BREAKFAST RECIPES

Banana Walnut Oatmeal

Updated

Stovetop oatmeal simmered with mashed banana, cinnamon, vanilla and a touch of brown sugar or maple syrup, then finished with crunchy walnuts. Ready in about 15 minutes.

Prep
5 min
Cook
10 min
Total
15 min
Yield
2 to 3 servings
Illustration of Banana Walnut Oatmeal

This cozy pot of oats from the KitchenSimplicity archive borrows the flavors of banana bread: ripe banana mashed right into the cooking liquid, warm cinnamon and nutmeg, a little vanilla and a spoonful of brown sugar or maple syrup. The banana melts into the oats as they simmer, sweetening them naturally and giving the porridge a creamy texture.

It is a good fit for chilly school and work mornings, since everything goes into one saucepan and breakfast is on the table in about a quarter of an hour. It is also a smart way to use up a spotty banana that is past its best for eating out of hand.

Tips

  • For more crunch and flavor, toast the walnuts in a dry skillet for 3 to 4 minutes before adding them.
  • The riper the banana, the sweeter the oatmeal; with a very ripe banana you can cut the sugar in half.
  • Leftovers thicken in the fridge. Reheat with a splash of milk and stir until loose again; they keep for up to 3 days.
  • Swap the walnuts for pecans, or top each bowl with sliced banana and an extra drizzle of maple syrup.

Banana Walnut Oatmeal

Prep
5 min
Cook
10 min
Total
15 min
Yield
2 to 3 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (240 ml) water
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk, dairy or plant-based
  • 1 ripe banana, mashed
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar or maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of ground nutmeg
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup (90 g) old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup (30 g) chopped walnuts

Steps

  1. Combine the water, milk, mashed banana, brown sugar or maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a medium saucepan.
  2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring often so the milk does not catch on the bottom of the pan.
  3. Stir in the oats, lower the heat to medium, and simmer for about 8 minutes, stirring now and then, until the oats are tender and the porridge is as thick as you like.
  4. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the walnuts, or scatter them on top. Spoon into bowls and serve right away.

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