What better way to start your morning than with a delicious bowl of oat pudding? Tasty, quick, with many benefits for the body, you can season oat pudding with various toppings: from fresh or dried fruit, chocolate, seeds and nuts, to jam or yogurt, with which you will get a variety of flavors and textures .

In addition, oat pudding offers a feeling of long-term satiety, thanks to the fiber and protein content, so you will avoid sweet and unhealthy snacks much more easily and you will come to love this dish all the more.

Contents:

1. Oat pudding - method of preparation

1.1. Oat pudding ingredients for 2 people

1.2. Oatmeal pudding - delicious tips and tricks

2. Oatmeal pudding: 7 types of toppings

3. Pudding with oats and other seeds: benefits for your health

1. Oat pudding - method of preparation

The oat pudding recipe is not only simple and quick to prepare, but also brings you a lot of benefits, in addition to the dose of energy needed for breakfast. Of course, you can serve it at another time of the day, but it is one of the best ways to start your day.

How is it prepared? In 7 simple steps:

1. In a non-stick pan, on medium heat, add the milk and/or water and wait until they reach the boiling point.
2. When the boiling process has started, add the oats and mix well, gently, but continuously, to avoid the formation of lumps.
3. Reduce the flame to a low heat and keep stirring continuously, to prevent the porridge from sticking to the bottom of the pot and burning. Let the pudding simmer on low heat for about 5-7 minutes, or until the oats have absorbed most of the liquid and become soft and creamy.
4. If you want, this is the point where you can add a pinch of salt and your favorite essence, for an extra flavor.
5. Take the pot off the heat and let the pudding cool a little.
6. After the pudding has cooled, it's time to transfer it to the serving bowls and add the chosen toppings.
7. Serve warm oat pudding and enjoy a delicious and nutritious breakfast or snack.

With this simple and quick method, you will immediately get an oat pudding with a creamy texture, rich in proteins and fibers.

Alternatively, you can prepare the oat pudding overnight, if you want to avoid heat treatment:

1. In a bowl, mix the oats and milk (or water) until you get a homogeneous mixture. You can adjust the amount of milk depending on the desired texture (more milk, for a more liquid texture, or less milk, for a denser texture).
2. Add the natural sweetener (if you want) and the chosen essence (also optional, of course).
3. Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight, or at least 4-6 hours. In this way, the oats will absorb the liquid and the consistency of pudding will be formed.
4. Before serving, remove the bowl from the refrigerator and mix well to homogenize.

Serve the oat pudding in individual bowls, after adding your favorite toppings, no matter what they are.

You can enjoy the oat pudding immediately, but if you want to heat it, you can do it in the microwave for a few seconds, or directly on the flame, on low heat, stirring constantly, until it reaches the right temperature.

1.1. Oat pudding ingredients for 2 people

Oatmeal pudding is almost the perfect recipe, because it requires only two main ingredients:

• a measure ofinstant oatmeal ;
• 3 measures of milk or water;
• optional: a pinch of salt, to enhance the aroma
• optional: protein powder ;
• optional: flavors and sweeteners .

You can opt for an essence of vanilla, rum, almonds, coconut, etc. and honey, or other sweetener, depending on preferences.

Practically, at this point, the pudding can be served as such. However, if you want to enrich it with other flavors and nutrients, then add your favorite topping: fresh or dried fruits, nuts, seeds, butter, chocolate, jam, etc.

Alternatively, if you prefer to measure everything accurately when cooking, rather than improvising and letting yourself go, the ingredients will be:

• 125 gramsof instant oatmeal ;
• 240 ml of milk (vegetable or animal) or water;
• a pinch of salt;
• optional: half a teaspoon of vanilla essence (or other essence);
• optional: a spoonful of honey or other sweetener (the more natural, the better).

After you cook it for the first time, you will realize what needs to be adjusted to bring it closer to your taste: more or less milk, more or less essence, bigger or finer flakes, etc. The important thing is to try, and with time you will discover the perfect recipe for you.

1.2. Oatmeal pudding - delicious tips and tricks

Oatmeal pudding is not a sophisticated or pretentious dish, but there are some secrets that can take it from "very good" to "absolutely delicious". Here they are:

• Do not cook the oats more than necessary. Through heat treatment, part of the nutrients and benefits can be lost. Oats should only be cooked until they absorb the liquid and become soft and creamy.
• Use milk for a creamier pudding . Even if you choose to combine it with water, adding half the required amount of each, the milk adds fat and protein, giving the pudding a smoother texture.
• Add a pinch of salt. Unless you follow a strict regimen, a pinch of salt will enhance the flavors, and the taste will be fuller and richer.
• For the creamiest pudding, choose more finely chopped flakes. The larger flakes are less processed and will give you a more consistent texture, but with the more finely chopped ones, if you prefer them, the pudding will be much smoother.
• Personalize with toppings. To turn oat pudding into a truly delicious dish, add everything you like: from fruits and seeds to jam and chocolate.
• Part of the secret of oat pudding lies in the correct cooking. Remember to mix continuously , to obtain a uniform consistency and to avoid the formation of lumps.

