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| Hazelnut carrot cake oats |
My long runs happen on Saturday mornings, which mean Saturday breakfast is an important meal. Sometimes a jam-packed smoothie is the star of the show, but other days I want solid food. Yesterday was one such day and these hazelnut carrot cake oats were the result. I think they may now be my favourite porridge recipe of all time. Yes, they even surpass my recent chocolate zucchini oats! You don't have to be a runner to appreciate them either - I think this dish will be featuring across my weeks from now on.
Hazelnuts are one of my favourite nuts, but I don't buy them regularly as they are generally quite expensive. As a consequence, I didn't have whole hazelnuts to use in this recipe. Instead, the hazelnut flavours come from hazelnut milk and hazelnut butter. The combination is pretty amazing! In addition to tasting of hazelnuts, the hazelnut butter made the oats extra thick and creamy. Creamy isn't usually my style, but in this case it worked out very well.
If you do have them to hand, a scattering of fresh chopped hazelnuts would be a great finishing touch to this dish too.
Hazelnut carrot cake oats
Serves 1
Vegan
Author: Bite-Sized Thoughts
Ingredients
1/3 cup whole rolled oats
2/3 cup hazelnut milk (I used a commercial variety which was sweetened; if using homemade, either use a sweetened batch or add sweetener to the oats to taste)
Heaped 1/2 cup of grated carrot (half of a large carrot, grated)
2 tsp hazelnut butter
1 tsp vanilla
Fruit, to top
Chopped hazelnuts, optional
Method
Combine the oats, milk and grated carrot in a saucepan. Cook uncovered over medium-high heat until just starting to boil, approximately 3 minutes.
Reduce heat to low, add the hazelnut butter and vanilla, and allow the porridge to simmer uncovered for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, stirring regularly.
Top with fruit and/or chopped hazelnuts to taste.
Do you like hazelnuts? And if you're a runner, what is your favourite post-run meal? I also like pikelets and pancakes, but sometimes my patience isn't up to making them!
That looks delicious! Carrot cake oatmeal sounds like my kind of breakfast :)
ReplyDeleteThanks June! It's definitely my kind of breakfast, that is for sure :-)
DeleteHazelnuts and carrots sound like a heavenly combination. I actually have never tried hazelnut milk before..I don't even think I've seen it at the stores. Hazelnuts are considered a treat around here because they are so expensive..almonds, cashews, walnuts we always have on hand. I think I should treat myself today hehe. Good luck training, and I'm looking forward to the post that's on your mind ;).
ReplyDeleteWe didn't have hazelnut milk in Australia so I was really excited to spot it when we arrived in London! I know what you mean about hazelnuts being a treat - I always have almonds but hazelnuts (and pecans) seem really decadent :-)
DeleteSounds lovely - the oats I mean - not sure I could do all the running you do but admire it from afar :-)
ReplyDeleteLuckily you can enjoy the oats without the running :-)
DeleteYum! This sounds like a great way to liven up oats. Definitely giving this one a go.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dannii! I was surprised by just how much I loved it.
DeleteI would love this for breakfast, great combination!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cheri!
DeleteYou have just helped me out of a breakfast hole! I love porridge - I eat them everyday, but I'm a bit stuck in a rut with it. I now see the oat path laid out clearly before me. Such a clever idea - getting the veggies in at the first meal of the day, and with a nod to a cake too!
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so pleased - I hope you enjoy this! Getting vegetables in with a nod to cake is definitely my style ;)
DeleteI wouldn't have though to do carrots and hazelnuts but it does sound good :) I'm not running so much (or at least so far/long) these days but I do still enjoy a bit of speed work alongside my more regular strength training.
ReplyDeleteI've been doing substantial smoothies almost every day for breakfast lately. I find I need food pretty much straight away after hitting the gym in the morning and smoothies are pretty much the quickest thing for me!
I didn't know you were a runner :-) I know what you mean about needing food quickly post-exercise - sometimes even making a smoothie seems too long!
DeleteYum. This sounds amazing. I wish we had hazelnut milk on the shelves here! I may need to make some
ReplyDeleteHomemade is probably better anyway :-)
DeleteYay for half marathon training! And getting to eat ALL THE CARBS. These oats sound like the perfect pre-run meal! And they have carrot cake in the name. So they must be good.
ReplyDeleteALL THE CARBS is definitely happening :D
DeleteWow! I'm very impressed. Another half-marathon. Congrats on making the effort. It certainly would take a lot of training and yes, before a long run you'd be needing some carbs. I had always hoped to do a half-marathon or even a full marathon one day but Kari, I've had so many injuries (the latest is my lower back) from trying to get back into jogging that I'm thinking I'm going to have to give that dream a miss. Never mind - I'll find something else to do I'm sure xx
ReplyDeleteIt does sound like you need a nice long break from running. Perhaps in the future, when everything is healed, you can revive the dream? Otherwise a long distance swim might be more your kind of thing! Lots of carbohydrates needed for that, too :-)
DeleteHope the training continues to go well. These cakes sound like a great source of energy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Cakelaw :)
Delete