Acai Berry Breakfast Oats

We’ve got a fair few electrical appliances in the kitchen – a hardly touched fancy microwave, a crumb filled super toaster, a soon to be replaced blender (somewhat broken making raw spirulina bars oops!), a temperature programmed kettle (for bitter-free herbal teas),  and Breville Synchro rice cooker.

I LOVE waking up in the morning to warm, creamy oats waiting to be devoured. I get up at 6 and I can’t say I feel like making breakfast first thing upon waking, or even thinking about what I feel like for breakfast, I love having the delicious option of starting the whole process the night before. To do this recipe exactly like mine you need a rice cooker/slow cooker with a timer function, otherwise just cook on the stovetop in the morning – too easy. If doing overnight oats, make sure you use a non-dairy milk, or add your milk 30min before the cooking time is due to finish – or it will go off.

 Why you should be eating this for breakfast:

First answer? – the colour. When was the last time you ate oats this bright? While it’s not purple per se, neither is acai (purpleberry) really but anything that looks this good HAS to be amazing for you. The addition of mixed berries with the acai gives the oats a reddish/purplish colour that I simply love.  The second answer? Oats, LSA and chia seeds will have you powering until lunch time.

Breakfast superstars (and superfoods)

Oats:  A source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, a single serving of oats provides almost twenty percent of the daily fiber requirement. The soluble fiber helps to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease, while insoluble fiber keeps the digestive tract working properly. The beta-glucans content of oats helps to stabilize blood sugar level and insulin levels and also has immune enhancing effects (making oats the perfect breakfast for winter cold season!).

Acai: While adding acai to your morning oats lends an exotic flavour, it is also rich in antioxidants, fibre, omega-3 fatty acids and amino acids. High levels of fibre within the berry can aid feelings of satiety while the high protein content may help increase sustained morning energy levels.

Berries: All berries are rich in fibre, vitamin C and various polyphenol phytochemicals – which also give them their beautiful bright hues. Blueberries contain anthocyanin antioxidants that aid memory and cognition, while raspberries contain ellagic acid, a compound with anti-cancer properties. Both contain lutein, important for eyesight. Eating a diet rich in blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries and strawberries may also help reduce the risk of several types of cancers due to a number of compounds, vitamins, minerals and fibre they contain.

Chia seeds: These tiny seeds are a high-energy, low calorie, endurance superstar for sustained energy production.  Increasing meal satiety via the soluble fiber content, eating chia seeds has a stabilising influence on blood glucose levels by regulating the rate at which complex carbohydrates are digested and assimilated in the body.

Acai Berry Breakfast Oats

 

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Prep time

5 mins

Cook time

10 mins

Total time

15 mins

 

(dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, vegan, gluten-free if using uncontaminated oats/other rolled grain)

Author: Alison Murray @ Om Nom Ally.com

Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 4 cups water (see notes)
• 2 tablespoons acai berry powder
• ½ - 1 cup frozen or fresh berries
• 1 tbsp flax meal
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1 tablespoon agave or sugar
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds, divided

Instructions

1. Add all ingredient except chia seeds to rice cooker bowl and stir well to combine.
2. Set rice cooker to program setting for oats, porridge or soup and allow to cook for predetermined time.
3. After cooking time has finished, stir through 1 tablespoon of chia seeds and divide oats between two bowls. Serve with other tablespoon of chia sprinkled on top as well as toppings of choice, eg nuts, additional berries etc.
4. Add all ingredients except chia to medium saucepan and heat stove to medium.
5. Stir ingredients until well combined, let oats cook for 3-5 minutes until mixture starts to bubble. Stir a few times and allow oats to bubble for another minute or so or until thick and creamy.
6. Take off the heat, stir through 1 tablespoon of chia seeds and divide between two bowls. Serve with other tablespoon of chia sprinkled on top as well as toppings of choice, eg nuts, additional berries etc.

Notes

For a more creamy bowl of oats use 2 cups water plus 2 cups your preferred dairy or non-dairy milk. If doing overnight oats, make sure you use a non-dairy milk, or add your milk 30min before the cooking time is due to finish – or it will go off.

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