Lucia's Oat Groat Delight

Over 90% of Americans suffer from some level of insulin resistance, and grains often cause large spikes in blood sugar. One secret to managing those after-meal spikes is using grains in their intact form rather than rolled, cut, or made into flour. This recipe is a delicious way to use the whole oat grain, also known as oat groats, and the chewy texture adds to the satisfaction of enjoying this high-fiber, nutritious hot oat cereal.

Lucia’s Oat Groat Delight (serves 4-6)

• Prep Time = 5 minutes
• Cook Time = 2 hours (in oven) or 1 hour (with Instant pot)
• Total Time = 1 hour 5 minutes to 2 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup oat groats rinsed
• 2 tablespoons raisins
• 2 dates
• 1 whole apple coarsely grated
• 1 teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander ground
• 4 cups water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (not imitation)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Place rinsed oat groats in a casserole dish.
3. Add all other ingredients and stir to mix.
4. Cover tightly with a lid or tin foil.
5. Bake for 2 hours, covered. Most of the liquid will be absorbed by then, but it should not be dry.
6. Serve warm. It may also be refrigerated and rewarmed before eating. Chilling will thicken it, so you may need to add some unsweetened, non-dairy milk or water to thin it a bit.

Topping Suggestions

1. Fresh or raw berries of any kind.
2. A few raw or lightly toasted nuts.
3. Some freshly ground flax, chia, or sesame seeds (or a mix). 
4. A few sunflower or pumpkin seeds.

Call to Action

In Genesis 1:29 (KJV), we read that God told Adam and Eve that He was giving them “every herb bearing seed” to be part of their ideal Eden diet. That phrase refers to what we now call grains. As we choose to eat the gift of whole grains, prepared simply and tastefully, we can experience many of the gifts of Eden in our own lives.