Spiced Buttermilk Oatmeal with Dried Fruit and Pecans

Name: Spiced Buttermilk Oatmeal with Dried Fruit and Pecans
Cook time: PT0D0H40M
Total time: PT0D0H40M
Yield: serves 4-6
Ingredients: 3 tbsp. unsalted butter; 1 cup steel-cut oats; 1 tsp. ground cinnamon; 1 ⁄ 2 tsp. ground green cardamom; 1 ⁄ 4 tsp. ground star anise; One 1-in. piece of ginger, peeled and pounded into a paste; 1 ⁄ 2 tsp. kosher salt; 3 ⁄ 4 cup buttermilk; 1 ⁄ 4 cup whole milk; 1 tbsp. honey; 1 cup mixed dried fruit, such as apricots, dates, and prunes, coarsely chopped; 1 ⁄ 2 cup coarsely chopped pecans, toasted; Orange marmalade or raspberry jam, for topping (optional)

This from-scratch breakfast cereal is miles better than instant.

Serves
serves 4-6
Time
40 minutes

ANDRE BARANOWSKI

By Pete Wells

Updated on October 31, 2021

Spices including cardamom, star anise, and ginger jazz up this warm breakfast cereal from New York Times restaurant critic Pete Wells. Steel-cut oats, also known as Irish or pinhead oats, take longer to cook than rolled and instant varieties, but boast a satisfying and toothsome texture that is well-worth the wait. Check out all of our breakfast recipes here.

Featured in: "Morning Glory: Breakfast Rituals."

Ingredients

3 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 cup steel-cut oats
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
¹⁄₂ tsp. ground green cardamom
¹⁄₄ tsp. ground star anise
One 1-in. piece of ginger, peeled and pounded into a paste
¹⁄₂ tsp. kosher salt
³⁄₄ cup buttermilk
¹⁄₄ cup whole milk
1 tbsp. honey
1 cup mixed dried fruit, such as apricots, dates, and prunes, coarsely chopped
¹⁄₂ cup coarsely chopped pecans, toasted
Orange marmalade or raspberry jam, for topping (optional)

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Instructions

Step 1

In a medium Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the oats, cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, and ginger, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the oats are slightly toasted and the mixture is fragrant, 2–3 minutes. Stir in the salt and 3 cups of water, bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the oatmeal is tender, about 25 minutes. Add the buttermilk and milk, and continue cooking until the oatmeal has thickened slightly, 8–10 minutes.

Step 2

When ready to serve, stir in the honey, then divide the oatmeal between 4 bowls. Top each with the dried fruit and pecans and a dollop of marmalade if using.

In a medium Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the oats, cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, and ginger, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the oats are slightly toasted and the mixture is fragrant, 2–3 minutes. Stir in the salt and 3 cups of water, bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the oatmeal is tender, about 25 minutes. Add the buttermilk and milk, and continue cooking until the oatmeal has thickened slightly, 8–10 minutes.
When ready to serve, stir in the honey, then divide the oatmeal between 4 bowls. Top each with the dried fruit and pecans and a dollop of marmalade if using.