T'oat'ally delicious

Who said oats can't be yummy and tasty? Here are a few interesting recipes for you to try...

Oats are versatile and they can easily become a part of any meal of the day. Some of the most nutritious, delicious and wholesome recipes make use of oats as their core ingredient. Oats are a rich source of fibre and protein, which help manage cholesterol, maintain blood pressure and weight. Oats also provide greater support for the immune system. Whole oats have two times the amount of protein, fibre and micronutrients than regular oats. Whole oats are also a great source of nutritious energy. Here are some yummy oats recipes...

Oats fruit smoothie

Oats fruit smoothie

Ingredients: Apples one cup (finely chopped), cinnamon stick ½ inch stick, nutmeg powder 1 tsp, sugar ½ tbsp, Quaker oats ¼ cup, warm water 1 cup, figs 3 number (cut into quarters), saunf 1 tsp, cape gooseberry (golden) ½ cup, maple syrup 2 tbsp, coconut water ¼ cup, coconut malai ¼ cup.

Method: Keep 3 nonstick pans on medium heat & start preparing fruit compotes. In one pan, add apples, 2 tbsp sugar, cinnamon stick & nutmeg powder along with some water & cook for till apples become soft; your apple compote is ready. In the second pan, add figs with 1 tbsp sugar, saunf & some water; cook for 5 minutes; your fig compote is ready. In the third pan, add cape gooseberries, sugar, maple syrup & coconut water. Cook till the gooseberries become tender; your gooseberry compote is ready. For the smoothie, first make oats milk: blend oats and water in a blender and then strain it to get the milk. To this, add the prepared fruit compotes in a blender with coconut malai, and whipped cream.

Oats granola bars

Ingredients: 2 cups marshmallows, 1 cup white chocolate, ½ cup almond slices, ½ cup sunflower seeds, ½ cup pumpkin seeds, 1 cup Quaker oats, ½ mixed dried berries, ¼ cup melted dark chocolate.

Method: Melt marshmallow and white chocolate on a double boiler method, divide this mixture into two equal parts. Roast nuts and seeds in a pan on medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes. Roast oats on a slow heat for 5 minutes. For the bottom layer of the granola bar, mix first part of melted marshmallows & white chocolate with oats and berries. For the top layer, mix seeds, nuts with some sundried berries. Combine this with the melted marshmallows and chocolate. Align a parchment paper on a baking pan. Add the bottom-layered mixture to the bottom and set in the fridge for 10 minutes. Then, add nuts and seed mixture and let it set in the fridge for 2 to 4 hours. Drizzle melted dark chocolate over them before serving.

Thandai oats

Ingredients: 1/2 cup Quaker whole oats, 100 gm almonds, 100 gm hazelnut, 100 gm cashews, 100 gm melon seeds, organic rose, saffron, green cardamom, 250 gm khoya, 1 bel fruit, 100 gm spinach (blended), jaggery powder.

Method: Add strained thandai milk to ½ cup oats and leave it overnight. Dry roast the nuts and boil milk with nuts. Strain the nut mix. For the first layer, mash khoya with nut mix, add powdered sugar and set it in the jar. For the second layer, add the overnight thandai oat mix on top of layer 1. For the third layer, make a puree of bel pulp with spinach and jaggery. Top it up with crystal sugar, sesame seeds and nuts.

Courtesy: Quaker, Chef Vikas Khanna and Kitchen, Khanna & Konversations Season 2