Slow-cooked Apple Rhubarb Oatmeal (VG, GF, DF)

?Quiz for ya’ll:

1. Do you like warm breakfast? And not just any breakfast but a rich, healthy and delicious one?
2. Fancy the idea of a steaming bowl of oatmeal waiting for you after your morning workout?
3. You want to spend minimum time and effort in preparing or making your breakfast?
4. You’ve  got a slow-cooker in your pantry OR planning to buy one?

If you say yes to most or all of the questions above, this Overnight Slow-Cooked Oatmeal recipe is for you.

This week, while indulging ourselves in the golden sun ??? and the precious warmth ? of summer (Mind you, this is rare for the Dutch climate!!!), we’ll take on a refreshing version of steel-cut oats –  Apple & Rhubarb.

The tartness of Rhubarb is balanced out by  the mild sweetness of Fuji Apple and if wished, enriched with dried canberries or raisins.

Being a hybrid of  a vegetable and a fruit, rhubarb appeals cooks and foodies with its astounding nutritional values. The pink celery-look-alike stalks are packed with vitamins C, K, B, calcium, potassium, manganese, and magnesium while also abundant in antioxidant compounds.

? So wait until you’re half an hour away from bedtime, get that Slow-cooker out:

Ingredients – 4 servings

• 2 rhubarb stalks (~ 150gr), cleaned well and chopped into small cubes
• 2 small Fuji apples (~250gr), cored, peeled (if not organic), and cubed
• 2 bananas (~250gr), mashed
• 1 large orange, zested and juiced
• 175gr steal-cut oats OR replace 75gr oats with 50gr groats of favourite grains (oat, rye, barley, etc. Which will add firmness and chewiness to the texture)
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla powder OR 1 tsp liquid extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• (Optional) 1/2 cup (~25gr) dried cranberries OR raisins
• 10ml coconut oil
• 400ml milk of choice (my go-to is unsweetened almond milk)
• Toppings: nuts and fruits of choice

Method

• Melt coconut oil in a pot
• Pour in the chopped rhubarb, half of the chopped apple chunks, orange zest and half of the orange juice.  Sautee for about 5 mins and let cool for 10-15mins.
• Mix the dry oats, groats, remainder of apple and orange zest, cinnamon, vanilla and salt into a bowl. Mix well
• Mix mashed banana into milk and the rest of thr orange juice
• Combine wet and dry ingredients
• Pour contents into the slow-cooker. Mix well
• Set timer to 6.30 hours on Low

Now, go get your beauty sleep! You’re sure to wake up to a warm smell of cooking oatmeal and just a few minutes from a yummy and nutrient-packed breakfast.

Serve with chopped nuts, fresh fruits, and a drizzle of maple syrup or honey if wish ♥.

Nutritional Value per serving (MyFitnessPal)

• Calories: 340Cal / 1423Kj ; Fat: 6.5gr of which Saturared 2.7gr; Sodium 15.5mg; Potassium: 495mg ; Carb: 53.5gr ; Fiber: 10gr ; Sugar: 19gr ; Vit A: 3.6% DV ; Vit C: 59% DV ; Calc: 23.8% DV; Iron: 7.6% DV