And I'm not even close to getting sick of it.
After years of protein everything, the conversation has recently shifted to fiber. According to the FDA, the average adult needs to eat 28 grams of fiber per day. When I heard that statistic, I instantly knew I wasn’t meeting the recommendation. So I looked up high-fiber foods and decided that a morning bowl of oatmeal with chia seeds and fruit was going to be key to boosting my intake. I tried a bunch of oatmeal recipes, but I finally overdid it to the point where I was closing my eyes and thinking of something else just to get the oatmeal down. I was officially sick of it.
After that, I spent a few weeks rotating between chia seed pudding and smoothies for breakfast. And that’s when I came across a breakfast video from Meredith Hayden of Wishbone Kitchen (you may know her viral beet pasta). Meredith clearly knows food: She’s a New York Times-bestselling cookbook author and has been dubbed the “Gen-Z Martha Stewart.” So when I heard her say, “I’ve made the same thing for breakfast for the past two weeks,” I was instantly sold.
Could this be my new easy breakfast? Meredith’s “hyperfixation” breakfast included a really genius way to use dates … in oatmeal. I wanted to try it, but had I overcome my oatmeal aversion? There was only one way to find out.
How to Make Date Oatmeal
@wishbonekitchenmay the oatmeal ick stay far far away from me please I beg♬ original sound – wishbonekitchen
Meredith’s date oatmeal is made by combining one package of McCann’s unflavored instant oatmeal with water, 1-1/2 to 2 ripped-up dates (specifically Joolies-brand dates) and a sprinkle of cinnamon, and microwaving the mixture for two minutes. As the water heats up, it plumps the oatmeal and the dates, with the dates breaking down and becoming so jammy and gooey they’re almost spreadable. Genius.
Even with my oatmeal ick, I knew I had to try Meredith’s oatmeal recipe. I mixed whatever quick-cooking oats I had in the pantry with a 2-1 ratio of water to oatmeal and two ripped-up, unbranded dates. I left out the cinnamon and added chia seeds instead (for the fiber!). Meredith notes that she likes a thicker oatmeal, but if you like a looser oatmeal, either add more water or shorten the cooking time. I like my oatmeal somewhere in the middle, so I microwaved mine for 1 minute and 40 seconds.
The date oatmeal was warm and delicious, with a pleasant chew and a caramel-like sweetness. It totally cured my oatmeal aversion. The dates were gooey and jammy, but the oatmeal was a little looser—more like porridge, which is how I like it. Dressed up with a few other toppings, I’ve had it every morning for weeks now, and I see no end in sight.
Date Oatmeal Variations
While Meredith enjoys her date oatmeal straight from the microwave, I top mine with raspberries, maple syrup and sometimes Bulgarian yogurt to add probiotics and a pleasant tang that cuts the sweetness. Here are some other good topping combos for date oatmeal:
- Chocolate-peanut butter: Top the date oatmeal with chocolate chips, a drizzle of peanut butter and a sprinkle of flaky salt. The sweetness of the dates is balanced with rich chocolate and salty peanut butter—just like with chocolate-covered dates.
- Pistachio, yogurt and honey: Rich, nutty pistachios pair well with the dates, and yogurt adds a little tang. All you need is a drizzle of honey for just enough sweetness to balance the flavor profile.
- Toasted coconut and granola: The bright, tropical flavor of coconut actually pairs really well with deeply sweet, caramelly dates. Add granola for even more texture, or choose a tropical-themed granola that has coconut baked right in.
- Apples and pecans: Because dates taste a bit like caramel, they’ll pair perfectly with tart apples. Pecans add a nice texture and fall flavor, making this combo taste just like nut-covered caramel apples. Include a little cinnamon while you’re at it.
- Bananas and baking spices: We’ve been obsessing over bananas lately, and bananas and dates are a knockout pairing. Cut bananas for the top, and mix baking spices like cinnamon, ginger or nutmeg into the date oatmeal.
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