My hubby is coming home from India tomorrow!
He’s been there for the past few weeks, visiting family and taking advantage of his last summer vacation as a student. Once he finishes his PhD, those days of flexible vacation will be over. 
I couldn’t join him (we have too many summer vacations planned that use up my days off, and I’ve been to India a bunch more than he has) – so he embarked on his trip alone. This has been the longest we’ve lived apart since we got married, and we both missed each other like crazy!
Needless to say, we both can’t wait until he lands at SFO tomorrow.
In honor of his trip (and his return), I decided to spice up my breakfast this morning with some traditional Indian flavors. And what’s the best breakfast base for almost any flavor combination?
Oatmeal.
That’s right – I added Indian spices to oatmeal and it tasted absolutely amazing.
It actually reminded me a lot of Kheer, which is basically an Indian spiced rice pudding. It’s super creamy, rich, and sweet – and it’s eaten as a dessert. My oatmeal tasted almost exactly like Kheer, but it’s filling, healthy and balanced – the perfect breakfast. It tastes like it’s bad for you, but it’s actually really good for you!
And of course, it’s extremely easy to make.
The Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats or multigrain oats
- 1.5 cups water
- 3 tsp finely ground flax seed
- 2-3 tsp slivered almonds
- A pinch of saffron
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp ground cardamom
- A pinch of ground nutmeg
- Stevia or Agave to taste
- 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup of 1% organic milk (the creamier you want the oatmeal, the more milk you should add)
The Directions
Step 1: Cook the oats with the water in the microwave for 2 minutes. Stir, and cook again in the microwave for 1-2 minutes more until all the water is absorbed and the oats have a very creamy texture. Depending on your microwave, you might have to cook them for longer for them to become soft.
Step 2: Stir in the saffron, flax seed, and almonds. The heat of the oatmeal will help melt the saffron until it’s fully combined.
Step 3: Add the rest of the spices (salt, cardamom, nutmeg, stevia) and stir to combine.
Step 4: Stir in the milk until the oatmeal is the consistency you like.
Step 5: Heat the oatmeal again in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until it is hot and ready to eat.
I love the bright red of the saffron and the melted yellow color it brings to the oatmeal.
This is such a fun way to start your day, by having the warmth of Indian spices right in your breakfast bowl. This recipe has about 250-300 calories, ~7g fiber, and ~10-12g protein.
It’s guilt-free and delicious!
Indian Spiced Oatmeal
by Anjali Shah @ The Picky Eater (http://pickyeaterblog.com/)
Makes 1 bowl of oatmeal; Nutritional Info for 1 Bowl: 250-300 calories, ~7g fiber, ~10-12g protein
The Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats or multigrain oats
- 1.5 cups water
- 3 tsp finely ground flax seed
- 2-3 tsp slivered almonds
- A pinch of saffron
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp ground cardamom
- A pinch of ground nutmeg
- Stevia or Agave to taste
- 1/2 cup to 2/3 cup of 1% organic milk (the creamier you want the oatmeal, the more milk you should add)
The Directions
Step 1: Cook the oats with the water in the microwave for 2 minutes. Stir, and cook again in the microwave for 1-2 minutes more until all the water is absorbed and the oats have a very creamy texture. Depending on your microwave, you might have to cook them for longer for them to become soft.
Step 2: Stir in the saffron, flax seed, and almonds. The heat of the oatmeal will help melt the saffron until it’s fully combined.
Step 3: Add the rest of the spices (salt, cardamom, nutmeg, stevia) and stir to combine.
Step 4: Stir in the milk until the oatmeal is the consistency you like.
Step 5: Heat the oatmeal again in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until it is hot and ready to eat.
Hello! I'm Anjali. I'm a 20 something living in the SF Bay Area, with a passion for delicious food and a desire to make healthy eating easy, tasty, and fun! Try some of 
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What a great idea! I am always looking for good breakfast recipes that are filling. Love your blog!
Thanks so much Lauren! Can’t wait to hear what you think of this when you try it!
What a cool fusion! I just had a “Why-did-I-never-think-of-that” moment! I can see this becoming a global phenomena/part of the Indian healthy movement back in the subcontinent
Thanks so much for sharing, I need to try this tomorrow morning
Haha! Thank you so much Arushi!! If people in India started making this for breakfast, that would make my day
I’m sure you will love it as your breakfast tomorrow!
wow what a great idea, so bored of the regular flavors . definitely trying this. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Richa!! I’m sure you will love this recipe – if you love Kheer it tastes exactly the same!
Dishes made out of oats is very healthy, it lowers fat in the body. It can used along with milk and yogurt too.
That’s true! Mixing oats in yogurt and letting it sit overnight gives a “muesli” type effect!
Made this for breakfast – AMAZING! Thank you for the great idea!
Woohoo!! So glad to hear that Smitha!
Yum!
I can’t wait to cook him some more of your delicious treats upon his return.
My dude is in India right now too
These oats look SO good.
Oh wow! I hope he’s having a great trip! I hope he likes the recipes when you make them for him
He will/does –
I love to cook but ran out of ideas a while ago and am constantly scouring the net for flavorful things we both can enjoy. Your site in particular hits home as he is from Chennai and I am from the midwest U.S. where most of the cuisine I grew up on would bore him to tears 
. I really truly appreciate your healthy and flavorful (often Indian inspired) recipes that both he and I can enjoy. You help bring harmony to our dining room table for certain!
He is having a great trip. Only 18 more sleeps until he returns
Aw that’s so good to hear! Hope he has a safe flight back! My hubby came back this past week – he’s still a bit jetlagged – but it’s so nice to have him home!
Great food, I am teaching professional dancers and always looking for recipes like this one. Finding food they can eat a few hours before a dance performance. Because of the energy factor and its light.
Thanks, so glad you like it!
Gr8 site and a gr8 oatmeal recipe. But I prepare in another way like more and drink.
Pl. visit http://www.upala.net/recipes/desserts/oatsbuttermilk for a different taste.
Very yummy. The saffron looks so pretty in my oatmeal
I didn’t care for the cardamon though.
Thanks Angel! I’m so glad you liked (most) of this recipe
Cardamom is a strong flavor – so totally understand if it wasn’t for you (it’s not for everyone!) Next time just make it without the cardamom and I’m sure it will still taste great. Thanks again!
I am eating this as I write. It’s just perfect, especially on a damp, cold day. Wonderful recipe. Thank you.
Awesome!! So glad you enjoyed this for breakfast today!
Interesting … I’ve started using Indian spices a lot more, but hadn’t thought of adding it to my breakfasts! Thanks
No problem at all! This is one of my favorite ways to use Indian spices actually – you’ll have to let me know how you like it!
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