Oatmeal recipes for breakfast, mains and snacks

Microwave oatmeal ochazuke with Japanese tea-rice seasoning

This savory bowl is looser than rice-style oats. Soften the oats first and add the seasoning to taste.

Grape and oatmeal smoothie with yogurt

Blend seedless grapes, yogurt and oats. Taste the fruit before adding any sweetener.

Kiwi and oatmeal smoothie with milk and yogurt

Pair tangy kiwi with milk, yogurt and oats. Add milk gradually to get the texture you want.

Savory oatmeal with cherry tomatoes and Parmesan

Finish the bowl with black pepper, basil and a little olive oil for an Italian-style breakfast.

Savory avocado and tomato oatmeal

Cook the oats in dashi and add avocado and tomatoes just before serving.

10 toppings for Japanese-style savory oatmeal

Start with oats cooked in dashi and finish with a savory or gently sweet topping.

My father’s first bowl of oatmeal with dried whitebait

For his first taste, my father chose a familiar savory topping: chirimen jako, or dried whitebait.

Oatmeal breakfast ideas: porridge with fruit or dashi

Cook a bowl of porridge, then choose fruit for a sweet breakfast or dashi and nori for a savory one.

Mains and sides

Tomato and seafood oatmeal risotto

Make a risotto-style dinner with oats, cherry tomatoes and mixed seafood. Save the Parmesan for the end so you can adjust the seasoning.

Homemade lasagna with oat pasta sheets

Oats replace part of the flour in these homemade sheets, layered with pork ragù, white sauce and cheese.

Chicken and mushroom lasagna with oat pasta sheets

Pan-cook the pasta sheets before layering this chicken, mushroom and squash lasagna.

Homemade oat pasta with chicken tomato sauce

Roll the dough thinly before cutting the noodles, then toss them with a chicken and tomato sauce.

Ginger chicken oatmeal porridge, arroz caldo style

Simmer chicken with ginger and garlic, then add oats near the end. Adjust the fish sauce after tasting.

Homemade gyoza wrappers with oats

Mix ground oats with bread flour and roll the edges thin before filling and sealing the dumplings.

Warm pea shoot and bean sprout salad

Toss the vegetables with bacon, lemon and sesame oil. Serve cooked oats alongside.

Burdock and ginger oatmeal porridge

Add finely chopped burdock to the chicken and ginger porridge. Sauté it with the aromatics first.

Oatmeal pizza dough with bread flour

Add a small amount of oats to bread-flour dough. Drain moist toppings before adding them.

Skillet naan with oats and bread flour

Roll the dough thinly and cook both sides in a skillet. Serve with curry.

Bread machine oatmeal bread, rye or cranberry

Choose a rye loaf for meals or dried cranberry for a sweeter variation.

Quinoa and oat salad with lemon and vegetables

Cook quinoa and oats separately, then toss with chopped vegetables and lemon. Drain excess liquid to keep the grains distinct.

Making oatmeal bread with kids

Measuring ingredients and mixing oats into the dough are easy ways for children to help. Adults can handle the bread maker and hot pan.

Snacks and desserts

Oatmeal waffles with banana and pineapple

Blend oats before adding them to the batter. Serve the fruit on top after cooking.

Banana oatmeal parfait with apple and yogurt

Layer warm oats with banana and apple in this snack from the Tensai Japan archive.

Crunchy oatmeal cookies without wheat flour

Keep the oat flakes whole for texture and add just enough liquid for the dough to hold together on a spoon.

Apple crumble with oats and walnuts

Bake apples under a coarse topping of oats and walnuts. Add cinnamon and dried fruit to taste.

Persimmon oatmeal parfait with mixed nuts

Layer ripe persimmon with oats softened with milk, then add chopped nuts.

Microwave ground oatmeal with a mochi-like texture

Grind the oats before cooking. Adjust the liquid until the result is soft enough to spoon.