Oatmeal made with apple juice and caramelized plantains – literally comfort in a bowl. There isn’t a more perfect breakfast for a snowy winter morning. (Or for when you want something wholesome after a morning workout. Or for when you wake up late and want a simple but delicious brunch.) There are actually a lot of circumstances in which this twist on a breakfast classic is the perfect fit – it just works.
Normally, as we all know, oatmeal is a liiiittle bland without various other ingredients added to it (and those ingredients tend to make a nice, healthy bowl of oatmeal just a liiiittle bit less healthy. Not ideal.) As someone who doesn’t drink milk and doesn’t like to eat sugary things first thing in the morning, a traditional bowl of oatmeal dressed up with milk and sugar just doesn’t work.
Enter apple juice and plantains. I have discovered that making oatmeal with apple juice substituted for about three quarters of the water you would normally use adds natural sweetness (and a bit of tang), negating the need to add additional sugar after cooking. Plus, it gives the cooked oatmeal a better texture. The caramelized plantains, of course, add an extra kick of sweetness, along with some texture and complexity of flavor. Also doesn’t hurt that they’re a nice, 
healthy option.
As a side note, caramelizing the plantains takes a little extra time, so if you’re in a hurry, just use a chopped up banana instead. (Do not try to eat a plantain without cooking it first – eating raw plantains is not part of a delicious and wholesome breakfast.) A banana is equally yummy and healthy, it just lacks the extra pizzazz of caramelized goodness.
So the next time you wake up and peer out your window to see thick, fluffy snowflakes falling steadily, or walk into the kitchen after a long morning run, put a pot of this delicious oatmeal on to boil, and get ready to develop a whole new appreciation for cold, snowy mornings and workouts alike.
Apple Juice Oatmeal with Caramelized Plantains
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup steel cut oats
- 3/4 cup apple juice
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 plantain
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
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Add the oats, the apple juice and the water to a small saucepan, along with a dash of salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed. (This won't take long, so keep an eye.)
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Meanwhile, slice the plantain. Cut the slices into quarters.
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Melt the butter in a medium pan. Add the plantain quarters in an even layer. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the top and stir. Continue cooking over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has melted and the plantains are golden brown.
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Combine the cooked oatmeal with the caramelized plantains and voila! Breakfast is served:)