Oatmeal with Latin Flair

Drop that instant packet of flavored oats right now! Contrary to what you may believe, oatmeal is actually a very quick, very simple dish to pull together and it’s not just for breakfast! Instead of starting your day staring into a microwave, heat up the stove, make a big batch of oatmeal, stock your fridge, and rest easy. You’ll have bowls of warm, nutrient packed goodness that lowers your cholesterol and your risk of heart disease in no time.

First, Oatmeal Atol. In Guatemala, there are about 30 different types of atol, usually a masa-based dish. Atol blanco, atol dulce, atol de masa, atol de tortillas. This recipe is a take on atol de elote, which is prepared with harden maiz, or hominy, that is cooked, ground, and then cooked again with sugar, milk, and canela. Sprinkled with whole hominy, a pat of butter, and a small drizzle of honey, you’ll be as addicted to it as we are.

Next up, Spanish Oatmeal with Egg and Chorizo. Mark Bittman, one of the country’s most savvy food journalists, changed my ideas about oatmeal five years ago when he suggested topping salted oatmeal with a fried egg, parmesan cheese, and chives. This is my riff on savory oatmeal: mixed with spiced chorizo, nutty manchego cheese, and a beautiful, farm-fresh egg. It’s the best power-breakfast on earth! If you don’t trust me; trust Bittman.

Finally, Arroz con Leche Oatmeal. When I lived in the depths of Brooklyn, there was a man selling arroz con leche, chocolate, coffee, (and sometimes even tamales) from a shopping cart at the entrance to the train. It was here that I fell in love with arroz con leche, greedily clutching my Styrofoam mug full of sweet, steaming rice in the middle of a bitter cold NYC winter. This version, made with oatmeal instead of rice, still retains the strong flavors of canela and milk which gives arroz its name.

Atol Oatmeal

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup milk
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon or one cinnamon stick
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 3/4 cup hominy, divided
• 3 tablespoons sweetener (honey, sugar, or maple syrup)
• 2 tablespoons butter

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Spanish Oatmeal with Egg and Chorizo

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup grated manchego cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1 pinch crushed red pepper
• 4 ounces hard chorizo
• 2 eggs
• cheese, olive oil, for garnish

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Arroz con Leche Oatmeal  

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup milk
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon or one cinnamon stick
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 3 tablespoons sweetener (honey, sugar, or maple syrup)
• cinnamon, for garnish

Get the full recipe.