Meet Alex Caspero
Alex Caspero is a Registered Dietitian, New York Times Bestselling Chef, and mom of two. She aims to cut through the nutrition noise by providing real-life, nourishing tips for body and mind. Learn more about Alex.
Savory Oatmeal Breakfast Bowls! If you are tired of eggs in the morning but love a savory breakfast, try this. Oat cereal with garlicky greens, pesto, avocado and everything basil seasoning
Disclosure: I was asked to participate in the #BetterBowl18 campaign with Hodgson Mill as a member of the Healthy Aperture Blogger Network. I was compensated for my time.
Every few months, I like to ask you what you want to see more of around here. While I rarely have a shortage of ideas (that’s the upside to being #obsessed with food and nutrition), I want to make sure that I’m giving you a reason to show up day after day.
After all, if I had my way, I’d probably just rotate between pasta, curry and salad recipes then repeat for infinity.
One thing you tell me loud and clear is that you want more savory vegan breakfast recipes. Well friends, ask and you shall receive. Think of me as your recipe genie; if you ask me enough (and rub my belly), I’ll give you what you want.
I am a savory breakfast gal 98% of the time. Sometimes I surprise myself with a craving for a fruit smoothie or pancakes, but mostly I just want salty. Especially if there is avocado involved. It’s why most of my breakfast meals are either dinner leftovers, some type of scramble (either egg or tofu) or a giant piece of bread slathered in lots of avocado and a sprinkle of salt, red pepper flakes and honey (try it, it’s ah-mazing.)
This bowl is the combination of everything I want for a breakfast meal: a creamy bowl of hot oat bran topped with pesto, garlicky greens, avocado and everything bagel seasoning. It’s so satisfying and the perfect cool-weather breakfast. For my vegetarian friends, I could see this topped with a fried egg or maybe a little goat cheese? Either way, you are going to love this super satisfying, savory oatmeal breakfast option.
Bowls are still fun, yes? We were in Denver last week and I saw cute cafe after cute cafe offering smoothie bowls, acai bowls, grain bowls and everything in between. I love this trend; there’s no pretense when it comes to making bowls, especially in my house. Top with whatever sounds good and dig in.
The base of this beauty is oat bran, the fibrous outer layer of each kernel that protects the seed from damage. Generally bran is sifted off and removed when grains (and oats) are refined into flours like all-purpose, so you lose those nutrients if you only eat foods with refined flours and starches. It’s why I’m such an advocate for whole grains, you get the good stuff when you eat the entire kernel!
Oats, and specifically oat bran, contain soluble fiber. This type of fiber is linked to decreases in blood pressure and bad cholesterol, as well as improvements in weight management, blood sugar management, and digestive health.
Fiber is amazing. I know I’m a broken record on how awesome fiber is for you, but it’s something that we should all try and get more of in our diet. Most American’s eat only 50% of the recommended amount (aim for at least 25-30g) and the research that links fiber intake to gut health/immunity is not something that I take lightly. Roughly 80% of your immune system is housed in the gut, so it makes sense that if your gut is healthy then you are healthy. It’s pretty simple to get more in when you fill your plate with fruits, vegetables and whole grains like oat bran.
There are two types of fiber – insoluble and soluble fiber. Both are good for you in different ways.
Insoluble, as the name suggests, does not dissolve in water. It stays intact as it moves through your digestive system, providing bulk and keeping you regular. You can find insoluble fiber in wheat bran, vegetables, and fruit skins and seeds.
Soluble fiber on the other hand does dissolve in water, into a gel which slows and regulates digestion. Soluble fiber is also thought to bond with cholesterol particles and sweep them out of the body. Good sources of soluble fiber include oats, nuts, seeds, lentils and other legumes, fruits and especially blueberries.
We tend to talk about protein as the most satiating nutrient, but fiber also helps you feel fuller longer- thanks to the combination of both soluble and insoluble fiber.
If you like grits (hiiii fellow Southerns), then you will love oat bran cereal. It’s done cooking in just a minute or two, so you can make up a big batch all at once, then reheat throughout the week for a quick start to your day.
For these bowls, I make the pesto and bran ahead of time, then top with freshly sautéed spinach (or any green) and avocado. For more crunch, sprinkle on everything bagel seasoning on top (you can get it at Trader Joe’s) or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag your Instagram photos with #delishknowledge . I absolutely love seeing your creations. Happy cooking!
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Savory Oatmeal Breakfast Bowls! If you are tired of eggs in the morning but love a savory breakfast, try this. Oat cereal with garlicky greens, pesto, avocado and everything bagel seasoning
Pesto:
Tag @delishknowledge on Instagram and hashtag it #delishknowledge
(3 comments) leave a comment
Hi Alex. Just made this. I added a bit of hummus and some prosociano cheese (vegan parmesan) by Violife into the topping.
I have an edit suggestion: the subheader says “everything basil seasoning” instead of everything bagel seasoning. Lol!
And I accidentally made two servings of oat bran because I scrolled down and saw “NUTRITION Serving Size: 1 bowl” and thought that since I was dividing “the oat bran into two bowls,” that meant I needed to double the recipe. Haha! I should always read ahead!
Cheers and thanks for the excellent recipe!
This looks delicious, but what is a “spoonful” of pesto?
About a heaping tablespoon!