Oats

Directions

→ 1 cup uncooked rolled oats weighs 3½ ounces (100 g)

→ 1 cup uncooked steel-cut oats weighs 6 ounces (170 g)

→ Use 2 parts liquid to 1 part rolled oats; use 3 parts liquid to 1 part steel-cut oats.

→ Cook rolled oats for 5 to 10 minutes; cook steel-cut oats for 25 to 40 minutes.

→ 1 cup (100 g) uncooked rolled oats yields 2 cups (500 g) cooked.

→ 1 cup (170 g) uncooked steel- cut oats yields 3 cups (160 g) cooked.

→ 1 cup oat flour weighs 4¼ ounces (120 g).

Notes

•> Why Il oveit: Most people like oats thanks to their familiarity with oatmeal, in either a breakfast bowl or a favorite bake-sale cookie. I often start my day with a filling bowl of oatmeal. I also drink my oats in the form of Oat Milk (page 128). Oats are quick-cooking, mild, and comforting.

•> What it tastes like: I think oats are one of the sweetest grains, with no bitterness at all. They play well with others and take on the flavors of whatever seasonings you add

•› Common forms: Rolled oats, also called old- fashioned oats, are oat groats that have been steamed, rolled, flattened, and dried. Steel-cut oats are oat groats that have been cut into smaller pieces. Quick-cooking/instant oats are steamed for longer and rolled into thinner pieces than rolled oats. Don't use quick-cooking in recipes unless spe- cifically called for.

•> How to prepare it: Oatmeal is the quintessential dish starring oats, and I especially like them in the form of "overnight oats" (see page 129), meaning no cooking involved. While I try to incorporate oats into my life in as many ways as possible, I do find myself thinking of oats mainly for sweet dishes rather than savory, which may be due to their slightly pasty texture. I've tried using oats in savory dishes, but it just doesn't work for me... the word "gruel" comes to mind

•> How it's good for you: Oats are almost always whole grain, even in "instant" form, so you know you're getting a full measure of nutrition, including beta-glucan, the type of fiber (also found in barley) that has been shown to reduce cholesterol and improve heart health. For real.