Breakfast is one of my favorite meals of the day. I also love oats. In fact, I love them so much that when I was living in Korea, my mom would use them as padding for the care packages she sent me, instead of using bubble wrap or packing peanuts. It’s hard to improve upon oats, but it can be done. First tip: baked oatmeal makes it feel like a special brunch and is essentially a way to justify starting your day with a borderline dessert. Two: ADD BEANS. This is not just me being crazy or bean-obsessed, although of course I openly own to the latter. Adding mashed beans to oatmeal is a brilliant way to add more fiber and protein (yes, beans have about double the amount of both fiber and protein when compared to oats).
All that to say: you should try this Blueberry Baked Oatmeal with Beans. 😀
Blueberry Baked Oatmeal with Beans
Course: MealsCuisine: BreakfastDifficulty: Easy4 – 6
servings15
minutes45
minutes555 – 370
kcalAdding mashed beans to oatmeal is a great, simple way to add more fiber and protein. And baked oatmeal is always a good idea. Plus, cheers to breakfasts that can also basically double as healthy desserts.
Ingredients
2 cups cooked white beans (like a great northern or cannellini) or Mayocoba beans
2 very over-ripe bananas* (see note)
2 cups milk of choice
1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup (~50 g) brown sugar (packed) – light or dark work
2 cups (~160 g) old-fashioned oats (dry)
1 and ½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt – or can use a smaller pinch if using salted beans
2 cups blueberries – fresh are nice but frozen will work
1/2 cup pecans or walnuts (chopped)
Cooking spray
Serving suggestions: For a special treat, top with fresh fruit, drizzle with a little honey or maple syrup, or serve with vanilla yogurt.
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Drain and rinse the beans. Add the beans to a large bowl. Heat them in the microwave for about 30 to 45 seconds, to make them easier to mash. Mash them with a fork or potato masher.
- Add the banana to the beans and mash.
- Stir in the milk, vanilla extract, and brown sugar, mixing well.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the oats, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the dry ingredients to the bean-banana mixture and stir until moistened.
- Add most of the blueberries and stir lightly to prevent squishing. Reserve a large handful to sprinkle over the top of the oatmeal.
- Grease/spray an 8×8 inch pan (you could also use parchment paper, butter, or a different neutral oil if preferred). Add the bean-oat mixture. Sprinkle the reserved blueberries and nuts over the top.
- Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until set in the middle and edges are golden brown.
- Let cool slightly before cutting, to help it better hold its shape. Serve up slices or squares of your beany baked oatmeal (or amorphous shapes, if you are like me and want to dig in the second it comes out of the oven).
Notes
- *It is important to use over-ripe bananas (think banana bread) for a nice, natural sweetness. If you do not have any, you can use regular bananas in their place, but the dish will taste different, and you may want to add more brown sugar or a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.
- If you have leftovers, you can warm them on a skillet with butter and top with a drizzle of maple syrup and fresh berries. Maybe even some powdered sugar for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Nutrition Facts for Blueberry Baked Oatmeal with Beans
These nutrition facts were created in Nutritionist Pro. Nutrition information can of course vary with ingredients, brands, etc. 1% milk was used for these nutrition facts. Also, you may be thinking “555 calories seems like a lot.” BUT. This is if you divide this into 4 servings. I like veeeeeery large portions for breakfast, and you will likely have much more than 4 servings. If you break this into 6 portions instead, for instance, that is 370 calories per serving. Also, check out how much nutrition is in there! That’s a lot of fiber and protein to start off your day right – with the killer combo of beans and oats.
Help, I Can’t Get Enough Beans!
I can 100% relate, and I’m here for you. Check out some of these recipes to help:
- Chocolate Cherry Oat Bean Bars – another oats and beans recipe? Yes, please.
- Chocolate Banana Black Bean Smoothie – a tasty breakfast or satisfying treat, especially when you want to cool down in hotter weather
- Summer White Bean Smoothie – because just one bean smoothie recipe is clearly insufficient
