This new year has started off with a bang. I’ve got a lot on my plate….at least work-wise while the rest of my plate, or rather my cupboards are suffering from some good ol’ Mother Hubbard-ism. I just haven’t had the time to grocery shop, so besides a load of chocolate leftover from the holidays the meal pickings are skimpy. After bowling on Monday night (I’m a league player, donchya know), I did manage to grab a bag of what I thought was Scottish oats (aka “my breakfast mainstay”). Turns out, I grabbed a bag of oat bran instead.
Now, I admit there is something about that freaks me out about oat bran. I think it was those old Prevention magazines that my parents subscribed to that would scream about the life giving properties of oat bran. That kind of food trend business just turns my stomach. So when I found myself with oat bran in my bike bag the next morning, I was a bit disappointed but decided to carry on. I had some leftover chai tea and I decided to use that cold tea in place of cold water to cook up the oats. I also added a bit more spice (see, I was terribly afraid of the oat bran!) and when everything was cooked up, I topped my bowl with vanilla yogurt, a bit of honey and some toasted walnuts. How was it? Pretty freakin’ amazing! I guess I’ve learned to love a grain despite the shining happy people on the Prevention magazine cover. Live long and learn!
chai-spiced oat bran
1.5 c chai tea
1/2 c water
2/3 c oat bran
1/2 t cinnamon
1 pinch each ground cloves, nutmegBring the tea and water to a boil. Add in the oat bran, whisking as you go. Turn down the heat to a simmer and add in extra spices. It should cook up fairly quickly, about 2 minutes or so. Serves 2. Top with yogurt, a drizzle of honey and toasted walnuts to make things extra special.
Print This Recipe
Yum! Talk about taking something potentially iffy and turning it into something so fantastic!
I love oat bran–not really much different from oatmeal. Okay, well, there’s the consistency. But if you get past that, it’s great! I even use oat bran to make flourless cookies–yum!
I have dappled with oat bran in the past, mostly with baking muffins and loafs. I don’t mind it but I have never had it as a main for breakfast. Sounds good the way you dolled it up and it went from blah to gorgeous. I must confess though, I have been known to follow food trends (oat bran, flax meal, wheat germ) on occasion.
I just may have to try this! I cannot get steel cut oats here but do have a container of oat bran that I am not sure what to do with!
Good to know…of course, you can’t go wrong with chai spices…
I didn’t know you could eat bran plan! I accidentally soaked too much bran when I was making muffins, so I’ll try the leftover bran for breakfast.
I didn’t know you could eat bran plan! I accidentally soaked too much bran when I was making muffins, so I’ll try the leftover bran for breakfast.
I didn’t know you could eat bran plan! I accidentally soaked too much bran when I was making muffins, so I’ll try the leftover bran for breakfast.
I didn’t know you could eat bran plan! I accidentally soaked too much bran when I was making muffins, so I’ll try the leftover bran for breakfast.
I didn’t know you could eat bran plan! I accidentally soaked too much bran when I was making muffins, so I’ll try the leftover bran for breakfast.
I didn’t know you could eat bran plan! I accidentally soaked too much bran when I was making muffins, so I’ll try the leftover bran for breakfast.
I didn’t know you could eat bran plan! I accidentally soaked too much bran when I was making muffins, so I’ll try the leftover bran for breakfast.
I didn’t know you could eat bran plan! I accidentally soaked too much bran when I was making muffins, so I’ll try the leftover bran for breakfast.
I didn’t know you could eat bran plan! I accidentally soaked too much bran when I was making muffins, so I’ll try the leftover bran for breakfast.
I didn’t know you could eat bran plan! I accidentally soaked too much bran when I was making muffins, so I’ll try the leftover bran for breakfast.
I didn’t know you could eat bran plan! I accidentally soaked too much bran when I was making muffins, so I’ll try the leftover bran for breakfast.
I didn’t know you could eat bran plan! I accidentally soaked too much bran when I was making muffins, so I’ll try the leftover bran for breakfast.
I am in the same situation ( sans the chocolate) and have nothing in my pantry… You are lucky …or more likely very talented… your dish turned out looking delish!
Last night I made the saddest pasta dish…but what made it even sadder was the fact I had to take the leftovers for lunch today! It was edible…but just barely.
I’m glad you gave it a chance, Kickpleat – it looks scrumptious!
Oh, this sounds great! I’m going to try this. Is there a particular kind of chai tea you’d recommend? I’ve ordered it prepared in coffee shops, but I’ve never bought it in tea form.
I just discovered a container of oat bran lurking in the back of a cupboard so you’ve given me a great idea of how to use it. Thanks!
