Overnight Instant Pot Oatmeal

Why Overnight Meals are Great

My favourite time to make this meal is the night before a big ski trip. When you’re getting up and leaving at 5 am to spend all day in the cold getting some exercise, the best thing is a fresh, hot bowl of oatmeal. It keeps you going all day and all you have to do is put it in a bowl to eat it.

My second favourite time to make overnight oatmeal is before a morning exam. I’m usually up studying until the small hours, so it’s a great way to take a study break. It’s also SO gratifying to know that I won’t have to worry about being hungry while I’m trying to remember everything that can save my grade during midterm season.

So basically, overnight meals are fast, easy, and help free up your mornings.

Why Are Steel-Cut Oats Great?

All oats are pretty good for you, but steel cut oats(aka Irish Oats) maximize all the good stuff you’re trying so hard to get. It’s about the same as getting wild rice over white rice. It’s just less refined and processed.

For overnight or slow cooked recipes in particular, I would recommend steel cut over rolled (Quaker-type) oats because they have a longer cook time. It gives this recipe a lot better texture that has a stronger structure so it doesn’t just turn into a big much.

Oats contain:

• Soluble Fibers

  • Extremely high in beta glucans, is thought to lower blood cholesterol levels and stabilize blood sugar levels

  • Gives oatmeal its distinct texture

• Insoluble Fibers

  • Great for your digestion, makes everything easier on your intestinal tract

  • NOTE: The average American diet is VERY fiber deficient and oats are a great way to help supplement that

• Complex Carbohydrates

  • Simple carbs turn straight to sugar in our bodies, but complex carbs help balance out blood sugar levels which is good for diabetics or prediabetics

  • Other foods containing complex carbs are chickpeas, corn, and brown rice

• Iron

  • A dietary essential, a component of hemoglobin and keeps your oxygen levels circulating to all your tissues and cells

  • NOTE: Good for anemic people, which disproportionately effects women

• Naturally Gluten Free

• High in Protein

Overnight Instant Pot Oatmeal

Simone Peironnet | 3/1/2021

• prep time: 10
  
  

• cook time: 20 min + 8 Hours
  
  

• total time: 8.5 Hours

  
  

Servings: 6-8

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp Walnut Oil
  

• 2 Tbsp RiverBrooke Farm Lavender
  

• 1 Sprig Thyme +/ Rosemary
  

• 2 Tbsp Herbs de Province optional
  

• 5 Cups Water
  

• 1 Cup Steel Cut Oats, I do not recommend rolled oats for this
  

• 3 Tbsp White Wine
  

• 1 Orange, zested & juiced
  

• 1/2 Cup Oat Milk (regular milk is also fine)
  
  

Suggested Toppings:

• Oat Milk / Cream
  
• Brown Sugar
  
• Honey / Maple Syrup
  
• Raspberries/Bluerberries
  
• Sliced Bananas
  
• A Big Ol' Scoop of Peanut Butter
  
  

Special Equipment Needed:

• Instant Pot
  OR
• Slow Cooker + Stove Top
  
  

Instructions:

1. Set your Instant Pot to Saute Mode. Add your oil and once it's hot add your herbs. This flavours the oil and gives you a great base for your oatmeal. Keep agitating it until it's getting fragrant(about 3 minutes). Keep an eye on the oil/herb combo because walnut oil has a low smoking point. Add 1 cup water.
   
2. In a seperate bowl, add your remaining 4 cups water and 1 cup steel cut oats. Gently stir to help draw out the creaminess from the oats. Add white wine, orange zest, and organce juice to your water/oat mixture.
   
3. Once your oil base is smelling fragrant and simmering, add your water/oat mixture to the Instant Pot. Add your oatmilk(or equivalent). Turn heat up to 'Hi' and bring to a rolling boil.
   
4. Once boiling, put lid on your Instant Pot and change the setting to "Slow Cook." Do not use the porridge mode. Set your timer for 8 hours. Don't worry if you won't be up in 8 hours, it will autmatically change to "keep warm" once your oatmeal is done cooking and still be hot by the time you get to it.
   
5. Serve hot and enjoy add your prefered toppings!