The secret of oat pudding consists in choosing the right ingredients and method, in order to obtain the desired texture and aromas. With a little attention, you will be able to prepare an absolutely delicious and healthy oat pudding, perfect from the first try.

2. Oatmeal pudding: 7 types of toppings

You can turn a seemingly banal oat pudding into complex, sophisticated recipes, full of color and flavor. We present you only 7 examples of such transformations, and further it is only up to your preferences and creativity to find the ideal additions.

• Bananas and nuts . How about an oat pudding with bananas and walnuts? The banana slices will naturally sweeten the pudding, and the walnuts will create that delicious balance between sweet and crunchy. To add a pleasant aromatic note, you can add a teaspoon of maple syrup over the topping, and if you want to go all the way, you can also sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon, and the aroma will be perfect.
• Peanut butter and jam (diet, of course). Jams are delicious, but they can be full of sugar and calories, which makes you stay away from them. However, there are jams and jams without added sugar : the only sugar they contain is the natural sugar from the fruits. These can sweeten your morning, without ruining your figure, accompanying a butter rich in healthy fats: peanuts , almonds, cashews or hazelnuts, possibly enriched with proteins.
• Chocolate and raspberry. You can replace the raspberries with blueberries, strawberries or other berries, if you like. These are excellent sources of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and can color your morning, giving you, in addition, a boost of energy. Dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa is also a source of antioxidants, especially flavonoids, which can enrich your daily intake of nutrients.
• Tropical topping: mango, coconut and macadamia nuts . Choose a ripe mango, peel it and cut it into cubes or thin slices, for sweetness and freshness. Use freshly grated coconut flakes or pieces of fresh coconut to give the topping an exotic touch and a crunchy texture. Last but not least, macadamia nuts are rich in healthy fats and have a delicate texture: you can use them raw, fried or salted, according to your preferences.
• Cherries, chia and yogurt . Choose fresh cherries (or frozen, if they are not in season), and they will add color and a sweet-sour flavor to your pudding. Chia seeds are rich in fiber, protein and Omega-3 fatty acids, essential for health. In addition, they will create a very interesting gelatinous texture. The yogurt should be Greek or natural: plain, without sugar or artificial flavors, because the fruits will flavor it in the most beautiful way possible.
• Peaches, pistachio and pomegranate . This cheerful and colorful topping also belongs to the "sweet and crunchy" category. The pieces of peach will add a pleasant fragrance to the pudding, while the roasted pistachio will complete the aroma, for an extra taste and a touch of sophistication, in addition to the crunchy texture it will give to the final dish. Last but not least, the pomegranate adds an explosion of color and freshness, being rich in antioxidants and vitamins.
• Cocoa, blueberries and almonds . Probably one of the most energizing toppings, this combination will definitely impress you. Choose a quality cocoa, without added sugar or other unhealthy ingredients. Blueberries, fresh or frozen, will give a fruity flavor to the dish, and almonds will add a crunchy texture. You can finish with a little honey or maple syrup, especially if the blueberries are not sweet.

These are just a few examples from the endless list of toppings you could think of. Whether it's fruit, seeds, chocolate or any other additions you like, oatmeal will absorb and blend the flavors and will surprise you every time, with its special taste.

3. Pudding with oats and other seeds: benefits for your health

Many times, what is healthy is not as tasty as tempting products or dishes, rich in sugars and calories, but the same cannot be said about oat pudding. Besides the fact that you can decorate it with everything you like, to make it exactly to your taste, here are some of its benefits:

1. It is healthy for the heart. Oats are rich in soluble fibers, such as beta-glucan, which can help lower cholesterol levels and maintain heart health. In addition, oats contain antioxidants and phytonutrients that can help reduce inflammation in the body, one of the risk factors for heart disease.
2. The energy source. Oat pudding provides you with a sustainable source of energy, being ideal to start your day strong. This is due to its nutritional composition and the fact that oats are a whole grain with a low glycemic index
3. Contains essential nutrients. Oats are a good source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, such as vitamin B, iron, magnesium and zinc.
4. Regulates blood sugar. Thanks to the fibers, eating oats can help maintain blood sugar levels within normal limits. The soluble fiber in oats helps to slow down the absorption of glucose into the blood, which leads to a slower rise in blood sugar levels after a meal. This effect is especially beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes, because it contributes to the control of blood glucose levels.
5. Contributes to digestive health. Oat fibers help maintain the health of the digestive tract and can help prevent constipation. Studies show that pudding forms a viscous wall, which protects the stomach and facilitates digestion for 7-8 hours after consumption.

Oatmeal pudding is a simple but remarkable dish, which you can prepare easily and which adapts to any taste and culinary preferences. It is important to choose healthy ingredients and to be careful about the amount of added sweeteners, in order to maintain the nutritional value of the preparation. Give free rein to your imagination and create unique combinations every day.

Oat pudding will offer you numerous health benefits, remaining an ideal option both for breakfast and for a healthy and satisfying snack, anytime during the day.

Enjoy a healthy and tasty oat pudding, for a day full of energy!

Photo sources: freepik.com, unsplash.com, pexels.com.