Wild West-Inspired Steel-Cut Oats
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Has there been a form of media that has truly inspired you to try a new kitchen creation? In all these years, I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it on the blog or much on social media, but I actually really love video games! One of my all-time favourite games is Red Dead Redemption 2, and it is set in the wild west in 1889. Video games just get a bad rap sometimes, which is really a shame! I love this game in particular because not only is it fun to play, but it got me curious about the period in time and the wild west culture in that era. I mention in my free motivational guide to explore your potential in the kitchen, Make Cooking Fun!!, going out to eat can inspire you to try new recipes! However, I should really extend this not only to “going out to eat,” but you can also stay indoors and see food from the comfort of your own home that you may want to make! Whether it’s from a magazine, cookbook, TV show, movie, or video game, sources of inspiration can be found all around!
This recipe for stovetop steel-cut oatmeal will guarantee you the perfect chewy and thick oatmeal that’s absolutely delicious! We’re keeping it simple through the inspiration of the oatmeal that is found in Red Dead Redemption 2, but simple doesn’t mean boring! You’ll see how a few ingredients can go a long way so that you can enjoy a nutritious and flavourful breakfast like in the 1800s! You can make the Wild West no longer a destination unseen by preparing this easy steel-cut oatmeal recipe as part of your Live to Cook one-month challenge! You can get it for free along with my 5 top tips to have fun in the kitchen by signing up to my newsletter, plus you’ll get all of my new recipes sent right to your inbox!
To follow along with all the steps and tips and tricks presented here, be sure to watch the video on making exciting Wild West-Inspired Steel-Cut Oats over the stove at the bottom of this post! I would really appreciate it if you could please subscribe to my YouTube channel ,and don’t forget to hit the bell button so you’re notified when all of my video recipes go live along with the written ones! Let’s get cooking!
What are Steel-Cut Oats And Why Are they Called Steel-Cut oats?
You may have heard of steel-cut oats as a popular and nutritious breakfast item. Oatmeal of any kind is always perceived as the pinnacle of a healthy hot breakfast. However, what exactly are steel-cut oats? If you’ve been around the blog for awhile, you may have noticed that I’ve never actually cooked with steel-cut oats before, despite having many stove-top oatmeal recipes here!
Steel-cut oats are also known as Irish Oats, and these are toasted whole groats. Groats are the inner kernel of the oat grain. The name “steel-cut” comes from the processing method - the groats have been cut into small pieces with steel blades. Steel-cut oats are the least processed variety of oatmeal. While both rolled oats and steel cut oats were once whole oats with the grain and the husk intact, but the processing is what results in different cooking times, tastes and textures. Rolled oats contain all of the bran and germ of the original oats, but they are instead made by steaming the groats, then flattened between heavy rollers. Rolled oats are also referred to as old-fashioned oats. You can cook rolled oats over the stove or even use them for overnight oats!
The third type of oatmeal is quick oats, also known as quick-cooking oats. These are a subset of rolled oats which undergo even more processing to reduce the cooking time by being partially cooked by being steamed and rolled out thinner than rolled oats.
What Was the Type of Oatmeal Used in the 1800s?
This Wild-West Inspired Oatmeal recipe is featuring steel-cut oatmeal because they were the most common type of oatmeal in the 19th century. Oats were eaten much before the 1800s - they’ve been around since the Neolithic and Bronze Ages! Oat grains thrive in cold climates, which is why it was largely found in Scotland and Ireland, as the alternative names for steel-cut oats, “Scottish Oats” and “Irish Oats” suggest!
In the United States, oats were only viewed as horse feed before the mid-1800s Ferdinand Schumacher, a German grocer, saw a market for oatmeal to accommodate a growing immigrant population. In the United States, breakfast staples included meats, eggs, breads, potatoes, fruits and vegetables. However, immigrants settling in the urban areas did not have the means for this breakfast, making oatmeal perfect to suit their breakfast needs.
Bring in Quaker Oats, which is a household name even in today’s time! Schumacher actually founded German Mills American Cereal Company in Akron, Ohio in 1850. In the meanwhile, John Stuart founded North Star Mills Company in Canada. Not long after, in 1877, Quaker Oats was registered as the first trademark breakfast cereal. For more information on Quaker oats, you can check out this article.
Are Steel-Cut Oats Better For You Than Rolled Oats?
