Overnight Oats Kheer | A Delicious No Cook Porridge

Believe me when I tell you that you can have dessert every day (for breakfast, no less!) and lose weight, improve your cholesterol, improve your digestion and just feel great overall. 

This magic dessert is kheer (a sweet Indian milk pudding, typically made with vermicelli, loaded with dry fruit and fragranced with cardamom). But this version of kheer is made with heart-healthy oats and requires absolutely no cooking. Too good to be true? Read on...

Health Benefits of Overnight Oats Kheer

According to WebMD, the healthiest and best breakfasts have carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats and fiber. 

1. Oatmeal gives you complex carbs and fiber, keeps blood sugar under control and helps maintain an ideal balance of bacteria in the gut. 

2. Nuts add healthy fats and 

3. Milk supplies a good deal of protein and calcium.

4. Milled flax/ flax powder is good for improving digestive health and is high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. It may also help lower total blood cholesterol which may reduce the risk of heart disease.

But if the thought of oatmeal for breakfast has you yawning, try making overnight oats kheer instead. It will have you jumping out of bed and looking forward to breakfast each morning.

Oats Kheer with cashew nuts and raisins

This healthy, no-cook breakfast porridge under 400 calories will give you the boost needed to set you up for a successful day. Swap out heavy, greasy, calorie laden breakfasts for this easy, healthy  option and you will find yourself losing weight in the long run.

The Simplicity of Overnight Oats Kheer for Breakfast

With no cooking/ heating involved, all it takes is just assembling the ingredients (oats, nuts, raisins, flax powder and cardamom powder) together the night before, soaking it in milk and plopping it into the fridge allowing the milk to absorb into the oats and soften the entire mixture overnight. 

In the morning, all you need to do is reach into the fridge for your bowl of overnight oats kheer and dig in. And if you're scratching your head and wondering 'is it ok to eat oatmeal without cooking,' yes it is! After being soaked overnight, the oats soften up and are easily digestible.

The added benefit of this kind of breakfast is with all the overnight prep, you just might be able to persuade your honey to bring you breakfast in bed each morning, along with coffee and the newspaper! Now I like the sound of that! 

Breakfast in Bed!

What Kind of Oats To Use for Overnight Oats Kheer

There are so many different kinds of oats to choose from. So, which oats are best for this overnight oats kheer recipe? 

1. Rolled Oats  (The Winner!)

Also known as 'old-fashioned rolled oats', this is my top pick for this recipe. These are whole oat groats, but they have been steamed and rolled. This process creates their distinctive flattened, flaky shape, which allows it to soak up the milk and soften quickly, while still holding some bite and without becoming too mushy by the next morning.

Old Fashioned Rolled Oats

2. Quick Cooking Oats (A So-So Second)

This type of oatmeal cuts rolled oats into smaller pieces. This means that they will soften quicker when soaked, leading to a mushier texture. Not great when soaked overnight, but a good option if you only want to soak your oats for 3-4 hours before eating.

3. Instant Oats  (Not a good idea)

This is oatmeal that has been precooked and dried. Many of these varieties come with added sugar, where you just need to add hot water to it before eating. I don't recommend this variety for overnight oats. Too mushy and too sweet.

4. Steel Cut Oats  (Fuggetaboutit!)

I do not recommend steel cut oats for this recipe as these broken-rice-like pieces are hard and will not soften enough when soaked overnight. These are also known as Irish, Scotch, coarse-cut or pin head oats. The steel -cut variety is made from whole oat groats (the inner portion of the kernel) chopped into rice like pieces. Really, they need to be cooked well and after cooking they will still have a chewy, nutty texture. So, it's a no-no for overnight oats.

Steel Cut Oats

How to Make Overnight Oats Kheer | A No Cook Oatmeal Recipe

Serving size: One serving

Nutritional Information: 357 calories, 14.75g protein, 13.5g total fat, 6.1g fiber

Ingredients:

☐ 1/2 cup Old Fashioned Rolled Oats (Quaker)

☐ 3/4 cup milk for soaking. (More before serving if thinner consistency desired)

☐ 1 tablespoon flax powder (optional)

☐ 1 teaspoon golden raisins

☐ 1 teaspoon cashew nuts

☐ 2 cardamom pods (dehusked and seeds pounded) or a pinch of cardamom powder

☐ 1 teaspoon sugar/honey/jaggery

Step by Step Instructions:

1. In a bowl, add the oats, flax powder, raisins, cashew nuts and cardamom powder.

2. Pour milk into the bowl to cover the dry mixture. Stir. Cover bowl and place in fridge overnight.

3.The next morning, before serving, add a teaspoon of sweetener (if required) and a little extra milk (if you prefer a thinner consistency) before enjoying.

 

 Related Recipes

    

A Balanced Breakfast Buddha Bowl

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pia Silver (@theinspirationalnook)

 

Visit "My Cookbook Index" for a peek at something else to tickle your taste buds.

 Or click on the "Anglo Indian" or "Sweets & Dessert" tab right below to see my other recipes.👇