Buzz
It’s a common misconception that oatmeal must be sweet. I’ve experimented by adding eggs — sometimes just the yolk — and preparing it risotto-style for a savory twist. But it wasn’t until I tried The Kitchn’s James Park’s cheesy, savory oatmeal with kimchi that I realized how far savory oats could go. Oats don’t need to take center stage in the dish. Rather than a bowl where oatmeal makes up 90% of the content with a sprinkle of garnishes, I’ve started balancing the ratio to a more equal 50/50.
I cooked crumbled sausage with sambal, added kimchi, steamed an egg, and garnished with cilantro, scallions, and fresh ginger. I also grabbed my jar of crispy fried garlic. When my partner walked in, he asked, ‘What smells so good?’ He was shocked when I told him I was making oatmeal — it had never smelled this amazing before. I cooked my oats with a chicken bouillon cube for added flavor, then combined everything into a mouthwatering dish I couldn’t wait to dig into.
I fried sausage with sambal, tossed in kimchi, steamed an egg, and added cilantro, scallions, and fresh ginger. With a sprinkle of fried garlic, my partner walked in and immediately asked, ‘What’s that smell?’ He was astonished when I told him it was oatmeal — the aroma was completely unexpected. I boiled my oats with a chicken bouillon cube to infuse rich flavor, then assembled a delectable meal that made me eager to eat.
This bowl of oatmeal was far from your average dish. It wasn’t just savory and rich in flavor; it redefined oatmeal. The oats took a secondary role, supporting the mix of eggs, sausage, and garlic, while also balancing the heat from the sambal. At no point did I think to myself, 'This tastes bland and mushy.'
For a bowl of oatmeal that packs a punch and wakes you up, use ingredients typically found on a breakfast sandwich or atop a pizza. These aren't just garnishes—they’re the stars of the show. If this oatmeal were a film, the ingredients would be an all-star ensemble cast. Fill half the bowl with oatmeal and the rest with cheese, bacon, pepperoni, roasted tomatoes, olives, pickles, and a dash of hot sauce.
You can choose to mix everything into the pot of oats, letting the cheese melt and flavors blend, or you can organize each ingredient into its own section, creating a different flavor experience with each bite. While I added some of my favorite spicy elements, the possibilities are endless. A cheeseburger-inspired oatmeal could be next on my list.
Hearty Oatmeal for Real Meals
Ingredients List:
1 link sausage, casing removed
1 teaspoon sambal
1 tablespoon kimchi
½ cup old-fashioned oats
1 chicken bouillon cube
1 cup water
1 scallion, sliced into rings
½ inch piece of fresh ginger, chopped into matchsticks
1 egg, either steamed or boiled and halved
1 teaspoon fried garlic
Pinch of freshly torn cilantro
In a skillet over medium-low heat, cook the sausage, breaking it up into small pieces. When it’s halfway cooked, stir in the sambal and continue breaking it apart. Push the sausage to one side of the pan and add the kimchi to heat through.
In a small pot over medium-low heat, bring the water and bouillon cube to a boil. Add the oats and stir. Let it simmer until the oatmeal thickens, then turn off the heat. Serve the oatmeal in a bowl and top it with the sausage crumbles and sambal oil, kimchi, egg halves, scallions, ginger, cilantro, and fried garlic.
