Date & Cardamom Oats

I promise there are some oats under there!

Has anyone tried the Date & Cardamom latte from Whole Foods? It is perfection in a cup - a blend of sweet date syrup and aromatic cardamom. I tried it for the first time a few weeks ago, and from the very first sip, I was hooked. I instantly knew I had to incorporate that flavor combination into every corner of my life. 

This brings me to my everyday oatmeal. I’m a creature of habit when it comes to breakfast, but I love to keep things fresh by experimenting with different flavor combinations. The idea of date and cardamom in my morning oatmeal felt like a no-brainer. One of my weekly rituals is cooking a big batch of creamy steel-cut oats to last me through the week. Each morning, I heat up a portion, and it’s like a warm hug in a bowl—perfect for the frigid temperatures we’ve been facing in New York lately. This Date & Cardamom Oatmeal, though, feels like a luxurious treat every time, despite being so simple to prepare.

Cardamom holds a special place in my heart. Growing up, I used it all the time—it’s a key ingredient in so many of the Indian dishes my mom used to make. Just a pinch transforms a dish, and paired with the natural caramel-like sweetness of dates, it creates a flavor so addictive, you’ll find yourself craving it every morning.

This recipe is a perfect balance of cozy, fragrant, and indulgent. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll keep coming back for more!

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DATE & CARDAMOM STEEL CUT OATS:

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups steel-cut oats, soaked overnight in 2 cups filtered water

• 6-8 pitted medjool dates, soaked overnight in 2 cups filtered water

• 1 cup almond milk, unsweetened

• 1 ½ tsp ground cardamom

• ¼ tsp sea salt

  
  

Preparation:

1. Soak steel-cut oats and dates separately overnight. Cover the oats and dates with 2 cups of filtered water, respectively.

2. In the morning, drain the oats and blend the dates with their soaking water to create a natural sweetener.

3. On the stove, bring almond milk and the blended date mixture to a low boil. 

4. Add the soaked oats, cover, and simmer on low heat for 8-10 minutes or until thickened.

5. Stir in cardamom and sea salt, remove from heat, and serve with your favorite toppings.

   
   

Topping ideas:

• Nut / seed butters (peanut, almond, cashew, etc.)

• Fresh fruit (berries, bananas, etc.)

• Greek yogurt

• Dried fruits (dates, figs, apricots, etc.)