they have to be that way?


Here at Plant to Plate, we say no!  Hot cereal can and should be an interesting, flavorful dish that you look forward to.  It can be sweet, savory, or both.


Learn how to make your next grain bowl more interesting with our tried-and-true method.  But remember that the goal of these articles is to make things easier for you!  So feel free to skip and reorder steps as needed.


In this article, we'll cover the following steps for building your Interesting Hot Cereal:


Let's get right into it!

Step 1: Pick Your Base Grain

To start, select the grain(s) you will use as the base for your Interesting Hot Cereal.  This could be 1 or more of the following:


Step 2: Measure and Simmer

Each grain has a different proportion of grain to water.  If it is a grain we have covered, this ratio will be listed in the appropriate simple uses article.  


For example, the Simple Uses for Amaranth article notes that amaranth should be cooked at a ratio of 1:3, meaning 1 part amaranth to every 3 parts water.  If you were making 1 cup of amaranth, you would use 3 cups of water.


Measure the water and bring it to a boil.


Once the water has boiled, reduce it to a simmer and add the grains.  Again, the amount of simmering time depends on the grain(s).


I strongly suggest adding 1 or more herbs to your grains while they simmer.  Simmering the grains and herbs together allows the flavors to infuse and combine, similar to soup or tea.  Here are a few of my favorite herbs to add to hot grains:


Once your grains have cooked, turn off the stove or cooktop.


Step 3: Seeds

Next, stir in seeds.  Here are a few ideas for seeds to add to your cereal:


Step 4: Sweetener

I like to add a natural sweetener, particularly if I'm doing a sweet or sweet-and-spicy cereal.  A little goes a long way.  For savory hot cereals, sometimes I add a sweetener; other times, I don't.  


Here are some ideas for sweeteners:

  • Honey
  • Maple syrup
  • Agave nectar
  • Stevia
  • Coconut sugar
  • Beet sugar


Step 5: Nut Butters and Pastes

The next step is to add 1 or more nut butters.  Here are some options to inspire your selection:

  • Peanut butter
  • Cashew butter
  • Almond butter
  • Hazelnut butter
  • Tahini
  • Hummus


Dips and creamy things like guacamole, sour cream, yogurt, or coconut yogurt can also be added in this step, especially for savory cereals.


Step 6: Produce and Additional Protein

It's produce time!  Add produce, cut or torn into bite-size (or smaller) pieces if applicable.


For sweet hot cereals, I add 1 or more types of culinary fruit.  For savory cereals, I do veggies alone or a combination of culinary fruits and vegetables.  Here are a few ideas, although the possibilities are truly endless:


For savory cereals, sautéed greens like chard or spinach can be added in with your raw produce as well.


If you don't have fresh produce on hand, preserved fruits and veggies also work.  Here are a few examples of what I mean:


You can also add more herbs and edible flowers in this step if desired such as these:


In addition to produce, this is a good time to add additional proteins like the following:

  • Peanuts
  • Cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, and other nuts
  • Cooked eggs
  • Cooked meat such as chicken or ground meats
  • Chickpeas


Step 7: Drizzle and Done!

I use a drizzle for savory or combination hot cereals more often than I do for sweet ones.  But a good drizzle can be interesting either way!


Here are a few ideas to top off your jazzed-up grains:

  • Hot sauce.  Personally I'm a fan of cayenne-based hot sauces and vinegars, homemade or storebought.
  • Herbal syrup such as peppermint syrup or cinnamon-cacao syrup, especially for sweet cereals
  • Herbal vinegar of any kind
  • Herbal oil of any (edible) kind
  • Coconut milk or coconut cream
  • Salsa
  • Peanut sauce


And enjoy!  You just made an Interesting Hot Cereal.


Read More

Some common hot cereal grains have uses in other culinary and herbal preparations.  Read more in our simple uses pages for these plants:


And check out these articles for other ways to use and preserve your harvest:

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