Oats - more than just a breakfast treat

Cooking With Oats 
- Savoury

Today is World Porridge Day - hmmm.

There are two types of oats used in savoury recipes and it's only trial and error that will establish your preference.

Rolled Oats, we all know as porridge oats - yum. Steel-cut oats (the American term) or coarse oatmeal AKA Irish oatmeal is a coarser grain with a more distinctive taste.

Rolled you might prefer in savoury patties, whilst coarse oatmeal suits risottos or this delicious breakfast.

Using 3 parts water to 1 part quick-cook coarse oatmeal, cook the oats until they absorb the water (see the pack instructions) then stir in 3 tbsp of grated Cheddar cheese and 1 or 2 tsp of Stokes Cider & Horseradish Mustard.

Fry up chopped peppers and spring onions with 2 tsp of Stokes Chilli Jam (more if you like more chilli heat). Spoon these onto the oats with a fried egg and you have a fresh, healthy, tasty breakfast - with an oaty difference.

Oatmeal Pizza

This is a simple alternative to a standard pizza base using rolled oats.

To make one base, mix or blend together 100g of rolled oats, 60 ml of milk, 3 egg whites, a pinch of salt and a pinch of baking powder until smooth.

Butter a sheet of parchment on a baking sheet and form the batter into a 3 or 4 mm thick circle. Put the base into an oven, pre-heated to 200°C/gas mark 6 for 8 minutes.

Turn the base upside down on a work surface and assemble your pizza topping.

Try lots of Stokes Tomato Ketchup with spots of our Chilli Jam, topped with torn pieces of mozzarella cheese, chorizo slices, tomatoes and peppers (chopped) and a good grating of Cheddar cheese. Put the pizza back into the oven for 6 minutes or so until the cheesy topping bubbles and browns invitingly.

Served with Stokes Real Mayonnaise - it's a winner.

Oatmeal Risotto

Try this innovative alternative to mushrooms with the usual risotto rice base. I'm not saying it will convert you but it will give you another tasty string to your kitchen bow.

Prepare 900ml of chicken stock and let it simmer while roughly chopping 350g of assorted mushrooms which you cook gently in butter and set aside.

In a deep pan, soften 2 diced shallots in olive oil for 5 minutes then add 2 grated cloves of garlic. Immediately add 50g of butter, 2 or 3 tsp of Stokes Cider & Horseradish Mustard and 2 tsp of chopped thyme leaves.

Now, pour 250ml of coarse, Irish oatmeal into the pan with 2 tbsp of Stokes Bloody Mary Ketchup, 2 tbsp of our Brown Sauce and half the mushrooms, combining all the ingredients together well.

Add 125ml of white wine and the juice of half a lemon, then gradually ladle half the stock into the pan. Stir well until the liquid is absorbed then gradually add more stock over 25 minutes or until the oats are cooked and you have a thick porridge.

Finally, stir in the remaining mushrooms and their cooking liquors for just 5 minutes (to warm up and share the flavours), season and serve with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley over the top.

Oat Crusted Chicken

Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6. Cut 3 chicken breasts into goujons and set them aside. In a bowl, mix 5 tbsp of Stokes Garlic Mayonnaise with 2 tbsp of grated Parmesan cheese and 2 tsp of our Classic English Mustard. Spread 200g of rolled oats on a plate. Rub a shallow baking tray with oil.

Now - coat the chicken pieces in the mustard mayo, then dip them in the oats, covering each piece thoroughly. Put each in the tray and bake for 25 minutes.

They're crunchy, juicy, deliciously moreish and go well with minted yogurt using Stokes Mint Sauce in plain yogurt - beautiful.

Oats Love Stokes

Order your 'love' - HERE

More foodie thoughts for the week:





Eggs - 
for World Egg Day we learn 'how to boil an egg' and other wonderful uses for these beautiful little things - here.







Mayo - 
simple you'd think, drizzling oil into beaten egg, but the implications are huge as you will see - here.







Share - 
the love of Stokes is spreading its delicious joy through national outlets of The Cornish Bakery. Share this and more - here.

If good food makes you happy
...adding Stokes will make you smile ;)

FOOD MADE BETTER 
www.stokessauces.co.uk

01394 462150