Savory Chai Oat (Printable)
Warming porridge with chai spices, vegetables, and savory toppings - perfect for a comforting breakfast or light meal.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Base
01 - 1 cup rolled oats
02 - 2 cups water (or unsweetened plant-based milk)
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Chai Spice Blend
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
09 - 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
10 - Pinch of ground cloves
→ Vegetables
11 - 1 small carrot, grated
12 - 1/2 cup baby spinach, chopped
13 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
→ Toppings
14 - 1 tablespoon ghee or olive oil
15 - 2 teaspoons black or white sesame seeds
16 - 1 soft-boiled egg, halved (optional)
17 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a medium saucepan, combine rolled oats, water (or plant-based milk), and salt. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
02 - Stir in the chai spice blend: cumin, coriander, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, and cloves.
03 - Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10–12 minutes, until the oats are creamy and thickened.
04 - Add grated carrot and cook for another 3–4 minutes until softened.
05 - Stir in chopped spinach and cook just until wilted, about 1 minute.
06 - Remove from heat and fold in chopped cilantro.
07 - Divide the savory chai oats into bowls. Drizzle with ghee or olive oil, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and top with a soft-boiled egg if desired. Finish with a crack of black pepper.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The unexpected marriage of traditional chai spices with savory elements creates this wonderfully complex flavor that dances between comfort food and culinary adventure.
- Its incredibly forgiving - Ive made this with whatever vegetables were wilting in my fridge drawer and it still turns out magnificently every time.
02 -
- Adding all the spices at once directly to hot oil once created a bitter, almost burnt flavor - now I always incorporate them after the liquid is added for gentle blooming instead.
- The texture transforms dramatically as it cools, becoming much thicker, so serve immediately or prepare it slightly thinner than your preference if not eating right away.
03 -
- Toasting the oats in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes before adding liquid develops a nutty depth that complements the spices beautifully.
- A tiny splash of acid - whether lemon juice, vinegar, or fermented hot sauce - added just before serving wakes up all the flavors and creates dimension that you cant quite identify but definitely miss when its absent.