From a nutritional perspective, steel-cut oats and rolled oats have the same profile in terms of calories, macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fat), and fibre. Additionally, oatmeal is a source of both soluble and insoluble fibre and minerals including phosphorous, thiamine, magnesium and zinc. Oatmeal of all types are loaded with soluble fibre that can lower both LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol, which may lead to improved heart health. Furthermore, oatmeal is naturally gluten-free, but if you do have celiac disease or have a gluten intolerance of some sort, then sure that the package of your steel-cut oatmeal is certified gluten-free.
Both steel-cut oats and rolled oats have a low glycemic index. However, quick oats have a higher glycemic index, which results in more rapid spikes in blood sugar. If blood sugar control is important to you, than steel-cut oats and rolled oats would be the better choices.
With that being said, since there’s pretty much no difference in health benefits for steel-cut oats versus rolled oats, the reason why you would choose one or the other comes down to the cooking time and the texture. Steel-cut oats will require you to carve out about 30 minutes to get them fully cooked, but the time and patience is well worth it! When it comes to the texture, steel-cut oats are chewier, firmer and nuttier than rolled oats. Rolled oats on the other hand will be smoother, softer, and creamier.
In conclusion, depending on the amount of time you have to prepare the oatmeal and what texture you’re looking for, both options for oatmeal are excellent! However, keep in mind that when following recipes, you CANNOT substitute one for the other since they do have different cook times and water-to-oatmeal ratios.
What Is the Oatmeal that is Served in Red Dead Redemption 2?
While the exact ingredients or preparation method is not specified within the Red Dead Redemption 2 game, nor is it described in menu at the restaurant in, based on the oatmeal’s appearance and the game taking place in 1899, an educated guess would be that this oatmeal was prepared with steel cut oats and water. Then, it finished with molasses or honey as seen from the swirl pattern in the bowl. This is how I was inspired to follow a similar process in my recipe!
Additionally, the serving of oatmeal clearly appears to be a hefty sized portion which is fit for the hard and trying times in the old American west and the frontier lifestyle. As you can see in my recipe, the oatmeal is served in a bowl of a similar shape, but I’d suggest it serve two to three people!
Oatmeal from the town of Valentine in Red Dead Redemption 2
Why You’ll Love this Steel Cut-oatmeal Recipe!
Easy to make: This steel-cut oatmeal is very easy to make, which is why it’s an excellent choice for busy mornings! This steel-cut oatmeal recipe is perfect for cooks of all levels since we just need some patience and care to allow the steel-cut oats to cook over the stove.
Healthy: Oatmeal is seen as one of the healthiest breakfasts around! It is packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals. Oatmeal can also improve blood sugar, making them a popular breakfast choice amongst those who have Type 2 diabetes. It can be an excellent blank canvas for you to boost up the nutrition even more with protein, fruits, and healthy fats to create a well-balanced meal.
Filling: The fibre in oatmeal helps keep you full. Additionally, because of the low glycemic index of steel-cut oats, you won’t have your blood sugar spike quickly, making you hungry not long after eating. Oatmeal also contains a soluble fibre named Beta-glucan, which has been shown to suppress appetite. Enjoying this Wild-West Steel-Cut Oatmeal recipe will keep you full throughout the morning until lunch!
Minimal clean-up: The only thing you really need to dirty is the saucepan you’re making the steel-cut oatmeal in and a spatula for stirring and serving. You can keep your other ingredients in measuring cups and ramekins if it helps you to have a mise-en-place, but not entirely necessary!
Make-ahead friendly: You can make a big batch of oatmeal for your family to give you breakfast for the week! I’ll let you know how to store your prepared steel-cut oatmeal and how to reheat the oatmeal so you have no reason not to have a healthy breakfast every day!
Can I Add Vanilla Extract to This Steel Cut Oatmeal Recipe?
You may notice that there is no vanilla extract in this Stovetop Steel-Cut Oatmeal recipe. While vanilla extract did exist in the 1800s, it was not as commonly found or as cheap as it is today. Vanilla extract had originated in the tropical areas of Mexico and Latin America around 1115. The Spanish conqueror Hernando Cortes was served a beverage that was prepared with a mixture of cocoa and vanilla in 1519, and he loved it so much that he brought it back to Europe with him. Until the mid-1800s, importing cured vanilla beans from Mexico was indeed a luxury to be enjoyed by the elite class.
With that being said, vanilla was not a regular flavour enhancer in oatmeal back in the 1800s as it is today, which is why I chose to omit vanilla here. In spirit of the wild west theme in this steel-cut oatmeal recipe, the molasses does quite a good job on its own! If you really want to add some vanilla, though, now you have no limitations to do so!
