Elevate your morning oats with amazingly delicious preserved Italian amarena cherries and a healthful mix of fresh berries, nuts and seeds.
The two best things about creamy oatmeal:
- Oatmeal is adaptable. The bland nature of oats means you can go wild with flavorings. And you don’t need to waste your money on those super-sweetened oatmeal packets lining supermarket shelves.
- They’re quick! Oats take literally minutes to make in a microwave or on top of the stove. That means you can get a healthy start to your day in no time.
Amarena cherries are a type tart cherry grown in northern Italy. They’re packed in flavorful cherry syrup, and let me tell you they are the cherry bomb. They have a tart sweetness and an intense almond-candy smell and taste.
While the word “amarena” makes me think of almond-flavored amaretto, it actually derives from the word amara which means “bitter” in Italian. These darkly colored cherries aren’t bitter at all — they taste amazing over warm, creamy oats (not to mention other treats like ice cream and creative cocktails).
These sweet cherries might be a slightly indulgent garnish for oatmeal, but a little goes a long way. Plus, you can feel good about the fact that cherries are regarded as a superfood!
Make this morning bowl even more interesting (and nutritious) by topping with fresh berries, healthful sesame seeds and plain yogurt.
oatmeal with italian amarena cherries and almonds
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 1 - 2 servings
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rolled oats, quick or regular
- Pinch sea salt
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk of choice (cow, almond, etc.)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/4 cup amarena cherries in syrup
- Toasted sliced almonds
Other options to sprinkle on top:
- Sesame seeds
- Ground flax seed
- Cacao nibs
- Chopped dark chocolate
- Plain yogurt
- Fresh berries
Instructions
- Mix the oats, salt and 1 cup milk in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high heat for 1 - 1/2 minutes or until the milk is absorbed and the oats are thickened to your liking.
- Stir the additional milk into the oats until creamy.
- Top the oats with the cherries, almonds and optional toppings.
Courses breakfast
Cuisine healthy
Hi there! I’m Karen, a mother of two and a professionally trained cook certified in holistic nutrition.
As the recipe developer, photographer and publisher of Familystyle Food, I share recipes and tips for making easy seasonal meals that are healthy and flavorful. Learn more about me here.
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Emily says
March 2, 2011 at 1:08 amOhhh i’m so tempted to buy those $13 dollar cherries! How could you do this to me. 😉 That’s not tooo much money…
This oatmeal looks good. I love mine with almond milk too.
Karen says
March 2, 2011 at 8:34 amLol – Emily, I know, at $13 they are a bit pricey. It’s too bad that being picky about ingredients can be costly! But i’s the kind of splurge I rate with buying good chocolate, olive oil, etc.
Julia Usher says
March 2, 2011 at 1:49 amHi, Karen,
The pits of stone fruits contain kernels that have a strong almond essence (also traces of cyanide), which probably explains the almond essence you’re picking up. The kernels of apricots are actually used in the making of Italian amaretti cookies (i.e., Amaretti di Saronno). I love amarena cherries, too – I like to use them in my flourless choco cake!
Karen says
March 2, 2011 at 8:42 amMarla – you can find them at an Italian grocery if you have one near you. Let me know how you like them.
HI Julie; So interesting! I love how science has delicious surprises. I’d heard that about the cyanide in apricot pits, but never noticed the flavor when I ate stone fruits before. Maybe I need to go eat some in Italy.
marla says
March 2, 2011 at 6:39 amI have got to find those cherries, they sound amazing. Would love ’em in my oatmeal.
Charissa says
March 2, 2011 at 2:04 pmThis is great…cherries and almonds. A perfect marriage! 😉
El says
March 6, 2011 at 11:58 amWhat a sensational combination of flavors. Looks great!
Lola M. says
April 7, 2011 at 4:06 amCiao!
I’m glad you like our amarena cherries in syrup 😉
That’s something you find in every Italian home.
May I suggest you a recipe?
http://www.toschi.it/en/doc-s-37-968-1-petit_fours_with_toschi_amarena_cherries.aspx
I’m sure you’re going to like it if you love amarena 😉
Mieke says
May 8, 2011 at 3:33 pmI’m fond of amarena cherries too. I googled a bit and found a receipe. It looks as if it has been translated from an Italian text. I don’t know if it is the real receipe, but I’ll give it a try.
http://www.southernfoodrecipes.us/italian-recipes/italian-amarena-cherries/
Rm Sf says
November 6, 2012 at 6:22 amFresh red, sour cherries, lots of sugar, vinegar, lemon juice or balsamic, vanilla. Be sure to leave in some pits for the special flavor. Marinate for at least a month.
Liza says
March 13, 2018 at 12:24 amNow I want this!!
XO