GLUTEN FREE · DAIRY FREE · VEGAN OPTION · NUT FREE · PALEO OPTION

This makes a great breakfast batch-cooking option. Just throw it together, cut into portions, and you have a filling grab-and-go breakfast for the next few days, or a great snack in between meals. Born during the great banana bread wave brought on by the lockdowns of early 2020, this banana bread-oatmeal hybrid keeps well in the fridge for 4-5 days, and I actually think it’s one of those recipes that tastes even better the next day, served slightly chilled out of the fridge.

A great start to your day!

Ingredients

Bananas

Bananas provide you with energy and so make an excellent breakfast ingredient. According to the principles of Ayurveda, bananas also support digestion and are good for the stomach.

Be sure to use ripe or even over-ripe bananas. This recipe calls for 4 bananas, and this is to help create the oatmeal’s slightly ‘sticky’ and moist texture. If you would prefer a less moist texture, then try using one less banana.

Egg

Non-dairy milk

Choose your favourite non-dairy milk for this, keeping in mind that stronger-flavoured options will affect the resulting taste of the oatmeal. I have tried it with rice milk and oat milk - both good!

Paleo milk options: almond, cashew, coconut, hazelnut, hemp.

AIP milk options: coconut, tigernut (chufa).

Other: oat, rice, soy.

Vanilla Essence

Gluten-free oats

While oats are gluten-free by nature, there can often be cross-contamination with wheat, as they are often grown in the same fields or handled in the same factories. For this reason, it’s important that you ensure your oats have a ‘gluten-free’ certification.

Coconut Flour

A great gluten-free and grain-free flour, rich in dietary fibre, and mild in taste. Suitable for Paleo/AIP.

Baking powder (gluten free)

Sodium bicarbonate (gluten free)

Cinnamon

A great digestive aid, with blood sugar-regulating properties, cinnamon works so well in this oatmeal.

Berries

Pick your favourite berries (mine are blueberries), or go with a combination - here I have used a blueberry-strawberry mix! Berries are high in antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. They are also lower in sugar than many other fruits.

Salt

Changes & Substitutions

Egg Substitute

You can use a flax egg for a vegan version of this oatmeal.

Make it Paleo?

Just sub the oats with nuts. Depending on the consistency you prefer, you can either use roughly-chopped nuts or blitz them a little for finely-chopped, or blitz fully to make them into a flour.

Tips

Keep in mind that if you choose to use frozen berries straight from the freezer, this will increase the moisture content and could make the oatmeal ‘soggy’. Best to let them defrost and drain off the ice water before using, unless of course you don’t mind the added moisture, in which case, throw the berries in as they are!

Serving Suggestion

This baked oatmeal is great just as it is, but you can always serve it with fresh fruit, a drizzle of honey or maple syrup, or a dollop of your favourite nut butter.