Why Are my Steel-Cut Oats Chewy?
After about 20 - 30 minutes of gentle simmering, either with water or milk, the steel cut oats should have softened. They will still have a slight chew, however if it is crunchy or it doesn’t break easily in your mouth as you start chewing then it’s likely undercooked. Add more liquid as necessary and continue to cook gently until the oats have softened.
EQUIPMENT FOR Hearty and Rustic Steel-Cut Oatmeal
Ingredients for Wild West-Inspired Steel-Cut Oatmeal
The FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD has all the ingredients and their quantities, so scroll down there or press the “Jump to Recipe” button to save the recipe for later. You can also use the recipe card to scale the ingredients based on how many portions of oatmeal you want to make. By default, we’re using one cup of steel-cut oatmeal.
Steel-cut oats: The main part of our recipe, of course! These are also referred to as Irish oats, Scottish oats, and pinhead oats. If you’re following this Wild West-Inspired Oatmeal recipe, you can’t substitute for rolled oats or quick cooking oats due to the cook time and water content required here.
Water: We’re doing all the cooking with water in this recipe to follow the theme of making these oats as they were prepared in the Wild West! You could technically cook the oats with half water and half milk, or use entirely milk if you really want to. However, milk was quite a luxury in the 1800s, so it was reserved for a topping.
Milk: A little bit of milk is added after the oats have cooked with the water to finish off the oatmeal. In the 1800s, cow’s milk was considered a luxury. You can use a non-dairy milk, such as homemade almond milk, if you want, but my preference is dairy milk. Believe it or not, plant-based milks have been around for longer than you think! Coconut milk has actually been around for thousands of years, soy milk has been referenced in Chinese texts between the 1st and 3rd centuries, and almond milk has made appearances in medical texts between the 8th and the 12th centuries, rising in the 13th and 14th centuries in Baghdad and Egypt. It is actually oat milk that is a newer plant-based milk, where it was developed in the early 1990s in Sweden.
Molasses: Molasses was a commons sweetener in the 1800s since it was very cheap, even cheaper than table sugar. Furthermore, molasses provided lots of flavour and it was a great choice for households because of its long shelf-life.
Blueberries: Berries were a common pairing for oatmeal back in the 1800s, especially during the summer. Berries were either cooked with the oats or served on top. We’ll be adding our blueberries as a topping. I’m using frozen blueberries because they are cheaper and last longer, but of course this was not traditional back in the 1800s!
Salt: A pinch of salt really enhances the flavours of our Wild West-Inspired Oatmeal, especially since we’re keeping this recipe very simple! Even in the 1800s, salt was used as a flavour enhancer.
Brown sugar: Sugar was a luxury for families in the 1800s. I love the warm flavour of brown sugar for a little special extra touch, but to keep the theme of the 1800s, if you want to enjoy your oatmeal with just the sweetness of the more economical molasses, then that’s perfectly fine!
How to Make 1800’s-inSpired Steel-Cut Oatmeal
Heat the water in a lot on medium heat over the stovetop.
Once the water is boiling, add the oats, pinch of salt and stir well. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the oats are tender and creamy.
Sweeten the oats with molasses, adjust the amount as needed. Then, add in the milk to add some richness.
Top with blueberries and a sprinkle of brown sugar.
Tips To Achieve Perfectly Creamy and delicious Stovetop Steel-Cut Oatmeal
Use the right ratio: The best creamy texture will be guaranteed by using a 3 to 1 ratio of water to oats.
Simmer and be patient: Steel cut oats become incredible thick and creamy from the starches naturally releasing out creating the ultimate healthy breakfast if you just let it simmer gently and stirring it to clean the bottom of the pot every couple minutes.
Save the sweetness for the end: Once the oats have reached the desired doneness and creaminess level, you can opt to serve in individual bowls to friends/family and let them have fun with personalizing the sweetness and topping as needed.
To enjoy as if it’s 1899: Top with molasses, butter and some brown sugar for a rustic, authentic taste of the wild west.
Can I Use an Instant Pot to Make These Rustic Steel-Cut Oats?
You definitely can use your Instant Pot if you want to use it! I love a good Instant Pot recipe, and the Instant Pot will particularly be effective here because it will actually cut the cooking time and it will provide you with the flexibility to let the Instant Pot do the work to cook the oatmeal so that you don’t have to baby it around. However, Instant Pots certainly did not exist in the 1800s, but if you want to mix modern technology with an old-fashioned recipe, then there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that!
