Oatmeal is a healthy breakfast you can easily make at home in no time. You only need a few ingredients like oats, milk, or water and some fruits, seeds, nuts, berries, and spices at your taste.
Oatmeal comes from Scotland and found its way into many other countries worldwide like Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, Finland, Great Britain, Russia, and the USA.
Oatmeal is an oat porridge that can be also made with non-dairy milk products including almond, coconut, or rice milk. Oats as one of the healthiest whole-grain foods full of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber were used even in ancient China and ancient Greece.
There are different types of oats like whole oat groats, rolled oats,steel-cut oats, Scottish oats, quick oats, instant oats, oat bran, and oat flour. And you can use them in baked goods, bread, granola, muesli, and oatmeal.
However, oats are also used in pancakes, smoothies, as a coating for fish and chicken, and as a substitute for rice in curries, soups, casseroles, and risotto.
What Is Oatmeal Made From?
Oatmeal is made of oats, and liquid as milk, water, or plant-based milk. Other ingredients such as fruits, seeds, berries, nuts, and spices are also used to boost its flavor. Rolled oats, steel-cut oats, and instant oats are usually used to prepare oatmeal.
Oatmeal is a cheap, tasty, full of nutrients breakfast you can prepare in no time. You can prepare oatmeal with overnight soaked oats in yogurt or milk, but you can also cook it in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in a slow cooker.
The flavor and texture of the cooked oatmeal depend on the ingredients included, but it usually has a sweet flavor and creamy texture. It can be served both warm and cold depending on your preferences.
Just pick your favorite liquid and fruit cook them with the oats and top the oatmeal with toasted sesame seeds, chia seeds, or toasted coconut to add some crunchiness and enjoy.
Oats Are Made Up Of Which Grain?
Oats are made up of species of cereal grain known as Avena sativa.
It grows well in wet and cold conditions and is more heat and water-tolerant than other types of cereals like wheat, barley, and rye.
Oats are first cleaned, graded, dehulled, and heated. After they are dried with the kilning process, they are cut, rolled, or ground and ready to use as oatmeal, flakes, or flour.
Oats have many essential nutrients including vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, and antioxidants which can help to improve the overall health if consumed daily.
They can help to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of heart and autoimmune diseases.
Oats are gluten-free and ideal for people allergic to gluten. However, they may be contaminated with gluten from other grains during the harvesting and making process. Thus, you have to read the label to make sure they are gluten-free.
You can choose from 8 common types of oats with different flavors, textures, and cooking times, so use the one you like most.
Who Invented The Oatmeal?
Oats were first considered as weed and used as food for both domestic animals as well as medicinal purposes. Later, they were cultivated in Scotland where the weather conditions were ideal.
They used them to make many different dishes such as gruel and haggis. Meaning, people all over the world were using oats but the Scottish people invented the oatmeal and represent it to the world as one of the healthiest foods.
Nowadays, oatmeal is used all over the world and is a synonym for a healthy breakfast. It provides many nutrients important for your health. And you can make it in no time and combine it with your favorite fruits, seeds, berries, and nuts to improve its flavor.
Where Does Oatmeal Originally Come From?
Oats are one of the oldest grains used many centuries before.
They were used by Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans as food for both animals and medicinal purposes. In the 15th century, oats were cultivated in Scotland because of the perfect weather conditions.
They were used for human consumption and were one of the main grains in Scotland. Even the oatmeal which they use to prepare with soaked oats in salted water became a national dish.
In the 17th century, Scottish settlers introduce oats to the USA.
Nowadays, oats are produced all over the world. Russia, Canada, Poland, Australia, Finland, and the USA are some of the world’s top oats-producing countries.
Are Wheat And Oats The Same Thing?
Wheat and oats are not the same things. They are both different species of cereal grain. Oats are a species of cereal grain known as Avena sativa. While wheat belongs to the species of cereal grain Triticum.
Wheat is one of the most used cereal grains in flour production. It is milled and used for the production of flour the main ingredient in bread, pasta, cookies, cakes, and other baked goods.
The main difference between wheat and oats is that wheat has gluten, while oats naturally don’t contain any gluten. Oat flour works well in cookies, pancakes, muffins, waffles, pies, flatbread, and many other recipes.
Where Do Rolled Oats Come From?
Rolled oats, also known as old-fashioned oats, come from whole or steel-cut groats.
They are steamed to boost their moisture content, then flattened with rotating rollers into flakes and lightly toasted to stabilize. With this procedure rolled oats will remain fresh longer and cook faster. Rolled oats are one of the most used types of oats.
They have a soft texture and mild flavor. And they are usually used for oatmeal, pancakes, oatcakes, granola, muffins, cookies, and muesli.
Wrap Up
Oatmeal is a favorite healthy breakfast for many people. You can easily make it in no time and enjoy many important vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibers, important for your health.
You can pick between different types of oats according to your taste and preferences. And make a good dish full of nutrients. But have in mind that less processed types of oats need more time to cook.
Just add your favorite fruits, seeds, nuts, berries, and spices and your bowl of oatmeal is ready to eat. Even if oats are gluten-free always read the package to be sure.
How do you prepare your oatmeal? What are your favorite toppings for the oatmeal? Let us know in the comment section below and share some of your recipes with us.