Hmm, haven’t had oat bran before really. But I do know I love my plain oatmeal, something I eat daily. But this certainly add some pizazz to the whole dish! 🙂
katerina, i was amazed it tasted so good!
mrs. w, its’ true, it wasn’t that different from oatmeal at all! glad i tried it. flourless cookies? sign me up!
joanne, you do seem like a health food trend follower! i should try it in baking too.
gretchen, oh steel cut oats are great but i was suprised at how good these were! try ’em!
hag, i’m totally experimenting with my cupboard! last night’s dinner was truely ugly but it involved potatoes, black beans and lots of stinky leftover holiday fancy cheese. kinda delicious, but oh so stinky! but i understand your sad lunch. sigh! get out and grocery shop, already!
true, mallow, chai is wonderful!
jessica, this isn’t just plain bran…it’s oat bran which is quite a bit different. this is much more similar to oatmeal.
kennymah, i’m sure you could use this technique with regular ol’ oats!
thanks patricia, i’m glad i got over my oat bran hang-ups!
veg, i just used stash chai which is what i’ve got on hand. i’m sure any brand would do.
lynn, let’s just hope that container hasn’t been lurking around since the early ’90s!
Here is my recipe for flourless oatmeal cookies; can be made with or without chips. Obviously my recipe is sugar-free, but you can use sugar or brown sugar instead of sugar replacer.
Guilty as charged! Have you tried Goji berries? They are the new anti-oxidant…hee hee…!
It’s a cool rainy evening here in NC so I thought a bowl of oatmeal would be perfect for dinner. I used the Chai tea and it was delicious. I might have to make it again for breakfast.
wow, I never would have guessed that this dish wasn’t planned for ahead of time!! looks wonderful and comforting!!
Yes oat bran is a pretty wonderful food, once you figure out how to make it taste good. Looks like you did good on that.
HUbby and I are sitting here at our desks eating guess what– oatmeal (there’s nothing better on a cool winter morning) and I clicked on a link to your blog by chance (first time here) and I say mmmmmmm… Chai… with Oats… How serendipitous! I will try that tomorrow because it sounds sooo yummy!
I’ll be honest, I found your blog through someone else’s through someone else’s. But I just spent 45 minutes scrolling down and LUSTING after your food. Food as porn. I like.
I find so many of your original recipes to be wonderful, simple and I can’t wait to try this one…I have a cup of chai tea in the fridge right now…
I find so many of your original recipes to be wonderful, simple and I can’t wait to try this one…I have a cup of chai tea in the fridge right now…
I find so many of your original recipes to be wonderful, simple and I can’t wait to try this one…I have a cup of chai tea in the fridge right now…
I find so many of your original recipes to be wonderful, simple and I can’t wait to try this one…I have a cup of chai tea in the fridge right now…
I find so many of your original recipes to be wonderful, simple and I can’t wait to try this one…I have a cup of chai tea in the fridge right now…
I find so many of your original recipes to be wonderful, simple and I can’t wait to try this one…I have a cup of chai tea in the fridge right now…
I find so many of your original recipes to be wonderful, simple and I can’t wait to try this one…I have a cup of chai tea in the fridge right now…
I find so many of your original recipes to be wonderful, simple and I can’t wait to try this one…I have a cup of chai tea in the fridge right now…
I find so many of your original recipes to be wonderful, simple and I can’t wait to try this one…I have a cup of chai tea in the fridge right now…
I find so many of your original recipes to be wonderful, simple and I can’t wait to try this one…I have a cup of chai tea in the fridge right now…
I find so many of your original recipes to be wonderful, simple and I can’t wait to try this one…I have a cup of chai tea in the fridge right now…
I find so many of your original recipes to be wonderful, simple and I can’t wait to try this one…I have a cup of chai tea in the fridge right now…
mrs. w, thanks for the recipe! looks amazing.
travel girl, glad you tried using chai tea with good results!
thanks veggie girl, you’d laugh at how many of my recipes aren’t planned ahead of time (uh, most of them!)
thanks judy, i think i did pretty well, myself!
thanks for stopping by, traveler one! chai + oats = yummy!
erin, thanks for lusting! heehee. glad you enjoy it here 🙂
c’tina, aww, shucks. thanks!
Mmm, oat bran, one of my favorite breakfasts, just under Irish oats. Oat bran, however, takes only minutes to make, where as my beloved Irish oats take a good 30 minutes, thus, when I lack the drive to make my oats in the morning, oat bran is a faster, though equally nutritious, breakfast. I’ve never thought of using chai tea, though I have often added cardamom, cinnamon, clove, and allspice to mine. I’ll have to try this, though I’ll probably replace the 1/2 cup water with 1/2 cup soy milk.
Hey looks yummy!
when you say 1.5 cups of chai tea, do you use the leaf chai or the chai tea bags?
Ruby, I use the tea bags, though I’m sure it doesn’t matter for this recipe. Just make the tea as usual and then measure out 1.5 cups of prepared tea for the recipe.