Oatmeal: how to use it and 4 very practical easy recipes

If you like food and, above all, healthy and gluten-free pastries, surely you have already heard of or have found yourself in a recipe with oatmeal. It’s a universal ingredient with many benefits and I am going to tell you why it is so healthy, how to use it and even how to prepare it at home.

I will also give you easy and healthy oatmeal recipesas a sponge cake with oatmeal and cinnamon that you will love or some surprising oatmeal donuts to enjoy a healthy snack without feeling guilty.

Oat flour properties

Oatmeal is a type of whole wheat flour that is generally made from whole grain oats. Is naturally gluten-free and very rich in nutrientsalthough celiac people are recommended to purchase it certified gluten-free, as it may contain traces due to cross-contamination.

Like oat grains, then, oatmeal contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, molybdenum, phosphorus, manganese and B vitamins. It is rich in protein and fiberwhich makes the products prepared with it satisfy us for a longer time, and due to its contribution of nutrients it is ideal for athletes, growing children, pregnant women and all food lovers healthy. The good thing is that, compared to other gluten-free flours, it is cheaper and it is easy to prepare it at home.

The flavor of oatmeal is light and nutty, making it very universal in the kitchen. It is easy to use to make breads, biscuits, muffins, cookies or pancakes. Due to its lack of gluten, those prepared with this flour are not as fluffy and to make bread with this flour, it is advisable to add ingredients such as psylliym, xanthan gum or guar gum.

How to Substitute Oat Flour in Recipes

Can replace wheat flour in recipes with oat flour using the same weight (which means for every 100 g of wheat flour 100 g of oat flour). The only thing to keep in mind is that the result will be denser.

If we want results similar to the conventional ones, we can replace only 1/3 of the usual flour with oat flour.

If we make oatmeal dough with oatmeal it is convenient let the dough rest for about 15 minutes in the fridge, even for cookies or muffins. In this way, the flour will be able to absorb the water and the final result will not break.

How to make oatmeal at home

It is very easy to prepare this flour at home. The only thing that is needed are two ingredients: a powerful mixer and rolled oats.

To do it, simply add about 200 g oat flakes to a blender (or you can use a hand blender) and grind at high speed about 30 seconds until you get a fine flour. Store in a glass jar closed up to 2 months in a dark place.

If you are gluten intolerant, use certified gluten-free rolled oats.

Easy and healthy oatmeal recipes

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Oatmeal and cinnamon cake

A moist cake, full of nutrients and thanks to its low sugar content, ideal for breakfast or snack. Accompany with a yogurt or almond or peanut butter and fresh fruit for a complete breakfast.

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups of oat flour 1/2 cup of almond flour 1/2 cup of panela or unrefined cane sugar 2 teaspoons of cinnamon 4 teaspoons of baking powder a pinch of salt 1/2 cup of vegetable drink 2 eggs or 2 tablespoons of ground flax half a cup of olive oil

Preparation (15′ + 40′ cooking):

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. If you are going to use the flax egg, mix 2 tablespoons of ground flax with 6 tablespoons of water in a bowl and let stand until gel forms. Grease a cake mold with a little oil. In a bowl, mix the oat flour with the almond flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. On the other hand, mix the vegetable drink with the eggs or flax egg and oil. Add the liquid mixture to the dry one, mix well and pour into the mold. Bake about 35-40 minutes or until the inserted toothpick comes out dry.

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oat piadina

The piadina is a pita-like flatbread that is almost instantaneous. You only need to crush the ingredients, make the breads and that’s it.

This “dish bread” is ideal to fill with other ingredients such as avocado, vegetables, hummus, scrambled eggs with tofu or use as a pizza base.

Ingredients (4 small piadinas):

8 tablespoons of oat flakes or oatmeal 1 tablespoon of flax or ground flax 5 tablespoons of water or vegetable drink A pinch of salt Half a teaspoon of fine herbs or other spices to taste

Preparation (10′ + 10+ cooking):

If you don’t have the oat flour already ready, shred it. oat flakes and flax in a blender or with the help of hand the ingredients until obtaining a fine flour. In a bowl, mix the flour with the flax and the salt and seasonings, add the vegetable drink and mix. In a non-stick frying pan, heat a little oil. Once ready, add a quarter of the dough and shape it round with the help of a spatula. Cook on one side until set, about 2-3 minutes. Flip it over and cook on the other side. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Fill to your liking. Stockfood

Fluffy oatmeal bread

Ideal for the most nutritious snacks. It is easy to prepare this truly nutritious sliced ​​bread at home, since industrial breads contain many additives due to their long shelf life.

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cups of oatmeal 2 tablespoons of honey or maple or rice syrup 250 ml of vegetable drink 3 eggs or 9 tablespoons of chickpea flour 1 tablespoon of olive oil 1 teaspoon of salt 4 teaspoons of baking powder 2 tablespoons of psyllium

Preparation (10′ + 15′ rest + 45′ cooking):

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a loaf pan with parchment paper. If you are going to use chickpea flour, mix 9 tablespoons of chickpea flour with 9 tablespoons of water in a small bowl and let it rest for a while. bowl mix oatmeal with salt, baking powder and psyllium. Mix all the liquid ingredients – the vegetable drink, the honey, the eggs, the chickpea flour mixture and the oil. Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture, mix well and let stand for about 15 minutes. Pour the mixture into the mold and bake for about 45 minutes, until golden. Let cool and store.

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Gluten-free coconut and oat donuts

A healthy version of the famous donuts. It is a recipe for gluten-free donuts, prepared with oat flour and coconut to enjoy a breakfast or a special snack without guilt. If we do not have a mold to make donuts in the oven, we can prepare muffins using this same dough.

Ingredients (9 donuts) :

1 cup of oat flour half a cup of grated coconut a pinch of salt 1/2 cup of coconut or panela sugar 1 teaspoon of baking powder 1 egg or 1 tablespoon of flax egg 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 4 tablespoons of olive oil melted coconut 1 cup coconut yogurt

For the chocolate topping

70 g of 70% chocolate 2 teaspoons of coconut oil 2 tablespoons of grated coconut

Preparation (15′ + 20′ cooking):

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. If you are going to use the flax egg, mix 1 tablespoon of ground flax with 3 tablespoons of water in a bowl and let stand for a while. In a bowl, combine the oatmeal with the grated coconut, a pinch of salt, sugar and baking powder. On the other hand, mix the egg or flax egg with the oil and yogurt and beat well. Add to the dry mix and mix well. Fill the donut molds and bake for about 15-20 minutes. To decorate the donuts, melt the chocolate with the oil in a bain-marie. Bathe the donuts with the chocolate and sprinkle with the coconut.