For your daily fibre fix: 9 ways to enjoy oats aside from overnight oats
Instagram and Pinterest may be all about overnight oats, but the humble grain’s full potential stretches far beyond the mason jar. What makes oats truly remarkable is their chameleon-like ability to absorb flavours and transform textures—from comforting congee to crispy granola clusters that shatter satisfyingly. They possess an earthy nuttiness that deepens when toasted, a creamy smoothness when ground into flour and surprising chewiness when shaped into noodles.
Beyond their versatility lies genuine nutrition: oats pack fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Multiple studies show how oats help manage cholesterol levels, blood sugar and blood pressure while reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Their naturally gluten-free properties (check packaging for cross-contamination warnings) make them accessible to those with gluten intolerance.
From fried rice-style breakfasts to no-bake snack bites, these creative oats ideas lean into the grain’s main character energy. The following preparations use rolled oats or steel-cut oats, as quick-cook varieties produce different textures and results.
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Fried rice style
@zhiling_nutrition Oat Fried Rice Ingredients: 120g rolled oats 4 tsp oil 4 cloves garlic (minced) 1 cili padi (optional, sliced) 2 eggs (beaten) 40g carrot (cut into small cubes) 65g sweet peppers (cut into small cubes) 40g shiitake mushroom (cut into small cubes) 1 pinch salt 1 pinch white pepper 3 dash MSG 2 tsp soy sauce (adjust the seasoning based on preferences) Steps: 1. Wash and drain the rolled oats. Don’t squeeze out the water. Spread the washed oats on a plate. 2. Cook the washed rolled oats in the microwave for 5 minutes at medium-high power, or until the oats are soft but not mushy, the grain is still intact. 3. Lightly sauté the cooked oats in a pan with 2 tsp of oil under medium heat. Remove the oat from the pan. 4. Saute the minced garlic and sliced cili padi for 30 seconds with 2 tsp of oil. Add beaten eggs and let it sit in the pan until it’s cooked. 5. Add carrot and stir fry for around 2 minutes. While waiting for the carrot to be cooked, break the cooked eggs apart. 6. Add shiitake mushroom and sweet bell peppers. Stir fry for around 1 minute. 7. Add sautéed oats and seasoning, Toss well and it’s ready! Tips: 1. Cut the vegetables into small cubes help cooks the vegetable faster 2. Add more water at second steps if you’d like to have softer fried oats. Nutrients: Energy: 413kcal Carbohydrates: 49.1g Dietary fibre: 7.5g Protein: 15.4g Fat: 18g #nutritionadvice #nutritionist #balancedmeal #savouryoats #oatfriedrice #allfoodfits #easyrecipes #asianrecipes #rolledoats ♬ Make It Better (Instrumental) - Anderson .Paak
Think beyond rice for your next stir-fry. Rolled oats create an unexpectedly satisfying base when prepared correctly, yielding soft grains that hold their shape. To achieve this texture, a few methods work particularly well. You may wash and drain oats, then microwave for five minutes or pour hot water over oats and microwave for one minute. For even quicker morning prep, soak oats overnight in some water or broth, so they’re ready to hit the pan the moment you wake up.
Once your oat base is ready, fry it in a pan with some oil and let any excess moisture evaporate. Set aside and carry on as you would with fried rice: saute aromatics, add vegetables and protein and season to taste. The result delivers familiar comfort with enhanced nuttiness and nutritional value.
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Savoury congee
Breakfast oats need not be sweet by default. Savoury congee-style oats bring soothing comfort, adapted to the cooking times of rolled oatmeal or steel-cut oats. Pro tip: briefly dry-roast oats in a pan beforehand to heighten their natural aroma.
This simple base adapts easily to a wide variety of flavour profiles: Filipino arroz caldo with chicken, ginger and calamansi; Indian-inspired bowls with ginger, saffron, cardamom, cinnamon and ghee; or a modern blend with steel-cut oats, miso paste, red lentils, scallions and seasonal vegetables. These savoury oat dishes demonstrate their versatility while delivering the same gut-friendly benefits.
Baked oatmeal
The texture of baked oatmeal sits somewhere between cake and bread pudding, delivering warmth in a sliceable form. Sweet versions combine rolled oatmeal or steel-cut oats with eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, butter and fruits like apples or vegetables like courgette, baked until golden and solid to touch. Tip: steel-cut oat preparations benefit from overnight assembly, with the fruits or vegetables mixed in before baking the next day.
