Kabocha-Pomegranate Steel Cut Oatmeal with Pecans and Tahini

In the past year, I have reserved steel cut oats for savory recipes (it’s like a risotto!), but here I went all sweet. I’m pretty darn pleased with the result, too.

What you’ll need:

• • 1 cup milk of choice
  • 1 cup water, or more milk
  • 1/2 cup steel cut oats*
  • 3 pitted dates
  • 2/3 cup roasted & mashed kabocha squash**
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • heavy pinch of salt

• • 1/4 cup raw pecan halves or pieces
  • 1/2 tsp coconut oil
  • 2 tsp maple syrup
  • 1/8 tsp cinnamon

• • fresh pomegranate arils (handful for each serving)
  • 2-3 tbsp tahini***

How to make it:

1. Add milk and water to a saucepan over medium high heat.
2. While waiting for liquid to boil, prepare your dates. Slice into tiny pieces and add to saucepan.
3. Once liquid comes to a low boil, add oats and reduce heat to medium or medium low. (If you’d like to add a teaspoon of flax or chia seeds, do so now.)
4. Stir occasionally and let the oatmeal cook for about fifteen minutes.
5. While the oats cook, prepare the pecans. In a small skillet over medium-low heat, add pecans, coconut oil, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Toss to coat. Stir constantly for about 3-5 minutes. The pecans should be evenly coated from the coconut oil and maple syrup mixture.
6. Remove the pecans from the heat and spread out onto parchment paper (ideally) or just onto a plate (we do the best we can, right?). Let cool for about 5 minutes.
7. Back to the oatmeal. Once more of the liquid has absorbed, add kabocha squash, vanilla extract, and salt. Continue stirring occasionally.
8. When you’re pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, transfer to two bowls. For each serving, add a splash of your milk of choice, a handful of pomegranate arils, half of the pecans, a drizzle of tahini, and any other additional toppings (such as fresh or dried fruit, more maple syrup, coconut, etc.).

Just an FYI:

Admittedly, this was my first time working with kabocha squash! I did some internet browsing to see how other people were using kabocha squash. I found (and fell in love with) this Warm Fall Salad from Carolyn’s Pantry. I decided immediately that I would 1) make this salad, and 2) use it as inspiration for my first kabocha oatmeal recipe.

If you are eating this by yourself, make sure to store the toppings (tahini, pecans, and pomegranate) separately from the remaining portions of oats. Don’t add them to the oats until you’re ready to eat them, or you will have sad, soggy pecans and unhappy pomegranate!

New commitment: more steel cut recipes. I have been hoarding canisters of steel-cut oats in my kitchen for months, and honestly, I need to stop being so lazy and use them. If you make more than a single serving at a time, the extra minutes in the cooking time pays off when you get to simply heat up the remaining portions throughout the week. While it certainly took me a while to make this, it was great having a serving of oatmeal ready to go the next morning. It saves time in the long run!

And yes, I’m still taking pictures on my iPhone. 🙁 Still can’t find my camera charger.