Here’s how to make your Rustic Steel-Cut Oats in the Instant Pot:
Add the steel cut oats, water and salt to the Instant Pot and secure with the lid. Set the valve to sealing position.
Select the “Pressure Cook” mode and cook for 4 minutes on high pressure.
Once the timer goes off, allow the steam to release naturally for at least 10 minutes before turning the valve to perform a manual release.
Open the lid and stir well. Add the molasses or sweetener of choice and adjust amount as desired. Add milk for a creamier texture. You can optionally change the setting to Sauté mode on the Low setting to thicken the oatmeal further.
Serve topped with brown sugar, molasses and blueberries.
What Other Toppings Can I Add to My Wild-West Oatmeal?
In the video game Red Dead Redemption 2, the oatmeal served is pretty plain, as it appears it was simply prepared with water and steel-cut oats. That’s a bit bland for my tastes and it probably is for you too! Technically you can add whatever toppings you want to your Wild-West Steel-Cut Oatmeal, such as chocolate chips, peanut butter, yogurt, chia seeds, flaxseeds or banana slices. However, if you want to keep the theme of Wild West-Inspired Oatmeal, then there were some toppings and flavours that are authentic to the time.
Sweeteners: Table sugar and honey were common for families, but honey’s use declined as sugar became cheaper. Maple syrup production had begun in the late 1700s and early 1800s, making it a staple sweetener in Canada. Fruit jams and preserves were popular as a result of the efforts of the military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte.
Dairy: We added milk in our oatmeal recipe, but sometimes cream was added to make the oatmeal even thicker. To add some extra flavour and richness, butter was alternatively added.
Fruits: Common fruits that were served with oatmeal - either cooked with the oatmeal or as a topping - included apples, pears and berries. When fresh fruit was harder to find in the winter, then dried fruit such as raisins and prunes were replaced. Poached fruit was also a common substitute in the winter.
Spices: The spices that were common in the 1800s were cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. These spices provided flavour and some heat in the winter months.
Savoury: Savoury oatmeal was less common but adding cheese and even onions would add a savoury twist.
Serving Suggestions for Wild-West Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a fairly substantial breakfast, but if you want a complete meal, then there are some options that you can pair your oatmeal with to get a great start to your day, 1800s-style!
Coffee: Black coffee or coffee with a splash of milk or cream with some sugar was probably the most exciting coffee that the era had to offer. However, if you want to enjoy a satisfying latte with your Wild-West Oatmeal, then I encourage you to try a Maple Bourbon Latte, Iced Chocolate Latte, or even a Cookies and Cream Oreo Latte for a special morning. A cozy cappuccino would also pair well, such as my Cocoa Cappuccino or a French Vanilla Cappuccino.
Tea: My favourite tea is Indian Ginger Tea. Some Masala Chai would also go well with your steel-cut oats, or if you want something very special, try my Rose Tea or Indian Turmeric Chai Latte!
Bread: Some sliced toast, as mentioned in Mrs. Beeton’s Cookery Book. You can use your favourite type of sliced bread for your toast, but I think some sourdough would b excellent!
Eggs: Mrs. Beeton’s Cookery Book suggested serving oatmeal with some eggs in her weekly menus, with particular mention of poached eggs. You could also serve with a fried egg, an omelette, or you could even enjoy these Wild West Oats with boiled eggs!
How to Store Wild-West Steel-Cut Oats
This Wild-West Steel-Cut Oatmeal recipe is perfect for bulk meal prep since it keeps well in the fridge for quite some time! Simply allow the cooked steel-cut oatmeal to cool down, then transfer them into an airtight container. Your cooked steel-cut oats will stay good in the fridge for about a week before spoiling.
How Do I Reheat Rustic Steel-Cut Oatmeal?
Add a splash of water or milk and mix it well. Heat your steel-cut oatmeal gently over the stove on low to medium heat. For a faster reheating method, you can definitely heat the Wild-West Oatmeal in the microwave, though the microwave is definitely a new invention! Stir the oatmeal in 20-second intervals to ensure that it has completely warmed through.
More Hearty Oatmeal Recipes for a Great Start to the Day!
WATCH HOW TO MAKE Wild West-Inspired Steel-Cut Oats In The Instant Pot HERE:
Please let me know if you tried this recipe in the comments and by giving this recipe a rating! Also tag me in your post using #cookingwithanadi and mentioning me @cooking.with.anadi. I hope you’ll make this for a cozy and nutritious start to your morning!!