Mexican Oatmeal Bowl | Savory Oatmeal Recipe

This Mexican Oat Bowl recipe is flavorful, spicy, and loaded with toppings that make it feel more like a taco bowl than an oat bowl.

Oatmeal for breakfast doesn’t have to mean the same old sweet porridge every morning. This Mexican Oat Bowl is a really fun way to eat oats if you’ve never tried them before. The oats in the recipe are cooked with garlic, taco seasoning, paprika, and a squeeze of lime, and then topped with things like corn salsa, avocado, cheddar, and jalapenos. It takes about 15 minutes and feels a lot more like brunch than a regular bowl of porridge.

The recipe is completely customizable, so you can top it with whatever you like. If your family already loves ours high protein dose OR moong dal chilla for breakfast, this oatmeal bowl makes a really nice change in the morning when you want something quick and different.

Ingredients for Mexican Oat Bowl

Oats: I used rolled oats which I pressure cooked to help them cook quickly and reach the perfect consistency.

Garlic: Chopped and fried before the oats are added.

Seasoning: Taco seasoning, paprika powder, lime juice and salt. These give the oats their Mexican flavor.

Fillings: Corn salsa, shredded cheddar, avocado and jalapenos.

Oil: For frying the garlic.

Richa’s top tips

• Do not cook the oats. They only need 3-4 minutes of boiling after the water boils. Any longer and they become sticky and lose their texture. You want them cooked through but still with some body.
• Adjust the water to get the consistency you like. Some people prefer their oatmeal thick and porridge-like, others like it a little looser. Start with 2 cups and add more if needed.
• Make this fresh and eat immediately. Oatmeal dries and hardens very quickly after cooling. This is not a recipe you want to make ahead or save for later. It is best eaten straight from the pot.
• Go heavy on the toppings. The toppings are what make this bowl exciting. Don’t stop at salsa, avocado and cheddar. They add the freshness, creaminess and flavor that oats need.

Frequently asked questions

Storage tips

• Better to eat fresh. This is one of those recipes that doesn’t keep well. Oatmeal dries out and becomes thick and thick as it cools, so only make as much as you plan to eat at once.
• Freezing: It is not recommended for the same reason. The texture will not return after freezing and thawing.
• Prep tip ahead: If you want to speed up your mornings, you can pre-mix the dry spices (taco seasoning, paprika, salt) and keep it in a small jar. When you’re ready, just saute the garlic, add the oats, water, spice mix, and you’ll have breakfast ready even faster.

Ideas for service

These Mexican Oats are a complete breakfast on their own, but here are some ways to make breakfast even better:

• With one Watermelon Lime Smoothie: A cold and refreshing smoothie along with a warm and delicious bowl of oatmeal is a really good breakfast combination.
• With a cup Masala Chai: If you want to keep it simple, a hot coke alongside this bowl is all you need.
• with Air fryer boiled eggs at the top: A hard-boiled egg with a yolk on top of the delicious oatmeal adds protein and makes the bowl even more filling.

Personalization ideas

• Add protein: A fried egg, grilled chicken strips, fried shrimp, or even some black beans on top turn this from an easy breakfast into a really satisfying meal.
• Change the fillings: Guacamole instead of plain avocado, pico de gallo instead of corn salsa, or sour cream and pickled onions for a completely different flavor profile. Use whatever you like on your tacos.
• Do it Indian style: Skip the taco seasoning and add cumin powder, turmeric and some chat masala instead. Top with chopped onions, tomatoes, green chutney and sev for a delicious oatmeal bowl.

Did you know?

Oats are one of the few grains that actually lower cholesterol. They contain a soluble fiber called beta-glucan that forms a gel-like substance in your gut that binds to cholesterol and prevents it from being absorbed into the bloodstream. Studies have shown that eating just 3 grams of beta-glucan per day, roughly a bowl of oatmeal, can reduce LDL cholesterol by 5-10%.

If you’ve been eating oatmeal the same sweet way every morning, try this delicious bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and see how you feel about delicious oatmeal. I think one bowl is all it takes to convert you. Share your cups with me on Instagram @my_foodstory when you do it.

Watch the Mexican Oat Bowl recipe video

This article was researched and written by Harita Odedra.