The One Ingredient I Always Add to My Morning Oatmeal
We all know weekday breakfasts can be hard. They need to be quick, filling, and preferably something we actually want to eat. That’s a tall order. I find this extra difficult because I don’t particularly care for sweet breakfast, and a lot of the breakfast items that check these boxes are sweet — cereal, granola bars, classic muesli, etc.
My go-to move is to try and turn a sweet breakfast item into a savory one, and one of the easiest candidates for this is oatmeal. Because oatmeal doesn’t have much of a flavor on its own, we tend to add sweet things to it like brown sugar, maple syrup, and fruit to liven it up. If you go looking for “savory oatmeal” hacks, there are plenty of ideas out there like this oatmeal with kimchi. I’ve tried and liked many, but my all-time favorite, by far, is also one of the simplest: adding cheddar cheese.
A little bit of grated cheddar is the perfect nudge into savory territory for a bowl of oatmeal. It adds lovely cheesy flavor and creaminess. It’s just as good on its own as it is paired with any number of additional toppings. My personal favorite combo is cheddar and some chopped apple, but it’s also great with a little hot sauce stirred in, sprinkled with fried onions, or even topped with a fried egg (if you’ve got some extra time on your hands). Give it a try the next time you’re in the mood for something other than your typical oatmeal topped with berries.
Tips for Making Cheddar Oatmeal
Don’t overdo it. We’re not looking for a cheese pull here. I usually sprinkle a tablespoon or two of grated cheddar onto one serving of oatmeal, which is enough to give it a cheesy flavor without being overwhelming.
Use grated cheddar. Grated cheese will melt easily when stirred into the hot oatmeal.
Get creative. As I mentioned above, I’d eat cheddar oatmeal on its own, but it’s also a great base for other toppings. Try a dash of hot sauce, sliced scallions or chives, or a sprinkle of chopped bacon. There are so many options!
Further Reading
We Asked 3 Chefs to Name the Best Ice Cream, and They All Said the Same Thing
The One Cookware Brand That Gordon Ramsay Can’t Stop Talking About