Savoury iterations swap milk for broth or water, creating a canvas for endless combinations. Sun-dried tomatoes with spinach and goat cheese offer Mediterranean flair, while shiitake mushrooms with miso, scallions and sesame oil provide umami-rich satisfaction. For savoury applications, pan-frying the aromatics, vegetables and protein before baking is best to bring out their flavours.
No-bake energy bites
When it’s too hot to turn the oven on, no-bake energy bites deliver fuss-free gratification. Mix rolled oats with nut butter and honey or maple syrup as your foundation. Customisation opportunities abound: chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruits, vanilla extract and warming spices.
Combine ingredients thoroughly, refrigerate for several hours or overnight, then cut into bars. Satisfying cravings with minimal additives, these easy oat snacks are best eaten straight out of the fridge.
Read more: 5 easy no-bake dessert recipes to try at home
Chunky granola
Homemade granola with oats gives you bakery-style crunch. (Photo: Sollange Brenis / Unsplash)
Granola is endlessly adaptable, and making it at home lets you tailor flavours and textures to your liking. Rolled oats usually form the base, while steel-cut oats create interesting textural variation with adjusted baking times. Customise with nuts, seeds, dried fruits, chocolate chips, coconut flakes and spices according to preference.
For those coveting bakery-style clusters, whisk egg white until frothy and incorporate it into your mixture before baking. The outcome is a crunchy, cluster-filled granola that elevates even the simplest breakfast.
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Sweet porridge
Turn oats into comforting bowls of sweet porridge easily adaptable across cultures. (Photo: Bakd&Raw by Karolin Baitinger / Unsplash)
Rolled oats and steel-cut oats both lend themselves to warming bowls that go far beyond basic porridge. In the Philippines, oats champorado brings cocoa into play, best paired with salty dried fish. Masala chai-spiced oatmeal infuses tea, ginger, cardamom and other spices for an energising start to your day.
Coconut milk with pandan and palm sugar, black sesame with honey, red bean paste and milk—sweet porridge oats are easily adaptable across cultures while keeping fibre levels high.
Read more: Morning rituals: 10 traditional breakfasts across Southeast Asia
Oat pancakes
Upgrade your mornings with oat pancakes that are as wholesome as they are satisfying. (Photo: Joshua Ryder / Unsplash)
For a fibre-rich twist on pancakes, swap all-purpose flour for oat flour (store-bought or homemade using a food processor or blender) or combine the two for extra fluffiness. Either way, the trick is to rest the batter for ten minutes to allow the oat flour to absorb moisture.
Customisation follows personal preference: fresh berries for tartness, grated coconut for tropical notes or chocolate chips for indulgent mornings. Even savoury applications work—herbs, cheese and spring onions transform breakfast pancakes into sophisticated brunch fare. Healthy oat recipes like these prove that nutritious choices need not sacrifice flavour or satisfaction.
Oat waffles
Crispy outside, fluffy inside—oat waffles make baking with oats feel indulgent yet nourishing. (Photo: Fayaz Ahmed / Unsplash)
Like oat pancakes, oat waffles benefit from incorporating rolled oatmeal flour. The technique mirrors pancake preparation—resting the batter for ten minutes while your waffle iron heats. This resting period allows oat flour to hydrate properly, resulting in crisp exteriors and fluffy interiors.
Top with seasonal fruit, spiced yoghurt or smoked salmon and cream cheese. Baking with oats in this way gives you a creative oats experience that feels indulgent yet grounding.
Read more: Where to order the best pancakes & waffles in the Philippines
Oat noodles
These chewy, nutty noodles showcase oats in a whole new form. (Photo: Adlyn Teoh and Jenny Yap / Wikimedia Commons)
Youmian kaolaolao represents one of the grain’s most unexpected applications. These Chinese oat noodle rolls originate from alpine regions where wheat and rice prove scarce. Oat paste is rolled into tubes and steamed in baskets, creating hearty noodles with chewy, nutty characteristics.
The name translates literally: youmian means oat, and kaolaolao means basket, referencing the woven pattern of the noodles. Traditional accompaniments include tomato garlic sauce, lamb potato sauce and spicy scallion vinegar.
Home cooks can master this dish with patience—the technique rewards persistence with remarkable texture. For those who prefer culinary adventures outside the home, this beloved dish can be found in China’s northern provinces of Shanxi and Hebei.
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