What are oats and what to cook from them

Oats are one of the most popular grains. The grain is collected from the plant of the same name, which is grown as part of agriculture. Before being used for food, cereals are processed in different ways. The size and quality of the cereal determines how healthy such a snack will be.

What are oats made from?

Technically, the word “oats” itself is usually used to describe the plant from which the cereal is produced. Everyone probably knows what oatmeal is. It is actively used not only in the food industry, but also in agriculture. Thus, cereal is included in the food for most domestic animals. In addition, in some cases, cereals are ground to obtain flour.

Popularly, both the product itself and the classic porridge made from it are usually called oatmeal. It is an iconic dish for many cultures. Nutritionists advise choosing this particular porridge for breakfast, because it contains maximum beneficial properties.

What is contained in 100 grams of oats

100 grams of grain contains 389 kcal, which makes the cereal quite filling. However, the ratio of substances beneficial to the body in it is quite harmonious:

• 6.9 grams fat.
• 16.9 grams of protein.
• 66.1 grams of carbohydrates.
• 12 grams of fiber.

In addition, a standard serving also contains 1.7 grams of ash and 8.2 grams of water. But the main advantage of oatmeal is that it is a grain crop that contains a lot of vitamins, microelements, amino acids and other useful components. More accurate data can be seen in the table.

And this is only a small part of the benefits of oatmeal. There are also other, lesser-known components in the chemical composition, which nevertheless have a positive effect on health. However, you should not abuse the product either.

Note! Oats have a very high silicon content. Therefore, those who experience problems with the liver or genitourinary system should consume this cereal with extreme caution.

What is prepared from oats: 10 popular dishes

But the main question is what is made from oats. The classic porridge is probably familiar to everyone. But what to do if you want to introduce cereal into your diet, but you don’t like the dish? In this case, there is also a way out. We have collected 10 examples of different recipes based on oatmeal, among which everyone will find something to their liking:

• Classic porridge on water. This is a dietary recipe that is used even in the diets of people suffering from gastrointestinal diseases.In addition, such a breakfast is great for energizing and helping you lose weight.
• Oat cookies. This dessert has many variations. To prevent the sweetness from being boring, you can supplement it with anything - for example, nuts, fruits or chocolate chips. In any case, the cookies will have a unique taste and a very interesting texture.
• Side dish of oatmeal with onions. This dish is a little reminiscent of porridge, but it turns out a little drier. Usually, to diversify the taste, vegetables are also added during cooking. For example, onions go well with cereal.
• Cutlets. Oatmeal is suitable for any version of this dish. Thanks to the use of cereal, fish or meat cutlets will become even tastier and healthier. And for vegetable cutlets, oats will be an excellent filler.
• Oatmeal casserole. Most often, such food is made sweet - for example, with the addition of chocolate. When cooking, you can grind the grains into flour to ensure a smooth texture. Or leave them in their original form - this way the result will be more interesting.
• Pancakes and pancakes. This is the method of cooking for Maslenitsa that is chosen by people who carefully monitor their health. However, an oat pancake with different fillings can become an everyday breakfast.
• Granola. Another option for a non-trivial breakfast made from oats. You can take this snack with you anywhere. Most often, a replacement for cereal is simply diluted with milk and eaten.
• Muesli. In muesli, oatmeal acts as a kind of connecting link. And to get a more pleasant taste, you can add nuts and seeds to it. With honey, this delicacy will become even tastier, but the calorie content will also increase.
• Candies. As surprising as it may sound, sweets for weight loss and proper nutrition can also be made from oats. It is this that will give a unique texture, but will leave the taste almost unchanged.
• Kissel. An extremely healthy drink is prepared based on cereals. Consuming this jelly daily will improve not only your health, but also the condition of your skin and hair.

And even this is not all the ways to use cereal. Thanks to their special texture and neutral taste, oats can be used in almost any culinary experiment.

How to choose quality oats in the store

To prepare a tasty and healthy oatmeal dish, it’s not enough just to find the right recipe. It is important that the cereal itself is of high quality. Not every store product can boast of this. However, choosing the right option is quite simple if you know what to look for:

• The time during which the cereal is cooked. Express options contain the least amount of benefits. It is better to give preference to crushed oats or large flakes, which need 15-20 minutes to cook.
• Compound. Even if the packaging contains a lot of symbols from the category “Natural” or “Healthy”, you should not blindly believe them. It is better to study the composition yourself and make sure that the manufacturer’s statements are correct.
• Sugar content. Many companies, in pursuit of a more pleasant taste, add a sweetener to the cereal, which does not benefit the body at all. It is better to choose products that contain no more than 5 grams of sugar per 100 grams.
• Fiber content. But this component is extremely important for health and should be contained in any good cereals. Per 100 grams of a quality product there are at least 6 grams of fiber, and better yet, more.

The first point is the most important. It's best to spend a little more time cooking before eating oats. This is the only way to gain maximum benefit.

Questions and answers

Why are oat seeds used in agriculture?

The culture is added to the feed of most animals. It is an indispensable food ingredient for horses, birds, and cattle.

Is there a way to make healthy oatmeal quickly if you don't have time in the morning?

Fortunately, such a method exists, but it will require some preparation the night before. To do this, the cereal must be placed in an airtight container and filled with milk, water or kefir. You can immediately add additional components, so their taste in the finished dish will become even brighter. Then close the workpiece with a lid and place it in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, all that remains is to serve and eat the porridge.

Is there a difference in what kind of milk you use to cook oatmeal?

Undoubtedly. This aspect is especially important for those who want to lose weight. The fat content of milk largely determines the calorie content of the finished food. For a diet menu, plant-based analogues of the drink are best suited - for example, almond or oat milk. In addition, such a delicious recipe is suitable even for vegetarians.

What else can you use oats for?

This cereal is an excellent homemade cosmetic product. For example, well-ground oats can be a wonderful scrub that is suitable even for sensitive skin.

Is it possible to germinate cereal grains yourself and how to do it?

Of course, this procedure is quite simple. You just need to rinse well and dry each seed thoroughly. Then the future sprouts are left in a room with good air circulation at a temperature of about 21 degrees.Then the procedure is repeated twice every 12 hours. After this, the dried seeds are sent to the refrigerator and wait for the result.