Savory Steel Cut Oats with Cheese
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Make savory steel cut oats for breakfast or any time of day, with pecorino cheese, black pepper and a softly poached egg.
Have you tried mixing up your oatmeal routine lately? Try these savory steel-cut oats to start the day — or make a bowl for dinner!
If you’re like me, you don’t skip breakfast.
In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s my growling stomach that motivates me to get out of bed in the first place.
Some mornings call for simple oats with almond milk or a healthy blueberry oat muffin.
But most of the time I’m a person in search of savories and a soft-boiled or poached egg is my usual go-to.
Going out for breakfast doesn’t happen often either, but last time I had a friend visiting from out of town we had brunch on a Sunday morning.
Steel cut oats for breakfast
One of the specials on the menu that day was savory steel cut oats with olive oil and black pepper — the unexpected twist on a usually sweet breakfast preparation made me very happy.
I wondered why I didn’t cook steel cut oats at home regularly..hmm, let’s see.
Could it be that 2 minutes in the microwave for rolled oats versus more than 10 times that much on the stovetop has something to do with it? Um, yeah.
But after experimenting on a few cold mornings recently, I found that steel cut oats can take under 30 minutes to cook – totally agreeable, even for someone with a hollow, hungry stomach.
Adding a poached egg and Pecorino cheese makes this a perfect alternative to a sweet bowl of oats, with added protein.
You can cook the oats ahead and reheat servings in a microwave to have on multiple mornings (stir in a little water first).
Savory Steel Cut Oats with Poached Egg
Ingredients
- 1 cup (160 g) steel cut oats
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons (45 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- Fresh coarsely cracked black pepper
- 3-4 eggs, depending on servings
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
Instructions
- Put the oats and 3½ cups water into a heavy medium saucepan along with the salt — use 4 cups water if you prefer a looser porridge texture. Bring to a boil, stir the oats, then lower heat to a slow simmer.
- Cook until most of the water is absorbed (stirring occasionally) and the oats begin to get creamy, 25-30 minutes (they won't be totally soft at this point, but pleasantly chewy).
- Remove from the heat and stir in the olive oil, cheese and about 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
To make the poached eggs:
- When the oats are almost ready, bring a small skillet of water to a boil with the vinegar – a non-stick pan makes for easier cleaning. Crack the eggs into the water and adjust the heat down from a boil to a simmer. Cook the eggs until they are done to your liking, about 5 minutes for softly-set yolks.
- Serve the oats with a poached egg on top. Top with more cheese to taste. If you have a hunk of cheese, use a swivel vegetable peeler to shave additional cheese over the top.
Karen’s Notes and Tips
- Serving ideas: Top with a fried egg instead, and add a spoonful of your favorite pesto. So good!
- To make ahead: Cool and refrigerate up to 3 days. Stir in a little water and reheat gently on the stovetop until hot.
Nutrition
Nutrition facts are calculated by third-party software. If you have specific dietary needs, please refer to your favorite calculator.
Hey, I’m Karen
Creator of Familystyle Food
I’m a food obsessed super-taster and professionally trained cook ALL about creating elevated dinners with everyday ingredients. Find simplified recipes made from scratch and enjoy incredibly tasty food! Read more about me here.
A take on oats I would never have considered but after trying this recipe once I am hooked! So good!
Poached eggs are my go-to when I want something fast and nourishing, love them!
Ooh, that egg looks so wonderful! I love the idea of punching up a savory oatmeal with the richness of egg yolk. 🙂
Thanks Eileen! I would probably put a poached egg on just about anything!